Howard Dean Re: Rahm: "Contempt with which he held the progressive wing of party was devastating"

[kpete]

Dean Called Rahm's 'Contempt' For Base 'Devastating And Incredibly Demoralizing': Book Excerpt

First Posted: 09-28-10 12:46 PM | Updated: 09-28-10 12:46 PM


Addressing a telling moment in the health care debate, when White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (a frequent Dean critic) called out progressive activists for running ads against conservative Democrats, Berman asked the former DNC Chair for his reaction.

"I'm not looking to pick another fight with Rahm Emanuel, but the contempt with which he held the progressive wing of the party was devastating and incredibly demoralizing," Dean said. "That's basically saying to your own people -- you got us here, now FU."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/dean-called-rahms-contemp_1_n_741942.html

[fascisthunter]

1. Nothing but a Wall Street Punk

who has a massive ego problem

[begin_within]

2. The feeling is mutual.

[senseandsensibility]

4. Yup.

So glad he's going, but I don't see his departure as significant unless the whole mindset of the administration changes.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[whathehell]

5. Howard Dean is Correct...

Again.

[Carolina]

6. Says it all doesn't it

Obama adopted Dean's use of the internet and his 50-state strategy yet he CHOSE Rahm... speaks volumes!

[Winterblues]

7. Rahm lost me when he made the statement that "Everything is Negotiable"

No real core beliefs....That was my first indication that the Obama Administration might be a disappointment..If nothing is sacred and everything negotiable, how are we different? What do we then stand for?

[DirkGently]

8. More Dean, less Rahm, please.

[bobbolink]

21. Very well said. Sadly, I don't think thats gonna happen.

Dean was kicked to the curb for a reason... the writing was on the wall, and we are now just catching up to that fact.

Dime's worth.....

[BzaDem]

9. Devestating for those who need to be coddled in order to enthusiastically vote, perhaps.

Not sure it is devastating for anyone else.

[JoeyT]

13. Or you know, the people that actually need those votes.

We're not the ones running for office that'll be out on our asses if people decide we suck a little too much to bother with.

[nashville_brook]

10. here's another SPOT-ON quote from the book -- >>

"The White House began to believe that they could mobilize their supporters without hearing what their supporters really wanted in terms of specific change," Dean is quoted as saying. "The principal problem with OFA is the same one the president's having. You can't dictate to your base what's going to happen. It's got to be a two-way deal, and it hasn't been."

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Amen, Dr Dean. Good riddance Rahm.

Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, asshole.

[European Socialist]

12. +1

[bemildred]

14. I gotta say that attacking members of your own party does seem like a futile electoral strategy.

From which I infer that maintaining control of the party is more important to Rahm - and others whining in similar ways - than winning elections or holding onto control of the Congress.

[mod mom]

15. Exactly. They'd rather lose elections by attacking their base

than allow progressive to win control of the party. He also aims at getting a steady stream of corporate donors by siding with the GOP on many issues (his abysmal handling of healthcare comes to mind).

[bemildred]

17. Well, the point is Obama won't get a 2nd term without progressives, with business as usual politics.

So he is going to have to choose if he doesn't want to lose. If he sticks with the "Business as Usual" types he will be a one-termer.

[lfairban]

16. K&R

nt

[PurgedVoter]

18. K&R nt

[laughingliberal]

19. K & R nt

[SayitAintSo]

20. Dean ... one of the most under appreciated dems by the power brokers

n/t

[marew]

22. Could not agree more! nt

[mzmolly]

23. I like Dean and Rahm.

I wish there had been no power struggle between the two men. :(

[Gold Metal Flake]

24. I'm on this bus.

[earth mom]

25. Yep. Sit down and shut the hell up is what the left has been told. nt