I Remember When Howard Dean Was For The Working Class

[tomm2thumbs]

That's all good and well that he's supporting Clinton, I mean a man's gotta eat, but you'd think he'd at least stick to his principles while earning a living. And frankly, for such a good candidate, the fact that a simple yell doomed his campaign should say more about his campaign than it says about anything else. I mean, was that yell so bad?

"...we will not quit now or ever... we want our country back for ordinary Americans"

nice message, too bad it faded from memory so quickly

______

on edit -- here is an article on Howard Dean's job at a lobbying firm representing a variety of corporate health care interests, including the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a powerful trade group for drugmakers like Pfizer and Merck. Seems like a fitting job for someone on the Hillary team, given that she is supported by so many corporate lobbyists and wall street firms.

https://theintercept.com/2016/01/14/howard-dean-lobbyist/

A far cry from 2009 when 'Dean praised single-payer while speaking on Democracy Now, calling the idea “by far the most economically efficient system.” That’s because, as Dean noted at the time, a Medicare-for-all style single-payer system would cut down on bureaucratic overhead and do a better job at controlling prices.'

[NanceGreggs]

1. I remember when people on ...

... DemocraticUnderground didn't try to convince others that any Democrat who doesn't support BS is a sell-out who doesn't stick to his principles.

The good news is that Howard has so much company under that bus.

[tomm2thumbs]

2. I think it is his lobbying for corporate masters that is the issue

https://theintercept.com/2016/01/14/howard-dean-lobbyist/

[NanceGreggs]

3. I think the "issue" is what you stated in your OP ...

"That's all good and well that he's supporting Clinton, I mean a man's gotta eat."

Your problem is that he's supporting HRC. No need to pretend it's anything else.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. you lie down with the dogs, you wake up the fleas

or lobbyists.... whoever you want to write the checks to -- read the article if you dare even consider he is somehow working on her campaign out of the goodness of his heart

[NanceGreggs]

5. Oh, we all KNOW ...

... that the only people supporting HRC are those who have been bought-and-paid-for.

That's where all of her campaign money has gone to.

I got MY cheque just two days go - and I couldn't be happier!

[tomm2thumbs]

6. Dean works for a pharma lobbying firm, and you can't change facts

so she can pick who she wants to surround herself with, but she can't deny facts, nor can you

[NanceGreggs]

7. I see you had to edit your OP ...

... to make it look like Dean's support of HRC wasn't your initial "problem" with him.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. actually, your reply made me want to put it front and center

I think everyone on DU should realize Dean is working for a pharma lobbying firm. Many people do not realize this and you have given me the opportunity to share this with the entire DU community. Thank you for inspiring me to add that.

[NanceGreggs]

10. You added it because ...

... your initial contention that HD was under-the-bus worthy solely because he supports HRC was a bit too transparent in its motive.

That's okay. Desperate times call for desperate measures - and Bernie's campaign is sorely in need of those desperate measures.

[tomm2thumbs]

11. I added it because people at DU need to know Clinton holds lobbyist-types VERY CLOSE to her

even when most voters think Dean is still the 'every-man' they remember from his presidential run....

Got any other ideas for posts? I'd love to follow up. In fact, I also found a great post for tomorrow on Dean thanks to your comments, but I'll save that for a bigger audience in the morning. Thanks, your input is inspiring me a great deal.

Please, continue.

[NanceGreggs]

12. And although you believe ...

... that DUers should know about Dean's activities, you simply "forgot" to mention them in your OP.

Okey-dokey then. I think we're all clear on what your intentions were - or are, given the edit.

[tomm2thumbs]

13. have you ever had the lucky opportunity for universal health care where you've lived by chance?

I'd be curious.

[disillusioned73]

21. Your correct..

I did't know this - thanks for the information..

[tomm2thumbs]

22. this article says he was lobbying without disclosure for about three years - tsk tsk tsk

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/04/lee-fang-howard-dean-advises-corporate-health-care-clients-to-fund-both-sides-run-attack-ads.html

The firm’s lobbying practice has a wide range of clients, from health care, to insurance, to even Keystone XL beneficiary TransCanada. The firm website says Dean “focuses on health care and energy issues, as well as providing expertise derived from his extensive experience in public office.” The firm seems to advertise Dean as a lobbyist, despite the fact Dean has not registered as a lobbyist.

and

In the media, Dean is typically portrayed as a former governor and liberal political leader. When, for example, Dean called for killing health reform in 2009, using arguments that simply didn’t square with reality, he never disclosed that his lobbying firm was representing major health care interests that were impacted by the bill. Dean has also been linked to a lobbying effort to de-list the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) as a State Department-recognized terrorist organization.

[disillusioned73]

23. I figured it was out of loyalty to the Clintons..

but this is a lot more disappointing... and now I remember why I tuned out (from politics) a while ago.. ergo "disillusioned"

I really want to re-engage again like I did in 2008 but I don't know if it's worth getting my hopes up once again to be disappointed by another candidate vs president.. I guess time will tell.

[tomm2thumbs]

24. well, the young and old seem less corrupted than the rest

and frankly, there are all people in between, but the crop of folks out there is good and once Bernie gets the nomination, Obama's critical support for the Democrat nominee would easily seal the deal and Republicans won't know what hit them.... AGAIN

[jalan48]

8. I think the term is "sell out".

Sad to see with someone who had so much promise. Big money is just too tempting for today's politicians.

[mdbl]

14. Agreed.

I always wondered why everyone made such a big deal of the scream thing. He sounded a little overexcited, but it wasn't like he sounded like satan, like his repug opponents did.

[stonecutter357]

15. Don't Berniebro Dr. Dean.

[tomm2thumbs]

16. Let me know when he vacates his lobbyist firm position and we can chat

Love the circa 2009 Howard Dean and his support for the public option and such, but as for now, I think his creds have left the building.

[stonecutter357]

17. lobbyist is not a bad word.

some lobbyist do very good work.

[tomm2thumbs]

18. would love to hear all about this good work

please illuminate

[stonecutter357]

19. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/13/opinion/oe-odonnell13

Good lobbyists tell you something you don't know -- say, why teaching hospitals need more money for doctor training. They tell you what they think you should do about it, how to pay for it and, most important, who opposes it and why. They know their opposition is going to be lobbying you too, so they don't say anything that can be proved wrong in your next meeting.

[tomm2thumbs]

20. I couldn't find anything on Howard Dean or Denton firm?

I was hoping for something concerning the issue at hand and current

[Moostache]

25. Do you REALLY believe that registered lobbyists are benign?

I wonder if you are being serious or just blindly partisan with comments like that....smug, chastising, "get back in your box" thinking and replies are pathetic. Lobbyists are part and parcel of the broken system of horse trading, pandering, fraudulent and plutocratic government we have now. Seeing someone like Howard Dean completely sell out in under a decade, going from the progenitor of the 50-state strategy to what he has become is depressing, but its also emblematic of the central problem:

When money = speech, the poor and underclasses = chattel. When good men turn a blind eye to the problem and instead extend a hand palm up for cash instead of extending that hand to lift up others, then the system wins and the people lose.

Your comments, but mostly your praise of the lobbyist concept, makes clear where you stand; and more importantly, why you are willing to remain lying down to take it.

Good luck with that.

The political revolution is starting.
You have declared your side quite clearly.
I respectfully disagree and choose the opposite, less taken path.

[LiberalArkie]

27. Just about every group or company has a lobbying firm.

Doctors, dentists, home health groups, lawn care companies, youth groups, unions etc. Most just advocate for the groups they represent. Big ones like the bankers, telecoms etc also contribute and pay for overseas trips for "learning opportunities".

[emulatorloo]

26. He was a centrist in '04, he's still a centrist

In '04, DU was too busy shitting on a Senator with a liberal voting record to notice.

That being said he's a good Dem and is allowed to support the candidate he wants to support. Doesn't deserve the demonization he's getting here now IMHO

[Dr Hobbitstein]

28. I trashed GD:P, Bernie, and Hillary group this AM so I didn't have to look at this divisive bullshit

There's no escaping the Berg on DU, apparently.