Dean vs Emmanuel and Schumer - What is going on?

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Thu May-11-06 09:08 AM
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Dean vs Emmanuel and Schumer - What is going on?

It seems that the Congress Democratic Leadership (Emmanuel and Schumer) are once again agitating against Dean and his 50 state strategy.

Probably no big deal, just power play and the DSCC and DCCC trying to get more money directly under their control, but it is now making it to the papers and this is not good news. So, if Emmanuel and Schumer could shut up and forget their ego for once, it would be nice:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051001927.html

Democrats Are Fractured Over Strategy, Funds

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 11, 2006; Page A01

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and the leader of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have clashed angrily in recent days in a dispute about how the party should spend its money in advance of this fall's midterm elections.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who is leading the party's effort to regain majority status in the House, stormed out of Dean's office several days ago leaving a trail of expletives, according to Democrats familiar with the session.

The blowup highlights a long-standing tension that has pitted Democratic congressional leaders, who are focused on their best opportunities for electoral gains this fall, against Dean and many state party chairmen, who believe that the party needs to be rebuilt from the ground up -- even in states that have traditionally been Republican strongholds.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/washington/11dean.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Dean and Party Leaders in a Money Dispute

By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: May 11, 2006

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Fifteen months after taking office, Mr. Dean has done precisely that. But the policy that has defined his tenure — while delighting state Democratic chairmen — has embroiled him in a battle with the two Congressional Democrats leading the effort to retake Congress this fall.

In a heated meeting last week, Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, challenged Mr. Dean on his 50-state program, saying it was undercutting Democratic hopes of taking back the House and the Senate, Democrats said. They warned that Mr. Dean was squandering an opportunity by sending money to parties in states that are a long way from becoming Democratic.

Democrats informed about the meeting described it as contentious and said Mr. Emanuel left abruptly when Mr. Dean declined to agree. Mr. Emanuel, in an interview, said he had left the meeting to cast a vote in Congress. He described their differences as a "fundamental difference about short-term versus long-term objectives — it is not hostile."

But in an interview, he said that he and Mr. Schumer, in their meeting with Mr. Dean, had drawn comparisons between what he was doing and the actions of his counterpart, Ken Mehlman, the leader of the Republican National Committee.

"We have an historic opportunity here," Mr. Emanuel said. "We need you on the field just like the R.N.C. is going to be on the field. If Ken Mehlman takes a powder on this election, great. But if not, you've got to be there."
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