Howard Dean To Become Regular CNBC Contributor

[Beacool]

March 23, 2009

Former DNC Chair Howard Dean will become a regular contributor for the business news network CNBC, a source close to the former Vermont Governor confirms. Dean started his new gig on Monday morning with a guest-hosting appearance on the station.

The move comes at a time when CNBC is under intense pressure to change its format and criticism for its failures to report or foresee much of today's economic crisis. In this regard, Dean -- who worked on Wall Street after graduating college and has family ties to the financial sector, but has nevertheless been an early critic of the business practices that contributed to the current recession -- should be a refreshing presence, particularly for progressive economists.

But the decision to bring the recently departed DNC Chair on board, the source says, was finalized well before the current wave of CNBC-angst. So while grassroots groups have sprouted up in recent weeks petitioning the network to make wholesale changes, Dean's hiring can't be viewed as a direct result of public pressure.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/23/howard-dean-to-become-reg_n_177917.html

[Owlet]

1. Bad career move, Howard (NT)

[Beacool]

2. Yeah, it surprised me too.

Why become a contributor to some financial news channel? I thought that he was up for Surgeon General now that Gupta bowed out.

:o

[rvablue]

3. Maybe not such a bad move....

I don't see Dr. Dean losing his principles.

He could be a great voice of reason to all the anti-health care reform squawking. He understands the financial side of it, having implemeted some reform while he was Governor.

Who knows. Maybe CNBC knows they are in trouble and are throwing a bone to the progressive/thinking people in hopes of getting some of their credibility back.

I will reserve judgement until I hear and see what he does there.

[Adelante]

4. I think it's good

His voice should be heard and he won't be pushed around by wingnuts.

Did anyone watch his debut this morning? I was wondering how he made out.

[Beacool]

5. I didn't watch it since I'm at work during the day.

But, wasn't he being considered for the Surgeon General job since Gupta dropped out?

:-)

[Political Heretic]

6. That's too bad.