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| Obama to Dean: Don't Let the Door Hit Ya on the Way Out |
| 2009-01-09 |
| The conspicuous absence of Howard Dean from Thursdays press conference announcing Tim Kaines appointment as Democratic National Committee chair was no accident, according to Dean loyalists. Rather, they say, it was a reflection of the lack of respect accorded to the outgoing party chairman by the Obama team. Despite leading the party in consecutive triumphant election cycles -- as well as through off-year races like when Kaine was elected Virginia governor in 2005 -- Dean has become all but invisible since Election Day, passed over for the Cabinet position he coveted and apparently not in line for another administration post. Indeed, when President-elect Barack Obama introduced Kaine at party headquarters Thursday afternoon, Dean was 7,023 miles and seven time zones away, closer to French Polynesia than Washington, doing party grunt work in American Samoa. "If he had been asked to go to that event, he would have been there," Jim Dean, the chairmans brother, noted twice in an interview. Deans reward for the party recapturing the White House, House, Senate, and taking control of seven governors mansions and eight state legislatures on his watch? So far, nothing. Everybody together now: YEEEAAAAAAAARRRGH!!! A physician by training who devoted much of his time as Vermont governor to health care, Dean had his eye on becoming Secretary of Health and Human Services. Good thing he has that medical degree to fall back on, right? But the post went to Obama ally and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. The fact that Dean wasnt even included in Thursdays ceremonial -- and very public -- transfer of power from him to Kaine only underscored his isolation. "The snub today was no accident," said one Dean ally. "I guarantee you he would have rescheduled his trip if asked to attend. Its easy to [screw] over people when you are riding high in the polls, let's see how many people are singing his praises in six months." "He launched a 50-state strategy that made Democrats competitive in places they had not been in years, working with my chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, to give Democrats a majority in the House for the first time in over a decade," Obama said of the Vermonter. The obligatory praise did little to placate Dean loyalists, and the mention of Emanuel, who Dean famously clashed with when Democrats took back Congress in 2006, felt like a gratuitous slap to some. "Its the most puzzling thing Ive ever seen in my life," added a longtime Democrat and friend of Dean, echoing the exasperation and befuddlement many close to him feel about his treatment since the election. "I have tried my best through [Obama advisers] Valerie Jarrett, David Axelrod and David Plouffe to ask if he ever committed some crime. I dont get it. Hes been a good soldier." A third Dean ally likened the outgoing chairman to two other high-profile Democrats who would seem to have given Obamaland more heartburn in the recent past. "If we can forgive Joe Lieberman for actively campaigning against Obama, this seems crazy to me. And Hillary Clinton did ok and lots of her people are getting plum assignments," noted the ally. "I really think he has rehabilitated himself. He showed he can be team player. It just seems so odd and I dont know what the reasons are." A close friend to Emanuel insisted that the incoming chief of staff was not plotting against his old adversary. "I talk to Rahm every day," said this source. "Neither he nor I have mentioned the name of Howard Dean. Its just not on his radar screen." In any event, the friend said, Dean would know for sure if he was being shunted aside by the new administration. "Rahm never stabs you in the back. He stabs you in front. But I promise that this was accidental." Before leaving for the South Pacific, Dean discussed his future. "I didn`t do this for the spoils," Dean told Chris Matthews on MSNBCs "Hardball." "I did this for the country. I`m very happy that Barack Obama is president, and I think he`s picked a great cabinet." But, showing a flash of the old, off-message Dean, the outgoing chairman couldnt help but crack wise about just one of the new presidents challenges. "You gotta hand it to Blagojevich," said Dean of the embattled Illinois governors brazen appointment of Roland Burris to succeed Obama in the Senate. "What a maneuver! What a maneuver! When his back was against the wall he outsmarted a lot of people." |
| Posted by:Cornsilk Blondie |
| #5 So how is the view from under the bus, Howie? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-01-09 21:52 |
| #4 |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2009-01-09 12:31 |
| #3 "Its the most puzzling thing Ive ever seen in my life," added a longtime Democrat and friend of Dean, Think about it a little longer, it may gain some resolution. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2009-01-09 11:13 |
| #2 So for the Democrats, will this pissing in the sandbox be the norm for then next four years. I'm thinking...yes. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-01-09 11:11 |
| #1 Big O seems to be making things up as he goes. Amateur hour takes over DC. But all the emo kids are thrilled so it won't hurt him at all. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-01-09 10:56 |