David Corn: Dis-endorsing Dean

[Karmadillo]

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17690

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I am not defending Trippi. I happen to like him and thought he did a marvelous job using the new tools of the Internet to turn a little-known governor into both a top-tier presidential candidate and the leader of what appeared to be a movement of reform-minded citizens who wanted to bring public-interest democracy to Washington. But the relationship between candidate and consultant is akin to a marriage; it is hard for outsiders to know truly what goes on between the two.

Perhaps Trippi and Dean had disagreements over the direction of the campaign. Maybe Trippi shortchanged the organizational needs of the campaign or failed to manage its growth effectively. Did Dean object to Trippi showing up for television interviews looking bedraggled? Dean might be searching for a scapegoat, and there's an old saying in politics, "You can't fire the candidate." And here's a new one: "A scream once screamed cannot be unscreamed."

So it's Dean's right to boot Trippi. What warrants criticism is his decision to put his campaign in the mitts of a Washington insider. Neel, a former Al Gore aide, was head of the U.S. Telecom Association in Washington in the late 1990s until he left to join Gore's 2000 campaign. The USTA lobbies on behalf of the telecommunications industry. As its lead lobbyist, Neel was the embodiment of the "special interests" that Dean has assailed on the campaign trail.

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There has always been a disconnect in the Dean campaign between the man and the movement. If two years ago someone cooked up the idea to create a progressive, reform-minded grassroots crusade that would focus on harnessing "people power" to confront Washington's money-and-power culture and a leader for such an effort was needed, Dean's name would not have jumped to mind. Senator Paul Wellstone maybe. Yet thousands of Americans were yearning for such an endeavor, and Dean found a way to tap into their desires. It was not the most natural or conventional of couplings, but it happened. And he was propelled to the front of the presidential pack.

more...

[pacifictiger]

1. another fickle person deserting when the going gets tough.

How sad that so few do not understand the core message is more important than the person, than gratifying ego or promoting book sales. Bobby Kennedy had a similar message and they shot him for real.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

3. The point is, what is the message? And who's is it?

What is the message and is it Dean's or his campaign's? Dean's stated policies and record do not match the progressive rhetoric that he espouses.

Here is an important section of the atricle:

"If two years ago someone cooked up the idea to create a progressive, reform-minded grassroots crusade that would focus on harnessing "people power" to confront Washington's money-and-power culture and a leader for such an effort was needed, Dean's name would not have jumped to mind. Senator Paul Wellstone maybe. Yet thousands of Americans were yearning for such an endeavor, and Dean found a way to tap into their desires. It was not the most natural or conventional of couplings, but it happened. And he was propelled to the front of the presidential pack."

This is what I see a lot of lately, people declaring that we are abondoning progressive values by not supporting Dean, when the candidate does not support them himself.

As you say "How sad that so few do not understand the core message is more important than the person"

Or to reword that, "How sad that so few do not understand the core message is more important than the campaign."

TWL

[lurk_no_more]

2. I guess not everyone that took dean at his word

like making excuses for why that word changes so often.


And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[oasis]

4. If boat's taking on more water than you can bail, grab the preserver.

[Karmadillo]

5. Kick

n/t

[ShaneGR]

6. Spoke with a friend of mine who has helped coordinate Ohio for Dean

Quote, "Looks like we're finished."

[waldenx]

7. why are democrats such cowards?

this country deserves bush as punishment for being such pussies.

[CWebster]

8. really...

I can relate.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

12. cowards how?

TWL

[nightperson]

13. Hmmmmm,

is your second statement a hot new anti-Kerry slogan? Can I look forward to the t-shirts and bumper stickers, and grave voice-overs on TV ads?

[goodhue]

10. about time

[deutsey]

11. Juan Gonzalez: "He's not done by a long shot"

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/jgonzalez/

SNIP
Remember how the snow makers assured us early last year that the little-known ex-governor from tiny Vermont would be buried at the starting gate?

That was before President Bush invaded Iraq.

Dean's anti-war stance and populist message helped him recruit an army of young people. He raised millions of dollars over the Internet from ordinary Americans alarmed about where the country is headed.

He garnered major support from labor unions and Hispanic and black leaders who hardly knew his name months earlier.

"We've all learned a new way," Perkins said. "We've learned from Dean that you can raise a lot of money for a race without having to go to corporate fat cats."
SNIP