Dean endorses Gillibrand.

[madfloridian]

Run time: 07:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd-A1pfcWxs   Posted on YouTube: July 15, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 16, 2009 By DU Member: madfloridian Views on DU: 714

 
I am not surprised at this. She was a DFA candidate a couple of times when Dean was working with us pre his DNC years. I was surprised when she became a Blue Dog and disappointed.

But this conversation between them makes me feel better about it.

Hotline has more on the interview.

Dean for Gillibrand, the Video Endorsement

Howard Dean, former DNC chairman, VT governor and '04 WH candidate, endorsed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) via a video released this evening. In the seven-minute policy conversation cum commercial -- Dean and Gillibrand cover ground from health care to "card check" to same sex marriage -- Dean attempts to convey his progressive seal of approval to Gillibrand, who represented a moderate upstate district in the House before being tapped to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.

Gillibrand backers are hoping the Dean endorsement will sway some of those more liberal voters who might be inclined to back Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in her '10 primary challenge to the freshman senator.

"I'll tell you one very quick story about Kirsten Gillibrand," Dean says in the release. "She was elected in 2006, and I spent four years in Washington - and a lot of people in Washington say a lot of things and usually don't do anything about it. She came in about two and a half years ago when she was a representative and told me when I was chairman of the DNC that she wanted to do something for women through the Women's Leadership Forum. And I thought to myself, this is really great, but I'll bet it'll never happen.

"She's the only person in four years that came to me, made a promise, and then brought six of her women colleagues in the House then, to raise money for the Democratic National Committee so we could have this big majority in the House and this big majority in the Senate. And today, she's satisfied me that she knows how to use that majority in order to get things done. So I'm pleased to endorse Kirsten Gillibrand for the United States Senate for her re-election."

They discuss her efforts on DOMA and DADT...but they don't mention women's rights which disappoints.

[SoDesuKa]

1. We Can Do Better

I'm not particularly impressed with Kirsten Gillibrand. A blue state like New York should be represented by someone who is unambiguously and unabashedly a Democrat. Gillibrand is a follower, not a leader. We can do better.

[camera obscura]

4. I was a major doubter of her at first, but she's become a full-fledged Democrat in the Senate

No longer a Blue Dog.

[Nite Owl]

7. She was my rep

If she were like she is now she would have been great but she wasn't at all. Someone who has made such an about face begs the question 'just who is Kirsten?' Just which Gillibrand will we be voting for in '10? No guarantees she won't turn again since this seemed so easy for her to do.

"Gillibrand is a follower, not a leader." That says it all.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. I like her.

She seems like she could become a rising star in the Democratic Party.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. K&R. I'm honored to be in the company of Dr. Dean.

She was my congresswoman, voted for her twice, and she'll have my vote for senator. Plus, I still have her 2006 bumper sticker on my car... ;)

[stlsaxman]

5. He reminds me of Billy Bob Thornton with that camera angle...

and congrats to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand!!!

[FLAprogressive]

6. I think Dr. Dean is making a bad decision here. Maloney is in the Progressive Caucus

Gillibrand was a Blue Dog.