As some Democrats seem to want to morph into a 21st century version of the Whig Party (and Lincoln Republican Party), Howard Dean appears to be making his peace with the "Business Wing" of the Democratic Party. Hell, he is embracing them:
Good fiscal management is the underpinning for progressive change. While in the past my party has indeed been guilty of too much taxing and spending, Bill Clinton, who balanced the budget, and George W. Bush, who spent the surplus, reversed that stereotype. The addition to the Democratic Party of a "business wing" which is worried about fiscal issues certainly causes significant short term strains in our traditional coalition, but over the long term traditional Democrats will find that good fiscal management will more easily lead to a well run, frugal universal health care system. It is also likely to lead to a more productive education system, which will help kids that have the least educational opportunity.
NY Daily News, by Howard Dean : The Democratic Party will surge in the Northeast despite Lieberman, Dodd departures
In turn, thoughtful and open-minded business leaders (which I think is still the right way to characterize the New England business community) will now find the kind of partners among traditional Democrats which can lead to real bottom-up change — rather than the "limousine liberal" top-down approach which was so prevalent in the 1960s and 70s. The truth is that wealthy reformers need community people to make programs really work, and vice versa
NY Daily News, by Howard Dean : The Democratic Party will surge in the Northeast despite Lieberman, Dodd departures
Yes, the business leaders will bring us bottom up change, as opposed to grassroots efforts in the 1960s that Gov. Dean calls "limousine liberals."
What planet is Dean from (or as he might say it, "From what planet is he?")
I have been crticial of Barack Obama's rhetorical triangulation in the past, see, e.g., May 21, 2009 , Obama, strawmen and the triangulation model of rhetoric. In fact, my first diary ever at Daily Kos was about rhetorical triangulation: Obama, Face the Nation, and the Middle Way
But I do not remember President Obama ever using so many negative, anti-Democratic slurs in two consecutive paragraphs of a writing or speech. Dean is making President Obama look at least left of center. Dean's comments go far beyond rhetorical triangulation. He is embracing his class background and the "Business Democrats." And that is not going to be good for working people.
"Limousine Liberal" was an invention of George Wallace. "Tax and spend Democrats" is a slur. Dean is validating the worst of right wing attacks on Democrats. I voted for Walter Mondale and would again. I voted for carter in 1976 and 1980. Dukakis. And would again.
Here's Deans' New Party:
Second, over the past several years the Connecticut Democratic Party has been morphing and expanding from its traditional base of working people to include what use to be rock-ribbed Republicans from Stamford and elsewhere who are deeply worried about the extreme rhetoric of the national Republican leadership.
Oh, great, we are Rockefeller Republicans now!
I don't like President Obama's move to appease business; I don't like his centrism. But Dean seems to be trying to leap frog past President Obama into an embrace of business. When he does so, he moves to the right of this President overall.
I stand with working people, with organized labor, and I don't want a party made up of Republcian business interests.
I'm from the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.