Letter From DNC Chairman Howard Dean

[ClarkUSA]

Thank you for everything you've done for the Democratic Party, Dr. Dean. You'll
be mightily missed. Hopefully, we'll see you running for office again someday
soon. :D

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 4:22 PM

From: "Howard Dean" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]

XXXXX --

Four years ago, I became chairman with a mandate for bottom-up reform --
grow the Democratic Party in your neighborhood and every other community
in America.

We promised to compete in every state, for every level of office. And we
demanded a party that would stand up for itself and fight for an agenda
that reflects our values.

When the 447 members of the Democratic National Committee elected
me, it wasn't because they thought I could accomplish these things.

They elected me because I knew that only you could.

I believed then -- and I believe now -- that every single one of us must
take responsibility for building our party. It's not enough to simply vote
for Democrats -- in order to win, every one of us must deliver our
message and values into our own communities. We must organize.

Four years later, we have more Democratic state legislators and governors.
We expanded the electoral map, regained a majority in both houses of
Congress, and put a Democratic president in the White House.

We did it by rebuilding the party infrastructure from the ground up,
creating a truly national voter database, and developing 21st century
campaign tools that merged traditional organizing with new technology.

I said on my first day on the job that this wouldn't be my chairmanship --
it would be ours together. And you reshaped the political landscape over
these four years.

Next week, I will step down after four years as chairman of the Democratic
National Committee.

I'd like to congratulate Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, who will take my
place as Chairman on January 21st. He will be an excellent leader in the
years ahead.

I know a lot of people are wondering what to expect as we move forward. I
can assure you that Governor Kaine will continue the grassroots approach
that has made our party and Barack Obama's campaign so successful.

Governor Kaine knows first-hand what a commitment to fighting everywhere
means -- Virginia is a prime example of what can happen when we refuse to
concede any part of this country and build our organization everywhere.

In that spirit of grassroots engagement, Governor Kaine has offered to answer
your questions personally in a video on Democrats.org.

Submit your question for incoming DNC Chairman Tim Kaine.

Democrats have made great gains over the past four years, but we still have a
lot of work to do to get this country back on course.

Governor Kaine knows that the strength of our party comes from the bottom
up, and he will need your support as we take the next steps to grow our party
and elect Democrats everywhere.

You've done a lot over the last six months, and over the last four years. You've
donated money, talked to friends, knocked on doors. You've invested yourself
in the political process. And it's tempting to take it easy after a big victory.

But these are not short-term investments. We will only create lasting change if
that sense of obligation to one another and responsibility for the common good
becomes a permanent part of our lives.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent
about things that matter."

We cannot be silent. We cannot leave it to others to see this through.

Thank you for everything you did for our cause in this election and over the last
four years.

But we are not stopping here. And even though my term as chairman is ending,
I will be with you -- and with our new chairman -- every step of the way.

Thank you again,

Howard Dean

[BeyondGeography]

1. I think he's a great man, and he'll be missed

A leader with vision, articulate as hell, and he plays it straight.

K&R for Howard.

:patriot:

[Hope And Change]

2. K & R!

[rurallib]

3. Thank you forever, Chairman Dean.

Don't forget to support DFA and it's continuation of the Dean ideals.

[merh]

4. thank you Dr. Dean

thank you for all you have done

[Cha]

5. I got mine too! NO

division..it's all about Unity and working towards a better Democratic Government not trying to tear us apart before we even get started.

Thank you, Dean..you always be the man.

[grantcart]

6. How did you get into my mailbox?

[On the Road]

7. Wonderful, Magnanimous Letter

I like how he frames Kaine in terms of the red-state strategy and "fighting everywhere".

[Cleita]

8. Until we see you again Howard.

You are much too loved and admired to stay out of public life for long.