Dean: 'People Who Blame Others Are Losers'

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Former DNC Chair Howard Dean told Rachel Maddow on MSNBC moments ago that Democrats aren't necessarily to blame for what seems like a likely loss in today's special senate election in Massachusetts.

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Maddow also called it "an incredible breakdown in party discipline."

Dean agreed, and suggested a new direction: "This is not the time for pointing the blame."

People who blame others are losers. If you want to win elections, you stop blaming and get to work.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/dean-people-who-blame-others-are-losers.php

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1. Dean and Skinner: Mass. Vote Close Because Health Care Bill Lacks Public Option

We don’t yet know the outcome of the Jan. 19 Massachusetts Senate special election. But the very fact that the Democrats could lose the seat formerly held by Sen. Ted Kennedy to a conservative who’s made blocking healthcare reform a centerpiece of his campaign, has liberals sputtering implausible explanations.

On Jan. 19, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and liberal radio host Nancy Skinner appeared on CNBC with Larry Kudlow to discuss the ramifications of the election for healthcare. Both suggested that Democrat Martha Coakley was in danger of losing to Scott Brown is because Democrats hadn’t been liberal enough on health care.

Although he predicted Coakley would hold Brown off, Dean said, “Let me agree with something Larry said (far be it from me to ever do such a thing). But I do think this is clarity – about clarity of message and I think the Democrats haven’t had a clear message.”

The problem, from Dean’s perspective, was that compromise had watered down and complicated the health care bill. “Look at what we’ve done. We’ve passed this health care bill, which has, you know, just been a very messy, ugly process – or we’re about to pass a health care bill,” he said, predicting it would pass with or without a Coakley victory. “The best way to was to pass an extension of Medicare to people below 65. Everybody knows what Medicare is, it’s easy to understand, you don’t have to make deals with the health insurance industry. So this is about clarity of message, and Scott Brown has a clear message and the Democrats don’t.”

http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2010/20100119173249.aspx

[AnArmyVeteran]

5. BINGO: Democrats HAVE NOT been liberal enough...

Had democrats done what they were sent to office to do Brown would not have won and we would already have MEANINGFUL health care reform. By allowing right wing lunatics and the insurance companies to control the message is the fault of democratic leadership. Regardless of what Dead said about 'blame' those who are weak kneed and gutless in democratic leadership are to blame. They are destroying the party and hurting our country and our people. Reagan proclaimed a "11th commandment" that stated 'thou shall not speak ill of a fellow republican', but by not holding people accountable is to condone their actions. The democratic party should not be as irresponsible and corrupt as the republican party.

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6. Welcome to DU.

Well, I agree, but I think that's who they are. We need to replace them with people with at least a bit of nerve and integrity. Or this will continue, and it seems pretty clear where it's going now, history is full of examples, all bad.

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2. Is It Time For Governor Dean To Return To The DNC Chairmanship?

As the chaos of the Coakley Senate run comes to the final stretch, the finger pointing has already begun. Problems plagued this campaign, including the arrogance of the candidate who ran a more passive campaign than she should have. Ms Coakley also had other issues, including unwisely wading into sports when it appeared that she knew very little about it. As the Democrats begin to assign the blame, the problem is that they will not assign blame where it is due. Yes, Coakley ran a rough campaign, but there are systemic problems which are not being addressed.

While it is true that Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is a fund raising disaster and an embarrassment to the GOP, he is not quite the disaster that Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine is. While people are fearful and angry at Obama, Kaine has done little to counterattack those seeking to undermine the DNC brand, and to sink Obama. He let fear hold sway over the August recess, and that fear turned into a situation where a handful of Democratic Senators were able to steamroll the ineffective Harry Reid into all but killing health care reform and exacerbating the situation. Governor Howard Dean did a better job countering the GOP propaganda machine with his own attacks, often from the sidelines. He had strong enough connections to the grass roots community that he was able to bring together a broad coalition of people to counter the Republicans and keep the demoralized party on the ropes. He was able to tap into them while also tempering their expectations, something that Governor Kaine has been unable to do.

Governor Dean, unlike Governor Kaine, was a full time DNC chairman. At a time when it was necessary to protect the majority in the Senate, Governor Kaine was wrapping up his final term as Governor of Virginia, a job which went to a Republican. While the GOP may gripe about Michael Steele’s day job selling his book, few people have really complained about Governor Kaine’s day job.

With two major losses, and a third more than likely on the way, one has to wonder just what kind of a leader Kaine has been, and whether or not the arrogance within the Democratic Party in the wake of Obama’s election lead to a series of losses.

http://lezgetreal.com/?p=25165

[jonathon]

4. It would be a sane and smart move by the dems - so most likely not

[elleng]

3. Exactly.

Was SHOCKED to see 'some Dem' blaming everyone for such 'horrible campaign,' well before polls closed. Reminds me of whomever announced Wes Clark withdrawn, before Wes had made decision or announced such could be announced.

What idiots!