Howard Dean: Sanders 'Not A Fringe Candidate'

[babylonsister]

Howard Dean: Sanders 'Not A Fringe Candidate'
By Bob Kinzel • 9 hours ago


Former Gov. Howard Dean says Sen. Bernie Sanders is a strong presidential candidate.

Dean, who has already endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, says he told the Clinton campaign not to underestimate Sanders' strength in the Democratic presidential primary race.

Dean has some practical experience in Democratic presidential politics. In 2004, he was viewed as one of the front runners until his campaign fell apart in the Iowa caucuses.

Dean says Sanders has a lifelong message of supporting economic equality issues and that he's well suited to bring these issues to the presidential campaign.

“It turns out that economic justice is probably the largest domestic issue that we're facing right now,” he says. “Underlined by the riots in Baltimore, underlined by the polls, which tell us that 80 percent of the American people don't think the economy is working for them anymore, and so Bernie's sort of in the right place at the right time."

Dean says having Sanders in the Democratic presidential debates ensures that these economic issues will be discussed. “You have to confront the issue of income inequality if Bernie Sanders is up there. He's a good debater. He doesn't get personal and make personal attacks. He sticks to the issues. I have counseled the Clinton folks to take him very seriously," says the former governor.

"You have to confront the issue of income inequality if Bernie Sanders is up there. He's a good debater. He doesn't get personal and make personal attacks. He sticks to the issues. I have counseled the Clinton folks to take him very seriously." - Former Gov. Howard Dean

more...

http://digital.vpr.net/post/howard-dean-sanders-not-fringe-candidate

[mmonk]

1. Thanks.

Nice article. But you always post good ones.

[freshwest]

2. Love it. Definitely not fringe. He's the kind of Democrat I work with. n/t

[nikto]

41. Bernie's the kind of Democrat ...

I am.

[sabrina 1]

3. I hope he also knows that Sanders is serious about winning and so are his

supporters. I lost a lot of respect for Dean when he went after Elizabeth Warren on behalf of Wall St.

But he's right, Bernie is not to be taken lightly.

[mmonk]

4. If the corporations are a little worried and take into account

the plight and a champion of the people, I figure it's a good sign.

[sabrina 1]

6. It is a good sign. But it means their Think Tanks and Security Contractors are

now bidding on contracts to smear him. We need to not take THEM lightly either.

We've seen a few feeble attempts so far, none of which went anywhere.

But I am willing to bet that right now 'smears' are being reviewed and tested and big money is being spent in preparation for the REAL campaign 'how to make sure only Wall St Candidates make it to the GE.

[mmonk]

14. Agreed. I certainly do not take it lightly.

It's why I have marched every year since 2010 when the Republicans took over my state for the first time in 100 years. And I do not take lightly those Democrats that aided and abetted through economic ideology.

[nikto]

42. I'll bet you are right on target

Bernie is a legit threat to the elite$.

They've gotta' stop him.



The more the elites hate him, the more I love the guy.

[dpatbrown]

52. Serious

Every day I read these trends saying what a great candidate Sanders is. OK, I hear. I also think he's a great candidate, but will not be elected. The only way he has any chance is for those of you who think he does, to spend the next year, 24/7 going house to house in ALL neighborhoods, to convince voters. Once the right wing money gets the upper hand, it's curtains for Sanders. Stop talking and start walking.

[sabrina 1]

53. You're overlooking something very important that was not such a huge factor

in previous presidential elections, and you mentioned it, but are seeing it through the lens of the past. That money you are talking about for the first time is going to be a huge issue in this election.

Sanders very candidacy is all about that poisonous element in our electoral system.

Sure many of us knew about it but for a while we were glad that Dems were getting enough to compete, but only for a while until we saw the deleterious affect it was having on the whole process.

OWS brought the issue to the forefront which really was their main goal.

Bernie Sanders was an early and public supporter of that movement.

They laid the groundwork, evening providing easy to understand lingo to describe the poisonous effects of that money in our system.

There is hardly anyone left in this country today who doesn't use that language when speaking about money in politics.

And I do not hear anyone daring to defend it anymore, other to say 'look, it' a fact, so what can we do'.

Bernie is providing the opportunity for the tens of millions of Americans who do not want money buying their government, to finally have a say in preventing it.

And before this campaign is over, THAT will be the most talked about issue in the campaign.

A victory for Bernie would mean a victory OVER those billions of corporate dollars and THAT is what is exciting to more and more people as they learn about his campaign. No longer do they have a choice only between Corporate funded candidates.

All the whining about that money, 'but what can we do' can stop, because now there is something they can do, they can vote for the candidate who rejects that money. Because every vote for him is a vote AGAINST Citizens United.

You don't like CU? Then put your vote where you can help defeat it. Congress won't do it, we know that, but WE can do it, thanks to Bernie putting himself on the front lines on our behalf.

That money can be defeated but only if the people really want it and are not just talking.

[Bohunk68]

54. RIGHT ON!!!!!!!! Sabrina!

The only candidate I ever gave money to was Howard Dean and then the media went after him. I just signed up for so much a month for at least the next year for Bernie. I'm on SS, below the poverty level, but I feel this is just as important as another group that I donate to on a monthly basis, the ACLU. It hurts, but it is absolutely necessary. I will also go door-to-door for him. I truly believe that Bernie is the real shit.

[dpatbrown]

56. CU??

Sabrina, I really don't understand your response to what I wrote. My whole point was people here need to stop telling me how great Sanders is. Tell me how you are going to convince the majority of this country, not wishful thinking. So yes, Citizens United has skewed our political process more than anything. I agree, but now what?????

[erronis]

5. I miss the primal scream, but Bernie is pretty close to showing his true colors

Why is it that Vermont (smallest state capital, tiny population, "interesting" weather, etc., etc.) has had such a good list of intelligent people and even some intelligent politicians?

I know it's not because it is now my adopted state and that I am less than objective...

[mmonk]

7. They participate in politics at the local level,

not merely the Fox driven media level and sh*t radio level.

[DFW]

11. If it makes you feel any better

Howard and Sanders are both New Yorkers

[erronis]

15. Yes, many of us are transplants - much to the chagrin of the Real Vermonters

I try to parlay the fact that my parents first lived in VT when they were married, way back in the 30's. I don't think anything less than 3 generations counts much up heah.

Still, there are some good people that come from NY. Even a few from MA - probably less from NJ. I guess I form my judgement on how they drive on our back roads (they're all back roads.)

[DFW]

18. Except for Norwich and White River Jct., I have never driven on Vermont back roads, so I don't know

I had cousins who lived in Hanover, NH.

Been up and down I-91 a few times, of course, and once got driven from Waterbury to Montpelier and back. Never driven with Howard, although taken a train trip with him when we were both going from DC to NYC on the same day.

I guy I know once had occasion to visit with Warren Buffett in Omaha. Buffett invited him to some restaurant he liked. He said that when they were not moving, Warren Buffett was a legendary investor with much wisdom to impart. But when he was driving, he was just an eighty-something who was no longer very steady at the wheel, and he was scared for his life!

[MADem]

20. So's Clinton, FWIW! She's the former Senator from NY and owns a home there.

Her husband's offices are in Harlem.

[Omaha Steve]

8. K&R!

[L0oniX]

9. Someone get a power winch, we're pulling Dean out from under the bus.

[SamKnause]

23. Not me.

He is counseling the Hillary campaign on how to beat Bernie.

He should be endorsing Bernie and helping his campaign.

I am so sick of these wimpy ass two faced politicians.

Now Dean has sided with the movers and shakers.

It's sickening !!!!

[arikara]

40. Yes indeed

What happened to turn him to the dark side? Or was he just a better phoney than most?

[nikto]

43. Agreed. Dean is not what I thought he was (at least, not any more)

Dean is disappointing.

[tularetom]

10. Outside of the HRC group at DU, who said he was a fringe candidate?

One could argue that Clinton is out there on the extreme right fringe of the Democratic party and Sanders more truly represents the Democratic "base".

[Jackpine Radical]

13. The entire ma$$ media e$tabli$hment

has him classified as a fringe candidate. My local paper, for example, has not carried a Bernie story since he announced. They did have one small, buried story in late April (accompanied by a snarling photo with a blurred background).

[grahamhgreen]

25. Sanders represents the majority views in BOTH parties on MOST issues:)

[StarzGuy]

32. I'd add the majority of the American people...

...also support the policies that Sanders wants to see implemented.

[MoonchildCA]

39. Every Sanders meme I've posted on facebook...

My conservative sister (whose posts I've had to hide because they make me crazy) has commented positively, with things like, "He's spot on!"
My conservative aunt shared one of his posts about Veterans, which means she must "like" his page.
Bernie is the common sense candidate, and I believe many of his stances are ones that everyone can agree on. I think he may surprise everyone. It's exciting.

[redruddyred]

45. is this the one 'don't send veterans to war if you can't pay their medical bills'? nt

[JDPriestly]

26. My view precisely.

[DFW]

12. Howard knows something about underestimating people who seem to come out of nowhere

When I first met him, he was "Howard Who?"

2 years later, EVERYBODY knew who he was. He knows better than anyone how quickly obscurity dissipates if the message resonates.

[KoKo]

34. DFW...

is there a slight glimmer that we can bring you over to Bernie?



Regards!

[DFW]

44. It's a long way until the Texas primary

And that's the only one I can vote in.

Until then, I will not be overly for or against any declared Democrat unless they say or do something incredibly stupid.

So far, Sanders is the only one to whom I've sent a contribution, if that makes you feel any better. I like his message. I frankly don't like either his chances or really think he wants (or expects!) to assume the Oval Office at age 75. But I do want his voice and message to have as wide an influence as possible on the eventual winner of the election, and that's zero if it's a Republican. Therefore, tearing down ANY Democrat is a REALLY stupid thing to do, as I see it. Say who you're for. Say what you're for.

The main thing we need to be AGAINST is the Republicans, not our own. Yelling "corporatist!" or "socialist" the way they used to yell the "N" word back home when I was growing up is self-destructive in the extreme, and I'm not having any of that. To their credit, apparently, neither are Bernie nor Hillary.

[redruddyred]

47. don't discount this guy on account of his age

he's sharp as a tack
100% present.

[DFW]

49. There's nothing wrong with his intellect

But the job is strenuous enough physically on a 50 year old. 75 is one hell of an age to contemplate starting out as president.

My dad was sharp as a tack right up to the moment his last breath left him at age 78. His idea of "retirement" was going in to Washington 4 days a week instead of 5, and he didn't often adhere to that unless things were slow on Capitol Hill. For that matter, my grandfather was sharp as a tack at age 102. Neither of them would have had the stamina to do the job of POTUS at 75, much less years later. There's a difference between being able to handle the mental challenges of the job and being able to handle the physical schedule of it.

[redruddyred]

59. I didn't realize that being POTUS was physically demanding

anyhow was under the impression that bernie was already putting in 100 hour weeks.

[DFW]

61. Every one I ever talked to said it was

And that's four of them (while in office). It's one thing to work in Washington with the occasional commute back home (although Gabby Giffords told me even that was strenuous, since she tried to spend her weekends in Tucson--this was before she was shot, of course). It's another to have to travel both the country and the world, often at a moment's notice, with the burden of a thousand national and international mini-crises nipping at your heels for constant attention.

It nearly burned Jimmy Carter out after his one term, as he was a hands-on stickler for details, which is not helpful in that job. You HAVE to delegate. Reagan and Bush Lite, who had neither the intellect nor the interest for details, had a far easier time of it, of course.

The first time I met Al Gore, it was in 1995 in Washington and I told him I had come quite a ways (Düsseldorf) just to meet him and Clinton. He said, "I got you beat. I just got in from Saudi Arabia." Now I'm in a different country nearly every day for my work, but what these two guys did made my job look like baby sitting for a pet rock, and I'd be thrilled if I could cut my schedule down to a 100 hour week.. It is EXTREMELY demanding, physically as well as emotionally. I'm quite convinced many if not all who end up winning the presidency think, at many points during their time in office, "What the hell was I thinking?"

[redruddyred]

62. poor obama

on top of all this, congress hates him.
whatever, I used to watch youtube videos abt doctors complaining that they walked all day, to them, this was "physically strenuous". I have a hard time taking that seriously. ditto for hanging out on a airplane flight, that's what trazodone is for. or ambien.

[DFW]

64. I don't know what tradozone or ambien are

But I walk a lot in my job, and have no complaints about it. In cities like Paris, London, or Zürich, traffic is so dense, it is more convenient (and immensely more satisfying) to walk than to take a taxi or the métro/tube. Zürich doesn't even have underground transportation.

But as president, you also have the longer plane flights and the issue of time zones to contend with. If I have to run to Stockholm or Barcelona for the day, at least I'm on the same time zone. If the President has to go to Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing for the day, by the time he gets back to the White House, he probably doesn't even know what day it is, and the second he gets back to the Oval Office, a President has to immediately contend with the thousands of people and issues clamoring for his attention again. Like I said, I've met with serving presidents. My dad knew every one of them from LBJ to Clinton, with the exception of Carter, and our family was always good friends with Mondale and Humphrey since his early Senate days (my grandmother was one of Humphrey's first big out-of-state supporters in his 1948 run for the Senate, hence the Minnesota connection).

I'm sure any sitting president would look upon a 100 hour workweek as a much-needed vacation.

As for hating Obama, I think that's really true only of the Republicans. He really is a likeable guy (it does help if your IQ is in 3 digits), and I think his heart is in the right place. I got to spend an hour with him about 3 years ago, and his knowledge on a wide range of issues is vast and stored in his memory. And he DOES listen. There's no way he's going to agree with everyone he talks to because he listens to all sides, and some people hate hm for not listening to only their side. But that's not a president's job--not a Democratic president's job, anyway, and he knows it.

[redruddyred]

65. I am deeply impressed that you took the trouble to add that umlaut

or, rather, are typing from a keyboard with an umlaut option.

prez obama should meet my buddy at quickmart who works all the shifts and gets paid way, way less for it. and lifts heavy shit too.

I mean, at least obummer gets a nice suit out of the deal. and some degree of respect. not a lot (he's still a radical socialist hitler who wants to eat your babies), but it's something.

[DFW]

66. I use a German keyboard

For that matter most keyboards have that option. Just go to accessories, then system tools, and use the character map. You can post in Hebrew, Russian or Arabic if you so desire.

If you buddy can handle strategy discussions on the Egyptian economy, health care options as a deficit reduction measure, Syrian options with the Russians, specifics on immigration issues with Latin America, and Republican electoral fraud reform without notes, maybe he should be running for office, too, instead of working at a quickmart.

And for the record, Obama (you need to work on your spelling) is much more comfortable without the suit than in it.

[redruddyred]

68. I'm still getting my buddy to agree that social security is a good thing

he may not be able to win election, although maybe the republican primary.

sorry about the spelling, there must be something in that quickmart coffee. usually I'm sharp as a tack 100% present. maybe it's time to start edging away from the "all taxes are bad" crowd.

[DFW]

69. I know that crowd

"Anything the government does is bad until I need it."

As for my keyboard, I am stationed in Germany, and work mostly in Europe. I'd be crazy NOT to use a German keyboard.

(He says, posting today from Paris, but I'll be back in the Rheinland by this evening.).

[redruddyred]

70. wow that was amazingly spot-on.

just the other day was asking me how to get on disability.
admittedly this man has one of the best work ethics I have seen of anyone ever. I don't think it does him much good tho. I don't think it does anyone much good anymore.

thanks for the stories.

[KoKo]

60. Agree....

Bernies voice is needed. Glad you gave him a donation.

[PowerToThePeople]

16. Bernie & Dean!!!

[MADem]

21. Never happen.

Dean backs Clinton. He wants Sanders to be moved to the center, away from the "fringe," so that Sanders can take some of the GOP heat. Fringe candidates are dismissed. Centrists ones are not.

[PowerToThePeople]

22. ..

[Thirties Child]

17. When I was born, FDR had been president two years.

He's always been my idea of a Democrat. I think Bernie is cut from the same cloth, a true, blue Democrat.

As I see it, most Democrats are where the Republicans were ca 1965, and the Republicans where the Bircher were then. Very sad. The end of politics as I knew it began when Reagan was elected. I cried that night, and it's turned out far worse than I imagined.

[StarzGuy]

33. I was saddended by the electon of Raygun..

..and yes it even ends up being worse than I could have imagined.

[grahamhgreen]

19. Anyone with 15% of the vote this early is not fringe. Just look at the R's feild

2016 Republican Presidential Nomination · NBC/WSJ ·

Bush 23, Rubio 18, Walker 14, Paul 11, Cruz 11, Huckabee 5, ...

[mmonk]

24. +1

That's without debate or substantive debate of the issues. A good start when in many streets across America, where the question is who is he because the media doesn't discuss or allow very much on who he is or what he stands for.

[HassleCat]

27. Probably Right

Bernie Sanders could do well among Democrats. Of course the "liberal media" will label him a fringe candidate. They probably won't come right out and use the word "fringe" right away. They'll use terms like "left of center" and "outside the mainstream of his party." If they can sow the seeds of doubt, they'll question his "electability" and maybe his "street smarts." The media love conventional wisdom because it's easy. They are all set to see Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, and it makes their jobs more difficult, and their "in-depth analysis" wrong, if Sanders gets in there and upsets things with progressive issues and some populist appeal.

But Howard Dean could be right, and Sanders stands a good chance of creating some kind of progressive backlash against the corporate takeover that's been going on, pretty much uninterrupted, since 1980. It would be great to see him hang in long enough to force Clinton to address some economic inequality issues. It would be even better to see him as the Democratic nominee, because that would signal a Democratic desire to embrace some of the traditional values Democrats held before the party went Reagan-Light. If he gets the nomination, that would signal a real sea change in the presidential race, and he could ride the wave into the White House, and bring some Democrats along with him. It's going to happen someday, and maybe this is the time.

[INdemo]

28. So what if he wins Iowa..

a strong grassroots campaign could carry/propell him through NH.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

29. Bernie is a sage that needs to be President.

[colsohlibgal]

30. Agreed But Some Still Don't Get It Or Refuse To Get It

Love me, for the most part, Bill Maher but he completely ignored him Friday. He was talking about challengers to Hillary, he was prodding Chaffee who was on the show, he said maybe Warren, it was like Bernie didn't exist. I chastised him via social media and I'm sure others did too.

I like it that Bernie is proud about being a democratic socialist but other, I think, are hinky about the S word because they totally misunderstand it - much like wingnuts and the 2nd Amendment.

[NRaleighLiberal]

31. ...then the question to Dr. Dean is "why Hillary and not Bernie"?

In terms of his support, that is...

[tritsofme]

35. Dean is being kind to his fellow Vermonter.

I don't know that I would classify Sanders as a fringe candidate, but he is certainly a minor one.

[Bucky]

36. IOW, "Tack left, Secretary Clinton, till at least mid-February, then say only vague things till Nov"

the Democrats smell of hubris this year

[alfredo]

37. Penn of Penn and Teller speaks well of Sanders.

As well as he is able to speak of a Socialist.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/11/opinions/jillette-presidential-candidate-videos/index.html

[yuiyoshida]

38. I love me some Howard Dean!

[redruddyred]

46. who's calling sanders a fringe candidate?

I hear nothing but support round here.

[Recursion]

48. Centrist DINO Recursion: Sanders is not a "fringe" candidate.

He is stronger than either Bill Clinton or Barack Obama was at the equivalent point in time.

[DFW]

50. After Howard's quotes in the OP, I'm surprised at some of the "I now hate Howard" posts

"Dean says Sanders has a lifelong message of supporting economic equality issues and that he's well suited to bring these issues to the presidential campaign."

“It turns out that economic justice is probably the largest domestic issue that we're facing right now,” he says. “Underlined by the riots in Baltimore, underlined by the polls, which tell us that 80 percent of the American people don't think the economy is working for them anymore, and so Bernie's sort of in the right place at the right time."

--------------------------------------------------------

Is this the sentiment of someone who wants Bernie Sanders marginalized? Or, rather, the sentiment of someone who thinks Sanders has a valuable message for someone who has a better shot at the nomination (the way things look now) than Sanders does?

Howard went with Hillary way before Bernie announced. I don't know how well he knows Bernie. The last time we met up was January, and the subject of Bernie never came up. Things have changed since then. Obviously Howard knows Hillary well, has for many years. Howard also knew Elizabeth Warren really meant it when she said she wasn't running. I'm not the only one he has breakfast with, and his advice and counsel is valued by most Democrats to the left of Joe Lieberman.

I haven't heard Howard dump nastily on any Democrat, and when he has commented on some candidates that were weak, it was strictly in private and off the record. As a former party chairman, it's in his blood not to do that, especially when the cameras are rolling.

If it's within the party, say what/who you're FOR. I'm so tired of this "corporatist vs. socialist" conflict. What we should all be against is the Republicans. THEY are the ones whose plans for the country are downright evil. The rest is a lesser battle.

There is much that Hillary has not articulated on. Bernie is no idiot--he knows that he has the chance to help fill in some of those blanks with positions he likes. Bravo to him for doing so. If he can do that, then even if Hillary is the nominee, when he says "I'm in this to win," I think he can safely say "mission accomplished." In that case, we all win--if the election is not stolen out from under us. It won't be Howard's or Bernie's or Hillary's doing if it is, unless we chew ourselves up so badly in the nominating process that the scars don't heal by election day. I see a lot of people sharpening their teeth here, and it is not encouraging.

[Vinca]

51. As a former resident of Vermont and now a next door neighbor,

I've been following Bernie's career from the beginning. He started out on "fringy" ground when he associated himself with the Liberty Union party in Vermont, but gradually moved on to more accepted modes to be successful. He was a resounding success as mayor of Vermont's largest city, beloved as a Congressman and is now very respected as a Senator. There's is nothing "fringy" about Bernie anymore. If he ever managed to win the presidential election, it would be the best thing to happen to this country since FDR.

[blm]

55. Agree with "Wish he was still" Chairman Dean.

.

[NCTraveler]

57. Dean!!!!

Get your ass back in the bus!!!! Hell yeah.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

58. kick!!!

[woo me with science]

63. K&R!

[Warren DeMontague]

67. Definitely. The guy with the boot for the hat, the pig the yippies tried to run, Rick Santorum

THOSE are fringe candidates.

Not Sen. Sanders.