Portrait in Courage: Howard Dean

[LuminousX]

Do people need to be reminded? Doubtful, as the Dean folk here do a great job in keeping Dean's achievements in the spotlight but this is the first time I came across this essay and yet again, it made me realize just how fantastic Dean is.

Profile in Courage Essay Contest Prize Winning Essay

Americans have rewritten the Declaration of Independence a thousand times since it was signed in 1776. The concepts that "all men are created equal" and that we are endowed with rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are inaccurate according to Thomas Jefferson, the author of these words. Their purpose was to prompt Americans to constantly reexamine our liberties and to promote these ideals until they equal truth (Boyer et al. 158).

As America has developed, we have awarded women suffrage, presented African Americans with equal opportunities and granted homosexuals the right to join in civil unions. With each transformation, we rewrite a truth that more closely resembles our ideals. The daring few who advocate justice to an unenlightened majority are the heroes and progressive sculptors of our living Declaration.

In 1967, a group of these bold Americans congregated outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia to crusade for the idyllic liberties of which Thomas Jefferson wrote. In an era where most gays tried to hide their "sinful and sick" identities in miserable heterosexual marriages (Galas 18), a black and white placard was held high: "Fifteen million U.S. homosexuals ask for the right to the pursuit of happiness" (Galas 16). Since 1967, gays have endured failed lawsuits and unfavorable legislation in their campaign for gay marriage. But in 2000, Vermont’s Governor Howard Dean signed a landmark bill finally awarding homosexuals the freedom they had been fighting for.

An unlikely gay rights advocate, Dean seemed politically infallible. The Yale graduate assumed the Governor’s position in 1991 and over 9 years developed every politician’s ideal resume. Dean made Vermont the forerunner in welfare and health care reform and made it first, nationally, in childhood immunizations. Dean also eliminated his state’s sixty-four million dollar deficit and still managed to cut taxes. No one was surprised that Dean won reelections easily with seventy percent of the vote (State of Vermont). With his performance and popularity as governor, he could have run for President. Why did Howard Dean risk his political future with the signing of one bill?

[pnziii]

1. That's why Rove was REALLY afraid of Dean

With a portion of the Republicans getting fed up with Bush for his "liberal" fical policies. "Spending like a drunken sailor" says McCain.

Dean was the only Democrat that could get disgruntled Republicans to vote Democratic.

Dean's unwavering balanced budget year after year apeals to a conservative base. Also Dean cut taxes.

How is Kerry going to get Republicans or Conservative Independants like myself to vote for him.

I don't want government waste and that what the Dems do.
Keep throwing money at the problem until it drowns in excess funds.

[Maddy McCall]

2. In his last re-election, Dean only won by a very slim margin, NOT 70%

And his percentage DECLINED with each consecutive election. He was by no means overwhelmingly popular when he left office.

Edited to add figures: Elected Governor in 1992 with 75% of the vote after serving as Lieutenant Governor, he was re-elected every two years (Vermont is one of the few states that still has a two year Governor's term) with 68.69%; 70.50%; 55.66% and 50.45%.

In his last reelection, he won by less than one percent. Not that impressive and speaks volumes on his declining support in Vermont.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

3. He was running against two candidates in that election

And anyway, winning an election is still winning an election.

Nice try though.

[LuminousX]

4. And wasn't one opponent from a progressive group

causing Dean to forge a center path against the Right and the Left.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

6. Yep.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Winning by less than 1% is an indication that any further attempt would be

a losing one.

[LuminousX]

7. You have proof of this?

Or is that an expert opinion?

[Maddy McCall]

10. Yeah, you can call it expert.

Read the stats...they are pretty clear. :eyes:

[LuminousX]

13. What were the odds of those progressives voting Republican?

So much for 'expertise.'

[HuckleB]

14. Yeah, they are.

Dean beat the Republican by 13 percent, with 10 percent of the vote going to the Progessive. That ten percent isn't going to go for the Republican in 2002, now is it?

And this occurred in the election following the domestic partnership controversy.

:eyes:

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

9. Your psychic abilities are astounding!

If that's the case then why are we worried about running against an incumbent this fall who got 2% LESS of the vote than his opponent? By your logic he's guaranteed to lose this year! Huzzah!

[Maddy McCall]

11. Thank you, but not psychic, just reading the stats...easy to decifer

Even a second grader could see from the stats that Dean's popularity was declining.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

15. That still doesn't guarantee he would have lost the next election

I respect your right not to like him, but I really don't think you can take away from the fact that he did something politically risky that did a lot of good for the LGB community, and that he was re-elected five times. Those are two-year terms, also, and the shifts in popularity over two years as opposed to four years is much more volatile. I think that's a formidable accomplishment for ANY elected official.

[HuckleB]

16. Actually, it was highly unlikely that Dean would have lost the next...

election. He beat the GOP by 13 percent, while a progressive to his left garnered ten percent of the vote. Without the third party taking votes from Dean, the winning margin in 2000 would likely have been well over 20 percent. And that's in the election following the domestic partnership matter.

[HuckleB]

12. The margin was Dean by 13 percent over the Republican in 2000.

Further, the ten percent that went for the Progressive candidate are hardly likely to vote for the Republican in a coming election. Thus, you assertion "that any further attempt would be a losing one" is way off base.

[pnziii]

8. Hold on

Kerry only got 39% in New Hampshire
Not overwhelming support I would say.

Sixty one percent voted against Kerry
Seems to me the majority doesn't want Kerry!!!!!

[foo_bar]

17. 61% against Kerry, 74% against Dean

if you're a glass half empty kinda guy.

[polpilot]

18. Another win for the DLC's establishment candidate!!!!!!

Dean '04...The ONLY Hope

[HuckleB]

19. Great thread starter, by the way!

Despite having things co-opted by negative misconceptions. Now that those are out of the way, let's celebrate Dean's courage, indeed!