Transcript of Bradley's remarks on Dean

[Rose Siding]

For 18 years as a U.S. senator, I stood on platforms like this one and talked about what public service was and what politics could become. Four years ago, I ran for president. It was a journey filled with hope and joy and the knowledge that if we succeeded we could make life better for all Americans.

In 2000, many Americans in Iowa and New Hampshire and across the country gave me their support, and I continue to consider their confidence a sacred trust.

This year many of them have asked me who among this very capable group of candidates I would recommend. My answer is Howard Dean.

His campaign offers America new hope. His supporters are breathing fresh air into the lungs of our democracy. They're revitalizing politics, showing a way to escape the grip of big money and to confront the shame of forgetting those in need.

When Governor Dean says that his campaign is more about his supporters than about him, he shows admirable modesty, but he sheds light also on why his campaign offers the best chance to beat George Bush. That is, he is tapped into the same wonderful idealism that I saw in the eyes of Americans in 2000 and he has nourished it into a powerful force.

What is that idealism? It is the belief that good can triumph over bad, that principle can defeat expediency, that there's honor in working for a better world, that it's not naive to appeal to the better sides of our nature and it's all right to believe in the people, in your neighbor, in humankind.

From thousands of volunteers, to hundreds of thousands of small contributors, to large enthusiastic crowds along the campaign trail, more and more Americans are awakening to the fact that we don't have to have four more years of George Bush and his cronies.

In a world in which politics is a spectator sport and for many people campaigns mean sitting at home passively being manipulated by attack ads and half-truths, the Dean candidacy engages active participation, not from those who want special favors later, but from those who dream of building a better world now.

And that is why the Dean campaign is one of the best things that's happened to American democracy in decades.

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002981.html

[MysticMind]

1. Gore and Bradley are butt kissers and not too bright

Why ass kissers? They're simply endorsing Dean because they think he's popular. When they thought Clinton was unpopular they tried to distance themself from him.

Why are they stupid? Unlike Clinton who is waiting to announce his endorsement of a candidate until they're nominated Gore and Bradley endorse Dean and thus create animosity within the party.

[PAMod]

3. Or, maybe they prefer Howard Dean to the rest of the field.

Both are great Americans and either would have been a great president.

Keep your eyes on the prize!

[MysticMind]

5. based on what though?

His record as Governor?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. from another guy who quit his job to run for President

who cares what Bill Bradley says? He dropped out of the fight a long time ago.

[w4rma]

6. That's *both* of the previous Democratic presidential contenders

who are now supporting Dean, instead of the candidates' of the sour-grapes crowd.

At least I hope it's just sour grapes. Frankly I don't really trust folks who when disagreed with go direspectfully balistic on whomever disagreed with them.

[Rose Siding]

9. Maybe it's just jaded cynicism?

Bradley really struck the right chords, didn't he? He had definitely been paying close attention. I've always thought that once other political types become convinced that it can be done this way, they'd be more excited about it than I am.

[edzontar]

16. You are right...and their rantings read like GOP spin...

Straight off of Free Republic.

Go Dean, Go Dems!

[eileen_d]

19. B-b-but, Gore and Bradley were WASHINGTON INSIDERS!

The horror! The horror!

[w13rd0]

7. well, looks like Dean motivated him to get involved again...

...just like so many other Dean supporters. That doesn't make you happy?

[Duder]

4. Another slam dunk

For the likely nominee.

:)

[Cheswick2.0]

8. This is what I am telling people who ask

<<<<In a world in which politics is a spectator sport and for many people campaigns mean sitting at home passively being manipulated by attack ads and half-truths, the Dean candidacy engages active participation, not from those who want special favors later, but from those who dream of building a better world now.>>>>

Unfortunately some people still don't get it.

[sandnsea]

10. So much for the Washington insider plot

Dean has as many Washington insiders campaigning for him as anyone. If Harkin comes out later this week, that'll just be one more. They haven't all agreed on the issues, Harkin voted for IWR, Bradley against various farm aid. People choose their candidates for whatever reasons, just like Kennedy, Shaheen and Reich chose Kerry. It's time for people to start looking at who can lead, who has truly been fighting for the people his whole career, and who can beat George Bush. All this insider/outsider stuff has been a bunch of nonsense.

[rucky]

12. Yep. Time for Dean to stop acting like an outsider...

and assume the role as a leader for ALL of the party.

[Rose Siding]

13. I say welcome

As long as they're willing to fight when we need them to fight.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. "his campaign is more about his supporters than about him"

So true. Unfortunately, if he were to get elected, he'd be the one sitting in the White House. And then his supporters will find out that actions speak louder than words.

[PATRICK]

14. One hand clapping?

Lauding his supporters while not mentioning the candidate overmuch. Very strange. I'll counter that with Hootie and the Blowfish backing Edwards. I seem to be getting the impression that some of Dean's support is coming toward his campaign and not him directly, which is a mistake. I think they should honestly put Dean's personal qualities foremost if they believe in what they are committing to. Or is it just the brand of losing Dem political skills that sort of loses the whole point of an endorsement and plays into media message framing and bandwagon chasing?

[Rose Siding]

17. The circumstances in which we find ourselves

will take more than a single record, more than a single *good* candidate to overcome. Dean gives us the best shot at this fight.

I've seen this word "bandwagon" a few times today. It really belittles and understates what is happening. "Unity" or "community" or even "movement" are more accurate and have very different connotations.

[Hoppin_Mad]

15. Thanks Senator Bradley - You made the right choice ! -eom-

[nancyharris]

18. As one who strongly supported Senator Bradley

in the 2000 primary, I am somewhat baffled by his announced endorsement of Governor Dean.

Senator Bradley’s positions are much different than Governor Dean’s on a wide range of issues including Social Security, school vouchers, the death penalty, gun ownership, China trade vs. human rights and allowing churches to provide welfare services.

It is probably for these reasons that Governor Dean (unlike many Vermont State politicians) did not endorse Senator Bradley in 2000. Had any major Democratic leader endorsed Vice-President Gore prior to a single vote being cast in any primary, I believe Senator Bradley would have loudly opposed that campaign tactic.

[TexasSissy]

20. Bradley who?

[slinkerwink]

21. It's awesome that Bradley endorsed Dean!

Amazing that he brought together Gore and Bradley, who fought hard in 2000, in support of his campaign....this guy definitely unites people!

[quaker bill]

22. The news just gets better all the time.

"And that is why the Dean campaign is one of the best things that's happened to American democracy in decades."

I like it.

[Rose Siding]

23. Dean used this to his great advantage in the debate today

When charged with being angry when the party needs unity, he said (from the transcript):

I would submit, Joe, that's just what I'm doing. As you know, today Bill Bradley endorsed me; a month ago Al Gore endorsed me -- two people who fought bitterly for the nomination four years ago, as you're well aware.

If I can begin to breach the gap between Bill Bradley and Al Gore, and bring in people who have served long periods of time in Washington, and all the enthusiastic supporters we have, then I think I may be the right candidate to beat George Bush.

Let me just say one other thing. I agree with accommodation. Bill Clinton did a fantastic job as president, because he had extraordinary political skills, bringing people together.

But you cannot accommodate to the right wing led by people like Tom DeLay. Their values are not the values of the American people. And I think that it's time to stand up to those folks' values.

I truly believe that the right wing of the Republican Party puts the interests of their own party and their own power and their own vision for America ahead of the interests of the United States of America. And I agree with you, I'm proud to be an American.

I believe -- and I have a history as governor of working with Republican Senates and Republican Houses and Democratic and so forth and so on. But when people are unreasonable and put their own interests before the interests of America, then I say it's time to stand up, that is not the time to accommodate.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59300-2004Jan6.html