Lobbyist for Christian Coalition, now DLC, puts his two cents in re Dean.

[madfloridian]

Is this really the new face of the party?

His name is Marshall Wittmann, he has morphed from being a lobbyist for the Christian Coalition and Pat Robertson into a fellow at the DLC. He once called himself a neo-conservative.

Quote:...."But along the way, Wittman said, he became disenchanted with the “excesses of liberalism, particularly in areas of foreign policy and social policy at home. Like other neo-conservatives, I gravitated to Ronald Reagan’s Republican Party.”

Wittman served in the Department of Health and Human Services in the administration of George H.W. Bush, then was recruited by Rev. Robertson’s Christian Coalition."
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=10110

He may have turned back to the Democratic side, and this is fine. However I find it ironic he is saying Howard Dean should not be chair. If he is against the extreme right wing, fine. But he should at least register as a Democrat, don't you think? BUT I don't think he should be speaking as a face of the party.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-dean12jan12,0,546109.story?coll=la-home-headlines

SNIP.."But Marshall Wittmann, a former aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who now works with the Democratic Leadership Council, the party's leading centrist organization, said Dean would be the wrong leader for the party at this time.

"The fundamental weakness of the Democratic Party is in red-state America, where they perceive Democrats as being secularists who are weak on national security," Wittmann said.

He expressed skepticism Dean would change that image.

Wittmann, a registered independent, also said the next chairman would have to "thread the needle" of tackling the party's perceived weaknesses on national security and values without alienating the Democratic base." END SNIP

Are we really this afraid of just being Democrats? This truly worries me. This is what Dean was talking about when he said we would welcome others, but then he should we could talk about our values but not change them for others.

I read his Bull Moose blog sometimes, and he says some good things. I just don't want him butting his nose into our party business so soon into his reconversion to Democrat.

[meegbear]

1. So people like David Brock should butt out too?

Anyone who once defined themselves as a conservative?

[ibegurpard]

3. If they want the party to change to fit THEM then yes

Mr. Brock doesn't seem to be making any assertations like that.

[madfloridian]

6. Brock is a whole different situation. Media Matters works for US.

He is open and clear about what he did. I am just not wanting Wittmann taking over the DLC when he is not even registered as a Democrat.

[meegbear]

7. Fair enough

[greenohio]

9. The spies just don't walk in and say, hey I'm sorry and

now let me join you. They spend time earning your trust. Media matters can be a useful tool. However, I trust it about as far as I can throw it.

[ibegurpard]

13. I actually agree

Despite the fact that I agree with much of what he has had to say lately, I will always view Mr. Brock with a wary eye.

[madfloridian]

12. And like Arianna Huffiington, she is a different matter.

She and Brock took risks to stand up for our side of the coin. Wittmann does not meet that standard, and he worries me. He is not happy with the Bush administration, but he does not seem fully part of our party. He has a widely read blog that can influence many. If he is not a Democrat and is perceived as one....then it could hurt our party.

[ladjf]

2. I don't believe that Mr. Wittman is a person we should follow.

[CWebster]

4. Well, I guess the transformation is complete

Mission accomplished.

[Guns Aximbo]

5. sounds like a plant

a leopard doesn't change it's spots.

Also. Is the DNC that inept that it has to turn to the CC in order to get their message out?

[janx]

8. This guy sounds like a run-of-the-mill opportunist.

He is taking advantage of the changes we're seeing in American politics.

This is exactly the kind of thing Dean wants to get RID of!

Edit: But it does show, again, that some guns are out for Dean. Dean's not going to have an easy time of this. A lot of the power base in D.C. does not want him to get this position.

[madfloridian]

10. Right, it will not be easy.

No guarantees.

[TheDonkey]

11. riiiiiiight he isn't even a Democrat? The idiot probably voted * anyway

I don't take anything he says seriously