Is Howard Dean a Liberal?

[xultar]

What Liberal Messiah?
Howard Dean, left-wing impostor.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2084735/

For months, Dean has accused his Democratic rivals of caving to the right. He scolds them for supporting the Iraq war resolution, accepting $350 billion in additional deficit-era tax cuts, and voting for President Bush's underfunded education bill. Dean claims to stand for "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," unlike Bob Graham, who purports to represent "the electable wing of the Democratic Party." But how exactly do Dean and Graham differ on the war resolution, the tax cuts, and funding the education bill? Not at all.

snip

Most of what Dean said on Meet the Press Sunday morning could have been written by the Democratic Leadership Council. He accused Bush of forcing tax hikes and spending too much. He indicated that he'd limit the rate of spending growth and might raise the retirement age. He deferred to states and churches on gun control and gay marriage. At one point, host Tim Russert rapped Dean for calling Dick Gephardt's expensive health care proposal "pie in the sky." Some big spender. Dean's defense of the death penalty in extreme cases was even more eyebrow-raising:

The problem with life without parole is that people get out for reasons that have nothing to do with justice. We had a case where a guy who was a rapist, a serial sex offender, was convicted, then was let out on what I would think and believe was a technicality, a new trial was ordered, and the victim wouldn't come back and go through the second trial. And so the guy basically got time served. … So life without parole doesn't work either.

Executing killers because they might get out on a "technicality"? That isn't just pro-death penalty. It's anti-due-process.

More here : http://slate.msn.com/id/2084735/

Now, I know some of you think that it is important for a Democrat to be labeled a Liberal. What what is a label if you really are a moderate.

Alot of Dean supporters here @ DU have told me that they know that Dean isn't a liberal. So what do we now care that 1 in 8 think Clark is a Liberal? Should we now care that while Dean and his supporters and the media label himself a Liberal he really isn't and that may dissapoint the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party?

Discuss

[liberalnurse]

1. Howard Dean is a Constitutional Democrat.....

[Mairead]

24. If he were a 'Constitutional' anything, don't you think he'd be more

concerned about our Constitutional rights? His stance on the 'patriot' act and his treatment in Vermont of the public-defenders' office suggests that our Constitutional rights are well down his list of priorities.

[CWebster]

31. Like...

flaming flags.

Hi Mairead, how goes it? :hi:

[CWebster]

2. Nope, never claimed he was

And Clark, is he a Democrat?

All depends on the scale, doesn't it?

[liberalnurse]

5. Clark was not a registered Democrat until September, 03.

[Dookus]

7. and yet

today he's more liberal than Howard Dean.

Why his why I'm supporting Clark. I'm a liberal. He's a liberal.

[liberalnurse]

11. He talks the talk but so did *bush.

[Dookus]

17. bush

talked the talk of a liberal? I don't think so.

[xultar]

8. HELLOO AR DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION!!!

He was an INDEPENDENT!

Now will you tell the FEC to throw out votes in the 2004 GE from all republicans and independents that voted for the Dem Candidate?

Will Dean return all of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ donated to his campaign from the Republicans?

[liberalnurse]

13. So what...he is running today as a Democrat.

and is still a rookie.

[Dookus]

18. His responsibilities as SACEUR

were far greater than those of the Governor of Vermont. The "rookie" Clark has exceptional experience.

Why not find something real to argue, rather than those kinds of lame slams?

[bowens43]

23. The rookie has the experience needed to

be the dictator of a small third world nation, not the experience needed to be President of the United States. Real? This is real. If we want to elect a Republican we may as well vote for bush. The rookie has nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

[xultar]

20. What does it matter what he is running as Dean is to the right of

Clark. Why is Dean running as a Liberal?

[bowens43]

25. Of course it matters.

Dean is a Democrat , Clark isn't. A clark nomination will have the effect of moving our party and our country to further to the right, a Dean nomination won't.

[bowens43]

29. HELLOO Clark is vocal supporter of the current administration.

Why would anyone want to throw out votes from anyone? That makes no sense. Do you really not see the difference between accepting a vote from a republican for a Democratic candidate and running a Republican on the democratic ticket?

you claim he was an Independent, FINE let the neo-con, oppertunist run as an Independent but he has no place on our ticket.

[elperromagico]

3. I fear the liberal tag will stick,

and turn off swing voters. Conversely, if he "goes to the center" for the general election, he might turn off Greens and libertarians. It's a risky proposition either way.

Don't doubt for a second that Rove and Co. won't try to have it both ways.

[xultar]

6. My point EXACTLY! So

While people here are making assertions that Clark is a Repug and bashing him for it. They are forgetting that


1. CNN Contends: “Governor Howard Dean Was No Left-Wing Liberal”

CNN set out Wednesday night to prove that Howard Dean was no liberal as Governor of Vermont, but reporter Kelly Wallace used as her authoritative sources the editor of a self-described “alternative” newspaper and a local Democratic legislator. Wallace declared as a “misperception” any idea that Dean governed Vermont as a liberal: “Those who know him well say Governor Howard Dean was no left-wing liberal.” Peter Freyne of the Seven Days newspaper opined: “We all laugh at that. Howard Dean represented the Republican wing of the Democratic party.” On his Web site for Seven Days, described as “Vermont’s Alternate Weekly,” Freyne boasted of how he got CNN to publicize his point of view.

Just remember for every smear or negative post for Clark I can post one back. I don't mean to play who can piss in the snow better but when are you going to learn. When are you going to start posting postives for YOUR candidate. Let's stop the maddness people!!!

[bowens43]

19. But Dean IS a Democrat

You suggest that because Dean isn't on the fringes we should go the other way and elect a right wing neo-con??? That makes no sense at all. Better we keep the neo-con we have then try to break in a new one. When are you going to stop ignoring the fact that your guy has been a 'Democrat' for less then 3 months. You dress him up, you can tell him what to say but you can't erase the things that he has done.
You can post all the negatives you want, Dean is a candidate with substance, he can take it. Clark on the other hand is an empty uniform, take it away and you're left with nothing. Why don't urge your candidate to come clean and admit what is, it's ok, we already know....

[bowens43]

16. When did liberal become a dirty word?

Is conservative also a dirty word? I don't buy that bullshit. Nothing wrong with being a liberal.

[elperromagico]

32. Nothing wrong with it to you. Nothing wrong with it to me.

But if you think Rove won't make it sound like a dirty word to swing voters, think again.

Elections aren't won with 33% of the vote.

[Walt Starr]

4. Howard Dean is Howard Dean

Liberal and Conservative are tired, overused labels that cannot adequately describe anything about Howard Dean.

Do I agree with Howard Dean on all of the issues? No.

Do I agree with other candidates more than I agree with Howard Dean on most issues? Yeah, probably.

Is there another viable candidate who has not already caved multiple times to the BFEE? Nope, not at all.

Dean is catering to a revolution in the party. We are sick of wimp-ass do-nothing, save-my-cushy-job asshole COCKROACHES who would rather sell out the people than stand up to Bush because they are terrified what the fucked up Republican Party will think about it.

Fuck giving a shit about what the Republicans think. Tjhose people are assholes anyway.

[Rose Siding]

9. He saw the fight ahead of us and took it up

when *no*one*else*would*, labels be damned

[Mairead]

28. Sorry, but I think that must be shortlisted for

The Silliest Thing Said At DU Recently.

Dennis Kucinich is on record as being miles in front of Dean on EVERY issue that should concern working people. EVERY issue! Read his 'Prayer' speech to the ADA from February '02. Try to find anything comparable from Dean.

[Padraig18]

33. "Every issue that *shuold* concern working people..."

Rather presumptuous, don't you think? Working people are not some monolithic brog-like group. They all have some shared concerns, and some NOT shared at all...

[Mairead]

35. Presumptuous? Not at all.

There isn't a single tissue issue or pocketbook issue in which DK isn't bang alonside working people's interests. Try naming one.

[Toot]

12. Nicely said. That's how I feel.

I know I'm way more liberal than Howard, but I still like Dean way more, than the other "leaders".

[bowens43]

21. You got it.

I'm sick of people suggesting that to beat bush we have to run bush as our candidate.

[cryofan]

10. do liberals want to raise retirement age to 70, cut Medicare& vets benefit

Dean is a cryptoRepublican who has said in the past that we should raise the Social Security retirement age to 70 (from 65), cut Medicare & vets benefits, and cut other social safety net programs. He said as the Democratic Governor of Vermont, that he was under no pressure the further the Democratic agenda.

See www.mylinuxisp.com/~cryofan/dean.html for proof,

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. A better question is: DUer, are YOU a liberal?

If the answer is yes, maybe you should think about backing a candidate who actually shares your values. Someone who has fought for liberal causes his whole career.

John Kerry is a liberal. You won't see any debates about it here on DU because it is a simple fact. And I believe 2004 is the best chance we have in a long time to elect a real liberal to the White House. Our Democratic party base is more energized than any time I can remember. And the corrupt, dishonest policies of the administration have many independent and swing voters questioning their support. We need to put forth a candidate who is a REAL CONTRAST WITH BUSH.

A liberal :vs: a conservative.
A war hero/anti-war hero :vs: an AWOL warmonger.

[bowens43]

15. Only republicans think Dean is a liberal.

[mzmolly]

22. Howard Dean is a "REASONABLE"

Sorry, but we can't box him in. *sigh* such is life.

He'll make a great President. I can't wait!!!

GO DEAN!

[Walt Starr]

26. BANG!!!

When confronted by anybody who says, "Howard Dean is a Liberal" or "Howard Dean is a Conservative" from now on my standard answer is as follows.

BULLSHIT! Howard Dean is a REASONABLE!

[corporatewhore]

27. Howard Dean is an oppertunist and wes clark is scary

[bowens43]

30. Howard Dean is an opportunist???

Your kidding right? Dean worked for his place in this race. Clark is the opportunist.

[Tweed]

34. So interesting

That Deaniacs won't even THINK about voting for Clark because of his sometimes conservative viewpoints in the past.