Dean Challenges Obama to Deliver Reform

[cal04]

'Public Option' Non-Negotiable, Democrat Says
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081901773.html?hpid=topnews


Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean is emerging as a thorn in the side of a White House that effectively swept him out of Washington, regularly challenging President Obama and Congress as he crisscrosses the country preaching his progressive vision for universal health care.

Although he is lending voice and brand to the liberal cause in the intraparty health-care debate, Dean hardly considers himself a spoiler. Rather, he sees his role as fighting for progressive values, asserting again and again that health-care reform without a government-run insurance option is hardly reform at all.

When he visited this tranquil corner of New England last weekend, Dean warned that if Democratic leaders abandon the "public option," they surrender their principles to politics.

"The worst thing that could happen is to pass a bill without a public option," he told about 200 union workers and Democratic volunteers in a fiery speech at a pep rally and picnic here Sunday. "Then we'd put 60 billion new dollars a year into the health insurance industry that is busy taking away your health insurance when you need it most, stopping you from getting health insurance, taking it away if you lose a job and not giving it back to you if you get it back."

"We all voted for change we can believe in. If we don't get it, we'll get some more change in 2010," Dean roared, the crowd applauding between bites of hamburgers, hot dogs and macaroni salad.

(snip)
"I think Howard Dean would've loved to have been in the room hashing out health-care reform, whatever the role," Trippi said. "I think he would've relished that. He's passionate, he's a doctor, he knows it. But, look, that wasn't in the cards, and to his credit he didn't walk away. He's leading the charge on issues he cares about."

[NWHarkness]

1. "Dean challenges Obama"

If some things don't change, that may be a headline we see during the 2012 primary season.

[polichick]

3. My husband and I were talking about that yesterday - we worked for both of them...

It sure would be interesting!

[polichick]

2. We are so lucky that HD is out there working on behalf of "progressive values." nt

[vademocrat]

4. Go Dr Dean! He & his brother are asking for donations to DFA -

https://democracyforamerica.com/contribution_pages/135

Here's the email I got today - I donated all I could yesterday...

"We are going to win because of you.

All week we've been pushing back on the media lies that claimed the choice of a public health insurance option is dead. Guess what -- It's working. But it will take more than push back to win.

That's why my brother Howard asked you yesterday for the resources to take our campaign to the next level.

"If we raise $200,000 by Monday, we can hit back immediately. Congress will know we're not backing down in the face of pressure. We're standing up to get the job done." -Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Your response has been incredible. In less than 24 hours, we're just a few thousand dollars away from his goal. But DFA members nationwide said it wasn't enough. We need to go bigger - Staff on the ground - Ads on the air - And everything in between.

You're right.

Our approach to this campaign is no different than our campaign to elect President Obama: dynamic, no-holds-barred action, which requires the boots on the ground DFA members deliver better than anyone.

With your help, we will put staff and resources on the ground to support your work in as many as 10 states. Places like Montana, Maine, and Florida. Key states with Senators that might make or break reform. But we need to act fast. We can do it if we hit our new goal of $350,000 by Monday. It's up to you. You can make it happen.

You spoke up and we listened. Now let's put it into action and get the job done.

Thank you for delivering the resources to win.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. We're in the 'I want to do it, now make me do it' phase. n/t

[MarjorieG]

6. Dean's advocacy and effectiveness makes him the perfect thorn, not inside massager.

[democracy1st]

7. there's absolutely no fight in this admin,you can't take corp money and represent the people

[Larkspur]

8. Dean needs to be a thorn in the side of Obama because

Obama has invited Aetna's CEO, who is also African American, into the White House to advise his Admin on healthcare reform. Obama has let one of the foxes into the henhouse. Shame on him! I bet it's Ron Williams and his aides who are spreading the meme that the Left is making too much of the public option.