The World According to Howard Dean
By: Nathan Tabor
A political party chief is a lot like a football coach. He has to recruit quality players
…try to mold them into champions…and produce a winning record.
Otherwise, he’s likely to be benched from the political game forever.
So, you would think that a national political party chairman would do everything
possible to re-elect proven winners from his party. After all, control of both houses
of Congress could hinge on the outcome of races in some key states.
But, let’s face it—Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Party—is
not your typical party chairman.
Dean’s quixotic quest for the Presidency led to the founding of an organization
known as Democracy for America. (As if democracy in America is some sort of new
concept). Well, Democracy for America isn’t about to back a proven vote-getter—
even if he is a stalwart Democrat. Instead, the organization is endorsing “upstart
challenger” Ned Lamont.
Democracy for America is blasting incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman for
doing the unthinkable—supporting the President. The organization goes so far as
to call Lieberman “George Bush’s favorite Democrat.” The group claims good old
Joe has supported the President on “issue after issue.” These issues include things
like supporting the nominations of Justices Roberts and Alito to the U.S. Supreme
Court—a move that—shockingly!—most Americans also supported.
Lieberman also had the audacity to support the President’s war on terror. And he
once issued this statement which—horrors!—borders on the patriotic: “It is time for
Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be Commander-
in-Chief for three more critical years, and that in matters of war we undermine
Presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.”
In a time of war—when our nation’s security is at stake—Lieberman dared to
suggest that Democrats shouldn’t say anything that might jeopardize our efforts to
win a war against an amoral enemy. And for this, Democracy for America wants him
punished?
And what were Lieberman’s other unforgivable transgressions? The Vice President
called him “a fine U.S. Senator.” If Dick Cheney had called him a national disgrace,
would that have been a good reason to back Lieberman? There are rumors that the
President considered Lieberman for a post in his Cabinet. Now, we don’t know if
Lieberman would have accepted such a position, but the fact that George W. Bush
might have even considered him for one of the most important posts in Washington
is apparently reason enough to throw Lieberman out of office.
And what will Lamont do that Lieberman won’t? Apparently, he’ll provide a knee-
jerk negative reaction to every Bush policy that comes down the pike. Democracy
for America suggests he’ll be criticizing Bush for threatening our moral and
economic future, our civil liberties, and our nation’s security. He’ll also advocate “a
new direction in Iraq.” Would that be in the direction of defeat?
There was a time when statesmen spoke of ending partisan bickering in Washington
…of working past party differences in order to govern the nation in a spirit of unity
and teamwork. But Democracy for America wants no part of that. The
organization’s leaders want all discord—all the time. If the President says “yes,”
they want Democratic members of Congress to say “no”—apparently, no matter
what the issue.
And the irony here is that Democracy for America is adopting policy stands which, if
put up for a democratic vote of the people, would probably lose hands-down.
This organization is clearly misnamed. It should be referred to as Liberals for
America. Or make that Liberals against the American President. Democrats who
veer from the radical liberal line and dare to say a kind word for a Republican
President need not apply for any political post—even if they do have a winning
record.
Copyright © 2006 by Nathan Tabor
Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North
Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public
policy. He is a contributing editor at http://www.theconservativevoice.com and his 60-
second commentaries are heard on over 250 stations daily. He writes weekly for
Townhall.com, HumanEventsOnline.com, Crosswalk.com and many others. You can
contact him at Nathan@nathantabor.com.