Email From Howard Dean: "Real Democrats don’t use “liberal” as an epithet"

[Triana]

Why would someone running as a Democrat attack a fellow Democrat for wanting to repeal the reckless Bush tax cuts? That's the question I had after seeing Ro Khanna's latest attack against Rep. Mike Honda.

George W. Bush's tax cuts were fiscally irresponsible. At a time when the nation was at war -- and when we had important investments to make here at home -- President Bush pushed Congress to pass a huge and unprecedented tax cut that favored the rich and caused our national debt to soar.

Yet Ro Khanna is now attacking Mike Honda for opposing Bush's disastrous tax cut. His congressional campaign is sending mailers to voters in California's 17th District calling Honda an "old-school liberal" and criticizing him for wanting to do the right thing in repealing Bush’s tax cuts.

Let's show Ro Khanna that we won't tolerate his attacks from the right against a progressive Democrat who has been a hero for working families. Please join me in standing up for Mike Honda by chipping in $3 to his campaign today.



Being a "liberal" isn't an insult, it's a badge of honor -- one shared by Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown. But there's nothing good about supporting reckless tax cuts that benefited the super rich and exploded our nation's deficit. Mike Honda showed true leadership and fiscal responsibility in pushing to repeal Bush's tax cuts. It's just one big reason why I endorsed Mike Honda.

As the former Chair of the Democratic National Committee, it's obvious to me that Ro Khanna is campaigning like a Republican. Real Democrats don't use "liberal" as an epithet or attack fellow Democrats for standing up for progressive values like making sure the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.

This race is a battle for the future of the Democratic Party. Don't let Ro Khanna get away with moving our party to the right by attacking Democrats for standing up for our values.

Join me in standing with Mike Honda as he fights back against Ro Khanna's attacks. Please chip in $3 today to support this progressive hero.

Thank you for joining me in standing up against this outrageous attack.

- Howard

Gov. Howard Dean, Founder
Democracy for America

ADDITIONAL LINK:

Mike Honda's opponent (Ro Khanna) attacks him for wanting to strengthen Social Security: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/08/1334764/-Mike-Honda-s-opponent-attacks-him-for-wanting-to-strengthen-Social-Security

[LooseWilly]

1. That's why Honda will get my vote...

... well, would if I lived one county over and could vote for him.

Honda could use some money to help him defend himself from Silicon Valley Business Democrat candidates... Dean is right.

[appalachiablue]

2. DEAN is Right.

I saw some of this debate. I thought Ro Khanna was a Repug. Esp. with the worn S.V. need for more (lower paid) H1B Visa workers b/c 'there aren't enough US software engineers'. Not so. Honda did well. A proud Liberal all my life. Not going to run from that label.

[Triana]

3. I can't believe Ro Khanna is a Dem. I don't think so. He's a Repub with a 'D' by his name

I can't vote for Honda but if I could, I would!

[Cha]

4. Kick~ I've been looking for this as it caught my eye and then it was gone.. so I googled it just now

Terrible dem, Ro Khanna.

Old School Liberals are the BEST! Just Look at Rick Weiland in South Dakota for crying out loud!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025683078#top

Thank you, Triana