Thanks to Christopher at Paper Frog for sending me this nice little backgrounder on Howard Dean that he published back in May.

Favorite Dean quote from this article: "I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party!"

He’s unapologetic for his opposition to the invasion of Iraq. His approach to Homeland Security is biased toward international cooperation and massive support for first-responders, rather than military solutions. Dean’s track record on gay and lesbian issues (he signed the country’s first civil union law) is enough to whip the Christian Right—and many conservative Democrats—into full lather. He’s against tax cuts and in favor of a balanced federal budget.

But it’s health care that Dean plays as his trump card. Dean and his wife, Judith Steinberg Dean, are both medical doctors. The family trade figures strongly into Dean’s plan for the phased introduction of a Universal Health Benefits Program.

Dean’s four-point proposal, released last week, expands existing programs for low-income families and allows small businesses to buy into a low-cost insurance pool modeled after those available to federal workers. And while Dean’s plan doesn’t mandate employer-provided health insurance, it penalizes large companies who opt-out by yanking some of their current tax breaks.

Here is the full text of the entire article in case the link goes bad:

http://paperfrog.com/blog/archives/000066.html

Heating Up

An uninteresting Democratic race gets more interesting

Howard Dean.jpg

Dark horses get to have all the fun. And former Vermont governor Howard Dean knows he’s the ultimate dark horse.

So Dean pulls no punches in his pursuit of the Democratic nomination for president. Conventional wisdom—the wisdom espoused by groups like the so-called “New Democrat” coalition—says that the most viable challenger to the Republic juggernaut in 2004 will match the GOP’s hawkish defense policies while taking the Bush to task on his weak domestic agenda. But Dean will have no part of conventional wisdom.

Instead, Dean is speaking freely, staking out progressive positions and refusing to adopt the mainstream Democratic campaign strategy some critics have labeled “Bush Lite.”

He’s unapologetic for his opposition to the invasion of Iraq. His approach to Homeland Security is biased toward international cooperation and massive support for first-responders, rather than military solutions. Dean’s track record on gay and lesbian issues (he signed the country’s first civil union law) is enough to whip the Christian Right—and many conservative Democrats—into full lather. He’s against tax cuts and in favor of a balanced federal budget.

But it’s health care that Dean plays as his trump card. Dean and his wife, Judith Steinberg Dean, are both medical doctors. The family trade figures strongly into Dean’s plan for the phased introduction of a Universal Health Benefits Program.

Dean’s four-point proposal, released last week, expands existing programs for low-income families and allows small businesses to buy into a low-cost insurance pool modeled after those available to federal workers. And while Dean’s plan doesn’t mandate employer-provided health insurance, it penalizes large companies who opt-out by yanking some of their current tax breaks.

Some critics have praised Dean’s platform as a fresh approach to traditional Democratic values. Some Democrats are not amused.

Hence the Democratic Leadership Council’s bitter denunciation of Dean’s candidacy last Thursday. The DLC, which fronts the centrist New Democrat coalition, emerged from two days of meetings with a single message to their party: don’t nominate Dean.

The DLC claims much credit in sending Bill Clinton to the Oval Office, but were less successful with the campaigns of New Democrats Al Gore and Joe Lieberman. Just what went wrong is a matter of controversy. A DLC post-mortem blamed Gore for abandoning New Democrat values. Progressives blame the DLC for ignoring the concerns of organized labor and driving Democratic activists to the campaign of Green Party nominee Ralph Nader.

Blame game aside, the DLC is certain Dr. Dean’s prescription for America is bad political medicine. Coalition founder Al From blasted the Dean campaign. stooping to a little name-calling by slamming Dean for his “self-interested liberalism.” In doing so, the DLC may have energized the Dean candidacy and positioned the former governor as the Man to Beat.

That’s likely to please Dean, whose sometimes brusque manner and impolitic speech is the source of so many one-liners: “I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party!”

Dean’s biggest challenge at this point is a lack of national name-recognition. Not only does being in the hot seat suit his personality, it may play to his strategic advantage.

Fund-raising has gone surprisingly well for Dean, whose campaign literature paints him as the “heart and soul” of the Democratic party. He’s the only candidate with real executive experience. Fellow partisans Lieberman and Gephardt are hardly setting the woods on fire, and the campaign of North Carolina senator John Edwards has already stumbled over allegations of some oddball contributions. That could set up a dual between Dean and current front runner John Kerry.

But it’s a long way to New Hampshire. The only thing certain is that a Democratic race which started off as a real snoozer is now a bit more interesting.

The Doctor is in.

Related links:

Dean for America (Howard Dean for President) http://www.deanforamerica.com
New Democrats Online (DLC website)
Moderate Democratic Group Blasts Party ‘Elites’” (Reuters)
Posted by kit at May 18, 2003 04:03 PM | TrackBack
Comments

The issue of health care is becoming more and more crucial in America. Perhaps the Democrats can make more headway with this issue in these poor economic times than Hillary and Bill were able to make in the early 90’s.

The State Teacher’s Retirement System in Ohio and the state workers retirement systems are reeling from the stockmarket fallout. STRS has raised their issurance premiums tremendously and it appears that they will no longer be insuring dependents because they have raised the premiums to levels that are ridiculous. My guess is that the remaining private pension systems in other states are experiencing the same kinds of difficulties.

It certainly looks like the coming election will allow both parties to showcase their traditional values—no picking between 2 centrist candidates who look almost the same except for their political tags.
Posted by: Donna at May 20, 2003 06:07 AM

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I’m a bit weary of the argument that health care isn’t the proper concern of the government. So-called consititutional constructionists are quick to shout down anyone who suggests that the common welfare extends beyond keeping defense contractors fat and busy.

To me, a primary concern regarding insurance is portability. Those fortunate enough to work for companies which make health insurance available find themselves terribly dependent on their employers: lose the job, lose the insurance (or pay horrific COBRA premiums carrying it out with you).

I don’t think this is good for business or workers. First, it’s a form of servitude for the employee. But, from a business standpoint, it makes for employees who spend a lot of time in ass-covering mode. Workers who fear losing their insurance will be less likely to take competitive risks or blow the whistle when they see corporate corruption.
Posted by: kit at May 20, 2003 10:32 AM