"There is enormous institutional resistance to change in this country." [View All]

[madfloridian]

On February 18, 2004, something happened. It was the start of the turning around of things in the party. The change was really about a mindset. We all knew what it meant when he said it. It was not about any one person or any one office.

It was about changing the mindset that got us into Iraq in the first place. It was about changing the ways of thinking that caused our Democrats to give Bush his every wish. It was the start of something bigger than a person.

On February 18, 2004, Howard Dean dropped out of the race for president. He started Democracy for America one month later. He then became party chairman. He did not whine about his problems, he became the catalyst, an agent for change.

Here is part of what he said to us in an email on that day.

A thank you email and a statement

We have led this party back to considering what its heart and soul is. Although there is a lot of work left to do, I am very proud of all of you and very grateful to all of you for your extraordinary hard work.

One of the things that I realized a long time ago is that change is very difficult. There is enormous institutional resistance to change in this country. You cannot expect people with great privileges taken at the expense of ordinary working people to surrender them lightly.

Change is hard work. Change does not happen simply because you go to a rally and simply because you make phone calls -- and I know how hard everybody has worked. But change is a process that you can never give up on.

Change is the state of America and change is the state of humankind. The history of humanity is that determined people overcome obstacles. It is natural for people to resist, but it is also inevitable that we will win.

So we will continue to fight. This is the end of phase one of this fight, but the fight will go on, and we will be in it together. We will continue to bring our message of hope and change to the American people

Thank you very much for everything that you have done.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

There will be change, but it will not be easy.