Howard Dean: Primaries for Dems who vote against public option!

[Phx_Dem]

Anything I read on Shittington Post is taken with a grain of salt, but since Dean is quoted here, it appears to be accurate.

"Former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean fired one of the clearest warning shots at hesitant Democratic lawmakers on Thursday, insisting that if the party was unable to produce a health care bill with a public plan, there would be electoral consequences.

"I do think there will be primaries as the result of all this, if the bill doesn't pass with a public option," Dean said, in a phone interview with the Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/dean-there-will-be-primar_n_258813.html

[grantcart]

1. good

[stray cat]

2. It depends to some extent on the what the people in more conservative states want

the US is not Vermont. Not every state has a majority demanding a public option

[Hippo_Tron]

4. But if the majority of Democrats in their state/district want it they need to consider that as well

If you want to simply vote as a delegate for your constituents then run as an independent. But when your name is on the ballot as a Democrat the Democratic primary voters also have a right to demand that you adhere to party values to a certain extent.

Of course if your district really is conservative then primary voters probably will not support a challenger running from the left.

[Phx_Dem]

5. If people in conservative states don't want a public option, they shouldn't

sign up for it - they can keep their shitty private plan if they want.

We're not talking about single-payer, which would eliminate private options.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. Dean's actually on to something here

I wonder if a few Progressive PACs could raise some serious cash for primary challenges to be used only in the event that a strong public option does not pass. That basically puts the pressure on the blue dogs and senate conservadems as a group to get the bill passed or they will all face opposition from the left.

[Phx_Dem]

Yep. I wish Dean was in the Senate.

;(

[karynnj]

7. Replacing Sanders or Leahy???

They are both to his left.

[Phx_Dem]

13. In a perfect world, replacing Reid as senator and majority leader.

[karynnj]

16. So, in a perfect world,

Dean would run in a state he doesn't live in and be made majority leader in his Freshman year?

Dean is good, but that is rather too much.

[uponit7771]

6. Yeap, fund a more progressive candidate and win

[jhain]

8. Damn straight, Howie!! n/t

[OHdem10]

9. I am getting tired of States that have more trees than people

making decisions which affect the whole country especially
states with large Metropolitan Areas. Some of these states
have no more than 600,000 people and they read the riot act
to states with populations like NY, Chicago.

I am sorry, this is the way Bush and DeLay ruled, and it
is getting tiring.

[tritsofme]

10. Big talk there guy.

My guess is that it is little more than that.

[CakeGrrl]

12. Could be...but do we really know the DNC's relationship with Dean?

or the White House's, for that matter?

He might be in closer contact with Tim Kaine or the WH than is assumed.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. YES!

Mad Max walks the plank first!

[Vidar]

14. I love Dean, but I doubt the DLC scum will go for this.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

15. Dean has balls, you gotta give him that--lot bigger than the Dem leadership for sho.