Standing up for our beliefs, organizing, and transforming our party into a grassroots organization that can win in all 50 states: That's how we will rebuild the Democratic Party.
-- Governor Howard Dean, DNC Chairman
This week as it became apparent that Governor Howard Dean would head the Democratic National Committee the talking heads went on the morning shows and the cable news shows trying to play down Dean's apparent progressiveness. They explained that in Vermont he governed as a moderate. Why? Democrats need to stop apologizing and start organizing.
We need an alternative to the GOP. We need a party that stands for something. We need to stop apologizing for being progressives and liberals. Liberal is not a dirty word. I think that Dean knows this. As he likes to say, he represents the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.
So, it appears that we have taken control of the party back from the conservatives. No more GOP-lite. I hope.
Dean chosen to lead U.S. Democratic Party
Sat Feb 12, 2005 02:49 PM ET
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Howard Dean, whose high-flying presidential bid collapsed in disarray one year ago, won the post of Democratic chairman on Saturday and promised an aggressive drive to mobilize voters and rebuild the party "from the grass roots up."
"Today will be the beginning of the re-emergence of the Democratic Party," the former Vermont governor told Democratic National Committee members after he was elected party chairman by acclamation.
"We are going to recognize that our strength lies at the grass roots," Dean said. "Democrats will have to match or exceed the Republicans' ability to motivate voters."
Dean promised to plunge immediately into the effort to broaden the party's appeal in all 50 states and lead Democrats back from a bruising election in November, when they lost the White House and more seats in both houses of Congress.
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