Critics in Vermont Rally Around Dean

[Rose Siding]

Candidate Finds Support From Liberals With Whom He Once Butted Heads




MONTPELIER, Vt. -- They called themselves "the usual suspects." As a steadfast core of liberal Democratic politicians in Vermont, they spent more than a decade working closely, and often butting heads, with Howard Dean.

Now they also call themselves something else -- strong supporters of their former governor's surging presidential campaign.

"I know there are a lot of people up here surprised that I am backing him, 'cause I was one of the group that did not just go along with everything he wanted us to do," said Democrat Cheryl Rivers, a former six-term state senator from Stockbridge, who warred with Dean over his plan to change Vermont's health care system early in his tenure as governor. "I am preparing to be frequently disappointed, as I always am. But I see what Howard did here and what he brings to the race, and I give him my full endorsement."

snip>

Activists who once clashed with Dean over his policy agenda find themselves in a difficult position. Annette Smith, head of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, battled Dean over a gas-pipeline project in Rutland, a prospective mine in Danby Four Corners and a factory farm in Highgate. Under Dean, she once said, "EP meant expedite permits," instead of environmental protection.

But even she is singing a slightly different tune lately. "Look, it's no secret I don't think highly of many things he's done. He has plenty of explaining to do," said Smith, who has not endorsed a candidate despite what she said were repeated overtures from the Dean campaign. "But I also don't want to help Bush to be reelected. I have already seen quotes of mine used by conservatives on Web sites, and that is even worse."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A17514-2003Nov27?language=printer

[LuminousX]

1. They Get It

[Skwmom]

8. What do they get? That they need to do damage control

because everyone is saying Dean is the nominee.

PLUS THESE COMMENTS SHOULD BE A RED FLAG

"Freyne derisively referred to Dean as "Ho-Ho" and called him a Republican in his dispatches." DEAM WILL TRANSFORM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ALL RIGHT - WE MIGHT AS WELL REFER TO OURSELVES AS DEMOCANS.

"Frankly, I do have some reservations," McCormack said. "He does have a temper. He tends to see disagreements on issues as personal disloyalty." HMM. WHO DOES THIS REMIND US OF? CAN WE SAY BUSH?

Freyne said. "The Dean I see on national television is somewhat admirable. He reflects well on Vermont and the politics we practice here. And many of us had never seen that passion before. Some people who had never seen this new Howard like him better." SO WHO IS THE REAL HOWARD? THE OLD HO-HO OR THE NEWLY PACKAGED HO-H0?

"Largely silent, as the primary season heats up, has been Vermont's Progressive Party, formed in the mid-1990s at least partly in response to Dean's influence on the Democratic Party. A spokesman at the Montpelier office said that the party has not endorsed a Democratic candidate and would not comment on the record about Dean."

[slinkerwink]

2. that's excellent!

they know Dean's electable and that's why they're rallying around him

[Skwmom]

7. Maybe it's because everyone says Dean will be the

nominee and they have no choice.

"As Dean vaulted from long shot to leader of the Democratic pack, some of his most vocal critics have closed ranks behind the man who reportedly once referred to fellow Vermont Democrats as inhabitants of "La-La Land."

Have you read the article? Their rallying around Dean is clearly not due to the fact that they think Ho-Ho the Republican is electable.

[George_Bonanza]

3. Dems united

At least if Dean gets the nom, his own state won't be fractured. Of course, this doesn't mean that Dean's the liberal answer to the Dems, but it does mean that he's the Dem's answer to Bush, which is why these liberals are backing him.

[Skwmom]

9. What about the progessive liberals?

Largely silent, as the primary season heats up, has been Vermont's Progressive Party, formed in the mid-1990s at least partly in response to Dean's influence on the Democratic Party. A spokesman at the Montpelier office said that the party has not endorsed a Democratic candidate and would not comment on the record about Dean."

[Jerseycoa]

4. Way to go

:toast:

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

5. Nice!

[MercutioATC]

6. Great endorsement, because it shows how Dean can appeal to

people. Even people with whom he's disagreed with on some issues still have respect for him. THIS is the kind of inclusive campaign we need to win.

[ebw]

10. Re: Critics in Vermont Rally Around Dean

There are two things interesting about this. The first is the contrast between the formula used in the WaPo -- top-to-bottom-uninterpreted-voices-of-VT-Dems-who've-found-Dezus, and the formula used in the Rutledge Herald -- where over two thirds of the text respond to (as unwholesome) to or interpret (as inauthentic) a few paras of Abenaki criticism of Dean's record of hostility when in power.

That's kind of fun. If the WaPo piece followed the "fair and balanced" format of the RutHer, I supposed about a third of the piece would be some Dean Campaign spokes-critter allowing as how Dean always reached out to those poor mistaken fake Ds, and the State Republican Chair or the State Progressive Chair pointing out that those come-to-Dezus VT Ds were given to waffling and inconsistency anyway.

The second thing that's interesting is that the writer avoided any VT critics who just happened to give a press conference and are not joining VT's Favorite Son Campaign.

http://triballaw.wabanaki.net/archives/000020.html