Fighting on the ground, rebuilding the party in the states to win elections, fundraising, exciting the base -- I have a lot of faith in Dean in these areas.
Expanding the vote beyond the base, which we desparately need to do, I think he is not the right draw. He speaks too much to our traditional strengths, domestic issues, which we already do well with among voters, and not enough to our losers, national security and foreign policy. The first concern of voters, according to the pollster on c-Span this morning, the economy. Americans already have more faith in Democrats on the economy. The second issue on their minds, the Iraq War. Here is where we flopped in November and we still flop.
The spokesman part, I guess I would rather he would do less of it. He needs to articulate the agenda set by the leaders and not go off on his own. It just causes too much distraction and it makes us look like we have no comprehensive agenda message.
I do not buy the theory promulgated on DU that this was all some brilliant strategy of Dean's -- I believe he flubbed. I believe he opened the door to the media storm he knows is always waiting in the wings for him; and that the Dem criticism that followed, beginning with John Edwards a week ago today, was not only unacceptable, but handled way more poorly than Dean's original flub in the cycle on the previous Thursday.
Speaking of punches they throw and punches they land.
Look at Frank Lautenberg.
Lautenberg: Republicans Target Elmo and Sesame Street for Destruction
House Committee Launches Attack on PBS Broadcasting
WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to Republican efforts to cut off federal funding for children's public television programs such as Sesame Street and Arthur, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-.N.J), a grandfather of ten children, sent a message to his Republican colleagues; "Pick on somebody your own size."
Lautenberg serves on the Senate Commerce Committee which has oversight of public and private broadcasting, and pledged to use his position to thwart any efforts to cut off funds for PBS.
"With so much filth on the airwaves, public television is an oasis for parents," said Lautenberg. "As a grandparent I take comfort in the knowledge that my grandchildren can watch safe, quality programs like Sesame Street, Caillou, Arthur and Between the Lions. And as a Senator I'll fight to save these shows.
"The Republicans who are targeting Elmo, Arthur and other PBS characters should pick on somebody their own size," Lautenberg added. "Parents across America trust PBS, but these ideologues in Congress think they know what is best for other people's children."
Yesterday during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor/HHS/and Education, Republicans approved a measure that would drastically cut federal funding for all public broadcasting beginning next year.
"Elmo and other PBS characters are now on the right wing's "Most Wanted" List," said Lautenberg. "Instead of focusing on our nation's pressing problems, they are picking on children. It's unconscionable."
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/~lautenberg/press/2003/01/2005610731.htmlThat's a well-landed punch. No offense to be taken except by the right wing and the Republican leadership, which is exactly where Lautenberg aimed. It's witty, it's smart, it's crushingly effective. It's a winner with all parents with kids who watch Sesame Street or watched it themselves growing up.
We have strong Dem spokespeople, ones who do it better than Dean can do it, IMO.
So I like Dean on about 2/3 of the job he is doing, the same 2/3 that made me support him for DNC chair in the first place.