Letter from Utah State Democratic Party Chair to Paul Begala

[helderheid]

Mr. Begala:

"What he has spent it on, apparently, is just hiring a
bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick
their nose." -- Dem strategist Paul Begala on DNC Chair Howard
Dean's spending, CNN, 5/11

This statement hitting on the eve of our convention, where we are
about to nominate Congressman Jim Matheson for re-election, is not
helpful. And, the "pick their nose" comment is hurtful to Democrats
who are truly on the frontline. An apology to my hardworking staff is
in order.

By leaving the GOP unopposed in places like Utah, it frees them up to
concentrate on making inroads in marginal districts. Congressmen in
tough places deserve support, too. Jim Matheson, Stephanie Herseth
(keynote speaker at tonight's pre-convention dinner) and even a
potential pick-up like Gary Trauner in Wyoming deserve the support
they are getting from the DNC.

"Win for today" as a long-term strategy has left many areas of the
country without a healthy dialogue. The April 29 canvass where we put
the DNC message on 15,000 registered Democrats doorsteps was a first
for Utahns. They have never heard from the DNC. When Clinton was in
the White House, he never made a public address to the people of Utah.
Democrats have become outsiders who do things to us, not insiders who
do things for us. The 50 state strategy is one way to turn it around.

Even in Utah, there are thoughtful Democrats elected to office like
Congressman Matheson, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, and Salt
Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The DNC's investment here will make
sure that they retain their seats. I expect it will help Mayor Corroon
get a majority of Democrats to support his policies on the Salt Lake
County Council. That will show Utahns for the first time in a decade
that we have the ability to govern.

I wish I had more time today to be thoughtful. But this fight is
disheartening, and not productive. Chairman Dean is not going to
change what he has started. Too many DNC members appreciate it. (And,
they are Dean's electorate.) I encourage you and Congressman Rahm
Emmanuel to move on, and find a way to make it work for the DCCC.

Wayne Holland, Jr.
Chair
Utah Democratic Party

[Coexist]

1. A - Men!

[madfloridian]

2. Good for him.

Recommended.

[helderheid]

3. I must say this makes me proud to be a Democrat in Utah.

[xray s]

4. magnicifant!

:applause:

Begala should be ashamed.

[blondeatlast]

5. Damn straight, and Utah has an opportunity (surprisingly)

to go blue in 2006 and especially 2008.

Begala can bite himself--and I'm no Dean fan, either, but this kind of crap just plays into enemy hands.

[skylarmae]

6. I was wondering what Begala meant when he said that yesterday

so thank you for clearing the muddy water a little. I agree totally....great letter.

[helderheid]

7. you bet. :)

[acmejack]

8. I had to send a note to Mr. Holland thanking him.

Mr. Begala has forgotten where he came from. Now he is just another Beltway Bandit, worried about losing out on his slice of the pie.

[dmr]

16. I agree with you - just another Beltway Bandit

I didn't like him on Crossfire, and I like him even less today.

He certainly doesn't speak for me, and I wish he'd just go away. Every opportunity I get, I let the party know that they need to find a way to get Dems on the air that reflect our positive values, who are knowledgeable, have good speaking skills and can take command of the conversation. Begala lacks these skills.

It's not a game to me. His remarks about Dean/Utah reeks of disrespect, which means he's not trustworthy. Negativity is best kept private.

[Usrename]

26. It is definitely not a game.

The people who do manage to get face time in front the public should at least know that they have a hand in what is transpiring.

You would think Begala would have learned something from being bitch-slapped by Jon Stewart on that infamous Crossfire spectacle.

He, and others like him, are spitting the face of those who care and are try to do something about our situation.

[helderheid]

39. We should send a note to Begala too - any idea how to reach him?

[klebean]

13. a true Utahn sez "you betcha" '-) n/t

[helderheid]

21. You bet works too - trust me ;)

[Skidmore]

9. I hope we hear if Begala apologizes.

I don't have much use for him and Carville now. They have sold out big time.

Good on Mr. Holland. Well done, sir!

[Pirate Smile]

10. Love it! Thank you for posting it here.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. Priceless. K&R

I made my own comments on this matter on my kos Diary, but nothing can compare to having this come at Begala from the Utah State Chair. Absolutely Perfect.

[xultar]

12. Good for him.

[Me.]

14. Excellent Reply

I also thought it wonderful how he put them in their place with "Too many DNC members appreciate it. (And,they are Dean's electorate.)"

*shadow government*

[longship]

15. Place: KS,, Time: the 1980's and 1990's

I was heavily involved in the KS Democratic Party while I lived there. They had an amazing organization. KS is a very Red state, home of Bob Dole and Sam Brownback. The Repugs there are as far to the right as anywhere in the country, with the Rapture Rightists firmly in control of the party. But there's always something that can be done.

While I was active there, the following things happened.

* For a period there was a Democratic majority in the Kansas legislature.
* KS has a long history of electing Democratic governors. Current governor is Democrat Kathleen Sebelius.
* In Sedgwick County (Wichita), we had such a strong organization that in spite of the fact that there was no hope for Clinton to carry KS in 1992, Al Gore made a late evening "whistle stop" at the airport. The Dem party put the word out. In a metropolitan area of just over 300,000, Gore drew an absolutely huge crowd from all over the state, the tarmac completely full of people. Al was noticeably moved. He delivered an astounding speech and stayed late to shake people's hands.
* Sedgwick County (the most populace county) has a permanent headquarters and a permanent, paid executive director. The work is never done and goes on even during non-election years. I was part of this organization and it's astounding what can be done.

Paul Begala is simply wrong here. Dean is correct. Any efforts made in any area of the country is worthwhile. The only way to approach the 2006 or any other midterm election is a 50-state strategy. KS Democrats are proof of concept.

[burythehatchet]

17. Mr Holland has a new fan in me

Screw you Begala, Carville, Brazile, and rest of you stale, decrepit consultants. Just. Go. Away.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. Kerry would be president today, if we'd decided that Ohio was important...

4 or 5 years ago. If we had built a strong machine in Ohio and gotten people elected to statewide offices, Kerry would have had a much better shot. We don't know what the next battleground state will be and that's why we have to start from the ground up in as many places as possible.

[fishwax]

32. exactly

gee, if we only concentrate on the current battlegrounds, how will we ever create new battlegrounds? Begala is about as wrong as wrong can be.

If we had the 50-state strategy in play right after the 2000 election, Ohio wouldn't've been the only state we picked up.

[SPKrazy]

19. Oh Good God, Who Cares What Paul Begala Says? n/t

[grateful581]

20. good job Wayne

thank you for standing up for Utah Democrats.

[madfloridian]

22. Everytime I read that letter, it just gets better.

I would love to meet Wayne Holland, Jr. some day. He sounds like a great guy.

[Tiggeroshii]

23. Heck yes. n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

24. Paul Begala stands for everything that is corrupt in the Democratic

Party. No wonder he gets so much time on Corporatist Media. A useless whore serving his own self interest, and a traitor to America.

(edit typo)

[Appalachian_American]

27. I suppose Begala couldn't care less about the blue people in red states.

I'll be happy to remember that when his presidential candidate comes looking for votes in my newly-christened early primary state.

[Kolesar]

31. Begala is a prowar ass

who's most famous quote is "I like George Bush as a person"

[fishwax]

33. yes, earlier proponent of the "great guy to have a beer with" myth

[Senator]

25. Hmm...funding Begala strategery or red-state nose picking...?

Just on the odd chance that someone could misperceive it as thumbing their noses, I think the choice is clear.

We've had more than enough stale bloviation from DC/Euphemedia Analstocracy Court Jesters like Begala.

--

[madfloridian]

28. Kick

For a great letter.

[helderheid]

29. Hey - anyone know Begala's contact info? Might be fun to write him too :)

[TheFarseer]

30. Isn't it silly to piss on Dean's strategy . . . . .

before there is is even an election? How does Begala know it isn't working? His strategy of not doing anything in Utah surely won't pick up any seats there.

[helderheid]

34. excellent point! By the way, Salt Lake County Mayor Corroon is Dean's 1st

cousin.

[madfloridian]

35. Picture of the cousins during Corroon's campaign.

[helderheid]

36. What a great picture!

Mayor Corroon has been a wonderful Mayor so far!

[helderheid]

37. 44 recs - that is awesome!

[electropop]

38. Go for it Wayne!

With "friends" like Begala, who needs enemas?

[helderheid]

40. enemas!

:spray:

[sandyd921]

41. This is what I want to hear

from Democratic leaders everywhere in this country! Way to go Mr. Holland!
:yourock:

[utdems]

42. Begala's Response to Letter

Mr. Begala sent a kind response of regret for saying the staffers are “picking their noses” as “grasping for a colorful illustration of the pointlessness of hiring staffers rather than focusing on message.”

While I have a deep respect for Paul Begala’s contributions to the Democratic Party and acknowledge his credibility on campaign matters (even in the Red States, he is from Texas after all), we do disagree about the value of DNC staff on the ground organizing people to help disseminate our message compared to millions spent on advertising that is here today and gone tomorrow.

Nationally, we have starved our party’s infrastructure for far too long while funding that of the broadcasters. Of course, this is not a case of either/or. We must do both and find the right mix as a long-term strategy.