Abstract

Dissing Dean

The author comments on the sharp criticism leveled at Howard Dean by other Democratic presidential candidates. These desperate Democrats are writing the script for Bush's future TV ads in unfounded assaults on Dean while providing ample evidence to Democratic voters that they are unfit to lead. The current round of vitriol was sparked by Dean's statement that the capture of Saddam Hussein makes America no safer. The only thing notable about that statement is its common sense. Joe Lieberman, John Kerry and Dick Gephardt are scoring Dean for stating the obvious. Lieberman has issued the most personal assaults. Like the Democratic Leadership Council that he once chaired, Lieberman seems energized only when he is assailing other Democrats. No doubt Lieberman, leading in the polls at the beginning of the campaign, is bitter at his fall. It isn't surprising that Democrats, including AL Gore, have abandoned Lieberman, the champion of pre-emptive war, trade deficits, stock options and Medicare privatization. Dean has soared precisely by dating to challenge Bush (and thus Lieberman) on the central choices facing America. Sadly, John Kerry too has become shriller as his stock has declined. Dean displaced Kerry as the liberal standard-bearer by speaking clearly against the war on Iraq. And no matter who gets the nomination, the real question of the election will be whether voters want to fire George Bush or not.