Howard Dean, Chris Dodd To AFL-CIO In Hartford: No GOP Wave

[ProSense]

Howard Dean, Chris Dodd To AFL-CIO In Hartford: No GOP Wave

By MARA LEE


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Dean, the former governor of Vermont and a presidential hopeful in 2004, talked about his disappointment as a doctor that the health care reform that passed wasn't stronger.

He reminded the audience of the flip-flop of Connecticut's Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat, now Independent, on expanding access to Medicare. A proposal to allow uninsured people in their 50s to pay the full cost of Medicare coverage won a majority of Senators' votes, but failed to reach the 60-vote supermajority required to overcome Republican resistance. People in their 50s have the most problems getting affordable health care on the individual insurance market, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the buy-in would have improved Medicare's finances, because the new participants would be younger and healthier, and would pay far more in premiums while using fewer services.

"It came within one vote. I'm embarrassed to say that vote came from this state," Dean said. "Remember who sold you out on health care. We can do better. We're not going to forget that in 2012."

The crowd whistled and clapped, and a woman cried, "No, we're not."

"We've got a president in there we can believe in," Dean said. "Make sure between 2010 and 2012 he can continue to pass big pieces of legislation. He needs a Democratic majority in the House and Senate."

[Radical Activist]

1. This is a very smart comment by Dean.

Our problem is the conservative Senate. We need to make sure people understand that the Senate is why people are getting the agenda they voted for in 2008. That's how we motivate people to vote in 2010. That's how we get the rest of what progressives want.

[FBaggins]

2. So rather than a prediction that there won't be a wave...

...this is really a request that our voters show up to avoid a wave?

[Scurrilous]

3. "We've got a president in there we can believe in," Dean said."

Yep. :thumbsup:

[ProSense]

4. Figured this would be ignored. n/t

[janx]

6. Why?

I'm an old Deaniac, and I love it!

[Scurrilous]

7. Yep.

Typical.

[janx]

5. How great that Dean's organization chose Obama for one of

the original Dean Dozen, and how marvelous, in view of what Dean did as DNC chair, that things have transpired as they have. Dean must be so satisfied.

[janx]

8. kickerooski!