Democratic Group Backs Fowler Over Dean to Lead DNC (WP)

[truthpusher]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50266-2005Jan30.html?referrer=email

Democratic Group Backs Fowler Over Dean to Lead DNC
Monday, January 31, 2005; Page A02

In a challenge to Howard Dean's bid to become the head of the Democratic National Committee, an influential group of state Democratic Party officials has voted to endorse former Al Gore aide Donnie Fowler to become national chairman.

In a conference call yesterday, the Association of State Democratic Chairs' executive committee voted to endorse Fowler, the son of former DNC chairman Don Fowler, over the former Vermont governor. The executive committee will recommend in another conference call today that the full ASDC endorse Fowler.

The endorsement of the ASDC has been seen as crucial for those hoping to challenge the front-runner Dean. Fowler narrowly edged Dean in the final vote by the ASDC's executive committee. According to a person familiar with the decision, former representative Martin Frost did not receive any votes, while former Clinton aide Simon B. Rosenberg trailed Dean and Fowler.

Fowler, 37, is a South Carolina native who worked as national field director for Gore's presidential campaign and Michigan director for John F. Kerry's presidential campaign. The 477 voting members of the DNC will select a new chairman on Feb. 12.

-- Dana Milbank

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50266-2005Jan30.html?referrer=email

[durablend]

1. LOL!

"Fowler, 37, is a South Carolina native who worked as national field director for Gore's presidential campaign and Michigan director for John F. Kerry's presidential campaign"


And look at the results of those! :eyes:

[xultar]

2. We did win Michigan though in 04 didn't we? Gore's campaign

was a mess all over. Fowler can't be blamed for that. Gore didnt' even win his home state.

[meganmonkey]

5. Well, Michigan went blue!

FWIW....:P

[librechik]

33. I back Dean, but unfortunately his national election record is worse

than Gore's, so we can't use that in our arguments, IMO. This is a blow.

How does Dean overcome it? By getting superior numbers overall.
Let's try for that.

[mattclearing]

38. Didn't we win Michigan? And Gore's turnout beat polls by 5 points!

I'm a Dean guy, but I wouldn't knock Fowler for the results of those two endeavors.

[AlGore-08.com]

40. What's with dissing Gore? He got more votes than Smirk

Plus, he started out 20 points behind Smirk, was outspent over 2 to 1, and had his character assassinated by almost the entire Press corps.

And if all the votes in Florida had been counted - - or if the SCOTUS hadn't decided to put politics above the Constitution - - Gore would be polishing his State of the Union address right about now...

[On the Road]

3. Geez -- They're Throwing Up One Trial Balloon After Another

just to find someone who will generate the same excitement as Dean.

[Goldeneye]

4. Check out this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1548288

[quiet.american]

6. Hmm -- his dad was DNC Chairman.... sounds familiar

In the Democratic Party's self-destructive quest to be Repub-lite, are they hell-bent on copying Shrub's "inheritance" from his dad, too?

Okay, I'm being facetious here (sort of), but I have to admit, in watching C-Span coverage of the DNC Candidates this weekend, I found Fowler's speech to be so uninspiring and insipid, I hit "mute" halfway through.

Maybe it's just that it wasn't his best day to give a speech....

I'll say this, through this endorsement of Fowler, the Exec. Comm. has sent a message to me they have no intention of firing up and reforming this party.

[KittyWampus]

9. Fowler SCALDED The Washington Consultant Culture- That Bored You?

Fowler got pissed off after working on the Draft Clark grassroots campaign and left Clark's Campaign very vocally protesting the way the Washington crew came in and took over from the local groups and shunted the internet activists aside.

Fowler GETS it more immediately then Dean does cause he's been on the front lines of the battle in a way Dean never was.

[Larkspur]

11. Dean defeated the ruthless Repukes in VT

When did Fowler run for office and defeat the ruthless Repukes?

[karynnj]

19. Ruthless Repukes in VT ??

Jeffords (who was a leading Republican in the time Dean ran in VT) seems to be a very civilized man. It is not helpful to demonize all Republicans as ruthless or Repukes.

[Larkspur]

23. Just shows how much about Dean you don't know...

In his last re-election bid as Governor of VT in 2000, the RNC marked Howard Dean as a target because he signed the first but hotly debated Civil Unions bill. The RNC got it's supporters to pour money into the state backing a Repuke candidate, forgot her name right now, and they thought they'd take Dean down because of the volatile Civil Unions bill. They were wrong. Dean learned during that campaign that when you fight back, the Repukes make mistakes and he ended up winning over 50% to keep his office.

Regarding Jeffords, he's now an Independent and left the Republican Party because of the malicious gaggle of neo-cons and Xtian fundies it has become.

[JNelson6563]

12. Nonsense

I am in MI and I can tell you Fowler does NOT get it. MI wnet blue thanks to the foot soldiers. Coordinated was a nightmare that caused more trouble than it was worth. Fowler is an idiot. He talks a pretty story but he falls short on execution.

Julie

[quiet.american]

17. Put the man in who has already won races for Democrats

This whole thing is really a no-brainer.

What's to think about, seriously?

Howard Dean was the only candidate on the platform who spoke specifically to exactly what needs to be done within the Democratic Party in terms of finance and elections.

Howard Dean has already hit the ground running and proved his methodology by working with Democratic candidates across the country through his DFA -- candidates who ultimately won -- and that's the important thing.

Do I endorse Howard Dean -- I certainly do. Most of all, because when Howard Dean speaks, I feel there may be some hope yet for the Democratic Party. When all the other current DNC candidates speak -- it leaves me shaking my head.

When the Exec. Comm. endorsed Fowler, they sent a message to me they still want to pussyfoot around -- and that they may be afraid of having someone truly powerful in the position -- after all, Howard Dean is a seasoned politician with a powerful force of supporters behind him -- not exactly the kind of Chair you could "contain."

Fowler may have his good points -- but if he hasn't been successful yet in putting them across during his race for the DNC Chair, how successful is he going to be in managing the strategy for the entire Party?

[aintitfunny]

20. Absolutely true

Howard Dean is a proven product. The party leadership may well be in fear of his strength, but they should fear more the mass exodus on the part of life long and active democrats like myself, who are sick and tired of the stagnation.

[xxqqqzme]

43. Xactly - when Howard was in LA on the

21st, someone asked him what he would do if he didn't get the chair. W/o a moments hesitation, he said 'Keep working at the grass roots.' He is not going away and neither is his suppport. If Howard is pushed aside again, the DNC/DLC get no money from me. It will go to DFA and the local candidates they support. The DNC/DLC will lower their ATM cash limit in California if Dean is dismissed again.

[flordehinojos]

7. Dean! Dean! Dean! -- otherwise we are toast.

[leesa]

8. Man, they are working overtime to ensure the DNC leader will lose to the

GOP. Wonder how much the GOP pays these people?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JNelson6563]

13. Ask me, I know

But you might not like the answer.


:toast:

[w13rd0]

14. I'll ask then...

...because I'm intersted in anyone the "leadership" is interested in foisting upon me. I'm also curious if StopDean-itis is in anyway psychologically related to Clenis-phobia, the methdologies and obsessions bear similarities (methodology, rhetoric) and differences (motivations?).

[JNelson6563]

15. here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=159x1595#1602

[sandnsea]

31. Heard that from several states

So those kinds of complaints aren't specific to Fowler. But there is a real need for respect and communication with volunteers, across the board. That's clear. I do think Dean gets that more than some of the other candidates. That just comes naturally when you live in a place like Vermont I think. You just come across more kinds of people in your daily life and learn that good ideas and commitment are just as likely to come from the school janitor as the state education dept. That's a positive on Dean's side I think.

[AlGore-08.com]

41. Psychologically it may be, but politicially it's not

It's the Clinton wing of the DNC that's trying to stop Dean.

Sorry, it's true.

[Larkspur]

24. Squat sounds like Donnie's record.

[aintitfunny]

16. Tragically we learn nothing

Not only old school, same old, same old, but a legacy of it no less. It is very sad when our party is run by those who would be too afraid to let go the status quo. It is sickening. It is the reason we have lost the last two elections and it is the reason we could not even beat the worst president ever. I believe we need the energy Howard Dean can bring to the table. And by God we need the refreshing frankness and honesty. I believe if we do not take a dramatic turn we cannot make the dramatic difference we so desperately need.

[quiet.american]

18. Amen. n/t

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

21. Shhh...don't alert the corporate lapdog Dems that we're on to them.

I see Dean's run for DNC chair as a test. If he is derailed by the establishment Dems, WHO DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT THE PARTY OR OUR IDEALS, I will leave the party FOREVER. Period.

Who wants to throw away their vote on Repuke-lite Dems, who CAN'T WIN ANYWAY? I'd rather live with the conviction of voting for a person or party that upholds the principles I believe in and the princles that our country needs during this time of pseudo-Repuke fascism.

JB

[Toots]

32. Whoop there it is

:thumbsup:

[Lorien]

50. That's the problem; the DNC/DLC/RNC/GOP are on the same

side; the side of the megacorps. If we don't break away and start working for the people again, those groups will continue to sell us out to corporate interests.There goal has been the same for some time now; insure that Amerikka's CORPORATIONS win, no matter who gets into office.

[Norquist Nemesis]

22. Thank you!

Well said.

I'd like to see Dean as head and Donny as #2. I think they'ld make a formiddable team and give a longterm strategy with consistent leadership. When Dean's term is up, Donny could take over. :)

[JNelson6563]

25. Here's a good summary

[Rose Siding]

30. Covers everything but the money angle...

Fowler's backer, Brewer, is facing a DNC audit and he isn't being cooperative...

Only this so far from MyDD-
ASDC Chair Meeting
by Jerome Armstrong

The ASDC is meeting on a conference call this morning to consider the recomendation by the Executive Committee that Fowler be endorsed by the State Chairs. The Chairs will vote up or down on whether to accept the plurality recommendation. I've gotten word on the main backers of Fowler in yesterday's ASDC meeting. They were Mark Brewer (who didn't have a vote), Carol Khare, Amy Burks, Barbara Allen, Ray Buckley, and Merideth Smith.

Here are a few notes related to those individuals. Mark Brewer, is the Party Chair of Michigan, and the President of the ASDC. This past Friday, Brewer was served notice that the DNC will begin an audit of the Presidential finances that were spent during the 2004 Kerry Michigan campaign, managed by Donnie Fowler. Reportedly, Brewer refused the DNC, so this is developing amidst Brewer's push of Fowler. Also backing Fowler yesterday was Carol Khare, from South Carolina, whom is a business partner of Don Fowler Sr; Amy Burks of Alabama and Barbara Allen of North Carolina are longtime allies of Fowler Sr (It's unclear how Allen was able to vote, not being on the ASDC executive committee); Ray Buckley of New Hampshire (whom is vocally anti-Dean); and Merideth Smith, of Oregon, who voted to back Fowler over Dean.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/1/31/101826/151

[w4rma]

51. Dean is the Iceman. (nt)

[davidinalameda]

26. DNC candidate Fowler gets a boost

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/31/dems.chair.ap/index.html

A group of state party leaders slowed Howard Dean's fast-moving campaign to become Democratic Party chairman by backing Donnie Fowler.

The executive committee of state party chairs voted Sunday to endorse the 37-year-old Fowler, who headed Sen. John Kerry's successful presidential nominating campaign in Michigan last year.

Fowler has worked on campaigns in more than a dozen states and is the son of former Democratic National Committee chairman Donald Fowler of South Carolina.

[Larkspur]

27. But it wasn't an unanimous endorsement and some of those members

will still support Dean.

[aden_nak]

28. Yeah, 'cause Kerry won by a staggering 3% there.

I mean, 3%, people! This guy is clearly skilled at narrow, marginal victories, and that's what the Democrats need more of.

/hit
/head
/shovel

[roenyc]

29. ditto nt

[Mitt Chovick]

34. Who?

[American Tragedy]

35. It could be worse...

They could have backed Frost, Mr. "Democrats are religious".

[RubyDuby in GA]

36. Is there a way to check to see how individual state chairs voted?

I'm curious to see how our loser, I mean chairman, voted.

[tokenlib]

37. Does this split the anti-Dean vote??

I hope so.

[ultraist]

39. Did anyone hear Fowler speak on Saturday?

OMG! I watched the panel of Chair candidates speak on CSPAN and couldn't believe this guy was even in the running!!!

Didn't he make a complete mess of his states Dem Party when he was Chair?

edit: I think I'm mistaken about him having held a Chair position for a State Dem Party. But he did say this:

"Fowler has a soft southern drawl and talked of the need not to concede the south and religious voters. He said two noteworthy things: “I am a Democrat because I am a Christian, not in spite of it” and “Age is often an excuse for not doing something new”.

WHY so much focus on religion from some of these candidates?

[Debi]

42. Dean won the endorsement

ASDC Chair Meeting
by Jerome Armstrong

The ASDC is meeting on a conference call this morning to consider the recomendation by the Executive Committee that Fowler be endorsed by the State Chairs. The Chairs will vote up or down on whether to accept the plurality recommendation. I've gotten word on the main backers of Fowler in yesterday's ASDC meeting. They were Mark Brewer (who didn't have a vote), Carol Khare, Amy Burks, Barbara Allen, Ray Buckley, and Merideth Smith.
Here are a few notes related to those individuals. Mark Brewer, is the Party Chair of Michigan, and the President of the ASDC. This past Friday, Brewer was served notice that the DNC will begin an audit of the Presidential finances that were spent during the 2004 Kerry Michigan campaign, managed by Donnie Fowler. Reportedly, Brewer refused the DNC, so this is developing amidst Brewer's push of Fowler. Also backing Fowler yesterday was Carol Khare, from South Carolina, whom is a business partner of Don Fowler Sr; Amy Burks of Alabama and Barbara Allen of North Carolina are longtime allies of Fowler Sr (It's unclear how Allen was able to vote, not being on the ASDC executive committee); Ray Buckley of New Hampshire (whom is vocally anti-Dean); and Meredith Smith, of Oregon, who voted to back Fowler over Dean.

In the second round of voting, 3 supporters from Frost and Rosenberg (I've gotten conflicting info on who they were) backed Fowler to give him an 8-6 advantage over Dean.

Update: The Chairs and Vice Chairs rejected the recommendation of the Executive Committee to back Fowler. They then did a roll-call vote, which Dean won:

The ASDC ballot Endorsements
(state chairs and vice chairs) (public DNC members)

Dean 56 49
Fowler 21 9
Frost 5 15
Roemer 3 4
Rosenberg 3 4
Webb 3 10
Leyland 0 2
Abstain 5
That's 58% for Dean on the first ballot among the 96 ASDC Chairs and Vice Chairs that voted (Hotline); alongside Dean's continued backing within the DNC At-Large Members (and Labor is rumored to be next on board), Dean's in the homestrech and leading all alone.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The post was from a Fowler press release from the Exec. Board vote...juming the gun a little on the endorsement.....

[ImADeanDem]

44. And here's a CNN link

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/31/dems.chair.ap/index.html

[dusty64]

48. Thats what I had

thought too.

[proudbluestater]

45. Oh, the irony. He may have helped run Kerry's campaign in

Michigan, but it was the Michigan state party chair who asked all other party chairs to support DEAN, instead. :)

[Debi]

49. Brewer is the Chair of the State Chairs Assoc.

After the vote he had no choice but to push Dean. He actually supported Fowler early on and fought hard with the Exec. Board to endorse Fowler (not a fan of Dean by any reach). He may say he's supporting Dean, but come Feb. 12 I don't see him voting Dean.

[silverpatronus]

46. man, the party leadership is REALLY afraid of dean...n/t

[truthpusher]

47. afraid of chamge n/t