Gov. Dean's Statement on "Clash" with Obama Advisors: "IT'S NOT TRUE"

[kpete]

Gov. Dean's Statement on "Clash" with Obama Advisors
by samoashark
Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 08:29:02 PM PST

The Jan. 12th issue of the Samoa News (on line link not available) in Pago Pago, American Samoa published Gov. Dean's comments made in response to a direct question at a press conference Friday morning about media reports that he had "clashed" with Obama advisors and was asked not to attend the new conference on Wednesday where President-Elect Obama introduced Gov. Kaine as the new DNC Chair. This was Gov. Dean's response:

"As far as I know, it's not true. I have not clashed with Obama's advisors."

According the the report, Dean noted that he did clash with one of Obama's advisors but it occurred before the person became an advisor to Obama. He also said it would be very hard to change a trip to American Samoa for a press conference.

"You know, people like to say those kinds of things just to stir things up," Dean said. "I'm not interested in stirring things up. We have a lot of important problems in front of us and we need to deal with that...not gossip and the internet."

Gov. Dean also said that he didn't know if he was invited to the news conference because he was on his way to American Samoa when it happened.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/12/23455/5870/63/683379

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. I would love to see Dean in the cabinet

where is the thanks for Dean's 50 state strategy?

Without Dean, we wouldn't have flipped the Congress in 06.

Without Dean, we wouldn't have had this primary season set up to where most if not all
states counted (for the first time).

The primary increased the number of registered Dems and brought enthusiasm into the process.

We owe Dean big time, and I would like to see the O man show some appreciation
loud and clear.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Not me. I'd love to see Dean do what he decides he wants to do. He's smart and capable and

we were so lucky to have him when we needed him the most.

He kicked ass and took names.

[Horse with no Name]

5. Where is Dean's 50-state strategy?

The Dems threw it out in the trash because Rahm never wanted to share credit with Dean on the 2006 victories. But lookie lookie who has been digging in the trash:

http://www.gainesvilleregister.com/local/local_story_009122352.html

>>>snip
Former Chair of Republican National Committee “Victory 2000 Campaign” Fred Meyer was the guest speaker at the Cooke County Republican Women General Meeting at the First Christian Church Fellowship Hall Jan. 8. Meyer said that Obama has got to bring the country together and that we all need to work together.

>snip
“We need to work at the grass roots level,” said Meyer. Voter registration, clubs, “recruiting good candidates that are honest individuals and not doing it for their own benefit.”

“We need to have issues that have strong support,” said Meyer. “We need to get away from fringe issues.”

Meyer said that fringe issues don’t draw the population we need. He cited Newt Gingrich’s position, that Republicans and their issues can appeal to 60 percent of the population. Meyer wants to see a higher percentage of support from the population.

Meyer said “fundraising is a new area that we (Republicans) have got to get on top of.”

[Radical Activist]

12. Do you have any idea

what Obama is currently doing with change.gov to keep the campaign organization working on projects in all 50 states? Obama is taking grass-roots organizing to all 50 states in ways far beyond anything Dean ever attempted.

[Horse with no Name]

14. Bullshit.

Dean did that. Obama did not. Obama USED the network put in place by Dean and it was VERY successful...but that was Dean's groundwork. Credit where credit is due...even though I am getting the idea you aren't the type to do that.

[Radical Activist]

15. lol

Really? So the email, address and phone list of people who signed up to OBAMA's website and OBAMA's change.gov and were active in OBAMA's Presidential campaign were all due to Dean? And the Obama for Change house party I went to in my home town last month AFTER the campaign that had no connection the DNC is all because of Dean? And the email from David Plouffe and the phone call from an OBAMA staffer were secretly from Dean?

Stop worshiping personalities and live in the real world. The 50 state strategy was a good thing but Obama would have done exactly what he did with or without Dean. Obama ran his Presidential campaign based on the same community organizing model he used in his US Senate and State Senate campaigns. Obama was doing it long before Dean found out that a few populist slogans would win him votes in Iowa. Dean was largely inconsequential to Obama's campaign.

[Occam Bandage]

19. It's still in effect.

From the Obama email message on the 9th:

"Among his many achievements, Governor Dean launched a strategy to reach out to Americans in all 50 states -- north, south, east and west. This 50-state strategy helped Democrats compete in states where we hadn't in years, including states like Virginia.

Governor Kaine has seen the power of the 50-state strategy firsthand, and under his leadership, Democrats will continue to organize and compete in every corner of our country."

[Radical Activist]

13. Would you like to see

an email from Obama to all of his supporters that praises the 50 state strategy and asks them to donate to the DNC?
Because Obama already did that.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

21. I'd like to see Dean in the cabinet

or in some high profile position. He deserves it. He'd be an assett.

[Hekate]

2. TY very much kpete. Do you think the contingent of the chronically dissatisfied will believe it?

At this point I'm not holding my breath, but I appreciate confirmation of the facts.

Hekate

[madfloridian]

6. No, the ones you just insulted know better.

Dean's words are not really confirmation of anything but that he is a party loyalist.

[Hekate]

9. If the shoe doesn't fit, feel free to toss it at my head. nt

[madfloridian]

10. I don't insult people. I never have.

DU is becoming filled with those who do.

Mention Dean's name and the whole forum goes nuts.

Why is that?

[stillcool]

8. nah..You can't take Howard Dean's..

word for it. Other people know way better than he does.

[madfloridian]

4. I posted that earlier, but I am dubious.

He really is gracious. He is disputing his own brother in a way...guess he has to do so.

[madfloridian]

7. Here's his full interview I posted earlier.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/3410

I think there is far more to all of it. I know some journalists who are even stunned by the total shutout.

Dean is gracious. Good for him.

Here is more on his trip and some other blogs.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/3409

[Radical Activist]

11. Like I wrote when that story was first posted here

it was contrived baloney by people trying to stir the pot and create division. Some people are really gullible about any attack on Obama. Isn't it funny how that story just happened to show up right about the same time Obama appointed someone else to HHS?

[Kaleko]

16. Listen to Dean himself: "I'm not interested in stirring things up.

We have a lot of important problems in front of us and we need to deal with that...not gossip and the internet."

Why create doubt that the man means what he says?

[madfloridian]

17. He is going to have to make decisions.

He is not going to be welcomed by the establishment Dems. Not ever.

BUT if he distances from the grassroots, which hs never has before...he will belong in neither place.

Just as well. He will never fit with the insiders, and he should not diss the internet and netroots and grassroots....and his own brother.

He will make big money speaking...he's in Nigeria today with a lot of politicians making big money.

He tried, and I give him credit.

[Kaleko]

18. Maybe you know Dean better than I do.

It's certainly possible that he feels slighted and deeply underappreciated etc.

I get the sense that Dean is a real trooper, a passionate man with a vision for America. A genuine patriot with an ego that is not fragile. He's serving a greater purpose, and knowing that can give a person formidable self-confidence.

[madfloridian]

20. No one really knows anything much.

I just know that he is between both worlds...not an insider, and shouldn't criticize grassroots too much...even if he makes loads of money. Which he certainly deserves.