Sen. Harkin Backs Dean For HHS Secretary

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

Sen. Harkin Backs Dean For HHS Secretary

The idea of nominating Howard Dean to head up the Department of Health and Human Services has the backing of at least one prominent national Democrat.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who endorsed Dean's presidential campaign in 2004 and is rumored to be in the HHS running himself, applauded the idea of the former DNC header taking over the cabinet post vacated by Tom Daschle.

"I think that would be a very good move," Harkin told the Huffington Post. "He brings all the background and experience. He's very strong on prevention and wellness, which I'm very strong on. I think he'd make an outstanding secretary of HHS."

Asked if he had spoken to White House on the matter, Harkin demurred: "I'm not going to get into that," he said after a pause.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/05/sen-harkin-bac...

[iamthebandfanman]

1. keep 'em comin'

lets hope so more high ranking democrats come out for the good doctor.

[LaPera]

2. Howard Dean would get the job done and he certainly won't back down to the fucking republicans.

Republicans (and the DLC) despise Dean and his no bullshit progressive ideology!

Cheers to Howard Dean!!

[JerseygirlCT]

16. I think he showed pretty persuasively that he can really get things

done. I like the idea.

[KoKo]

27. From the article: One Dem says choice of Dean "political pacification" to progressives....

(So Obama's folks can pacify RW Repugs with Judd Gregg and yet to appoint Dean would be "bending to the demands of the left.")


Others are concerned that a major netroots movement to appoint Dean will actually turn the White House off the notion. They don't want it to seem like they are "bending to the demands of the left," as one Democrat put it -- not because they aren't concerned with progressive priorities, but because the choice will be criticized as an effort in political pacification.[/i

[Lorien]

35. Can you imagine a Repug being concerned that an appointment by a GOP

President would be seen as "bending to the demands of the Right"? They EMBRACE their base while our reps reject us. Why??

[earcandle]

50. So what the hell is wrong WITH GIVING THE PROGRESSIVES

who work really hard, SOME PEACE????

Don't we deserve it?
Isn't it the rule of law in this country to cause no harm ?

And the principle of the land to cause NO ill will to another?

It takes the practice of civility to easily follow the law, and all are happy for it,
but the greedy beast let out will wreak havoc dupliciously and progressives won't allow it.
That is a good think.

(I think) What "Progressives" want is a simple return to a civilized nation.

America's philosophical foundation was built on Aristotle's Three Offices of Truth:

Ethics (character, intelligence,goodwill),

Logic (ability to demostrate or refute a claim, and

Passion (the ability to arouse or allay the emotions of an audience).

"One Dem says choice of Dean "political pacification" to progressives...."

Adding the word "Political" to this statement is all about fear of these ideas gaining power.
Well, that is good for humanity, when progressive ideals, which are really traditional foundations
come home to roost to be at peace. Hey lets give our kids a taste of our earlier, more stable expections by demanding them now. Progressive, you bet. Bad, no way.

Progressives should be promoted and emulated now. Give peace and quality of life a chance.

Those fuckheads running the game now are psychotic killers. Why let them continue to run the economy?
Wanna just be their fodder? That is soooo stupid. Please... we can do better. We need people who are into prevention and wellness to be in charge to get over this disease economy killing us an wreaking havoc on our lives.

[calimary]

67. And what's so goddamn wrong about pacifying progressives?

Why does that "pacification" always have to go to the bad guys???????

The bad guys - you know - the ones who consistently and constantly GOT IT WRONG. Versus us on the progressive end, who called everything correctly throughout the bush era - from beginning to end? And still, the bad guys are the ones who have to be coddled?????

I wonder what kind of shit our side would have to pull to start getting that kind of attention and deferential treatment???

[AzDar]

3. Paging Dr. Dean...

Please pick up the Barack courtesy phone...

[Peace Patriot]

4. Aw RIGHT! Now you're talking! nt

[The Wielding Truth]

5. If he wants it, he should have it. I think that he would do a great job!

[roguevalley]

6. love me some Harkin.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Dean looks clean after all these other not-so-keen tax scenes

If you know what I mean abouti weaning ourselves from all these liens (and shit).

[defendandprotect]

8. Let's keep banging this drum --- !!!

[JackRiddler]

9. Yeah, man!!! Please be an avalanche.

Something half-good, finally.

[burythehatchet]

10. Just heard an MSNBC teaser that Newt Gingrich is being considered. ATTA BOY!

[jmowreader]

18. I can think of many things Newt Gingrich should be considered for

Most of them involve a sledgehammer, a big pile of rocks and a guy with a shotgun to make sure he doesn't get away.

[No Elephants]

58. If Obama appoints Gingrich to ANYthing, I am changing my voter registration. That will be the

final straw in a straw heap that has been getting huger by the day.

[MasonJar]

11. Have y'all e-mailed Obama at his web site? If you are pro-Dean please do so.

[Divine Discontent]

14. whitehouse.gov

whitehouse.gov contact button is on the top right - Dr. Dean would be great!

[peacock]

65. Done!

[WePurrsevere]

12. Dean would be an excellent choice! It wouldn't hurt to send a message...

using http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact / and let President Obama know you support Howard Dean, MD for Health and Human Services Secretary.

[pjt7]

13. Very nice!

I was pleasantly suprised to learn that Dr.Dean's wife is also a physician & they met in medical school

[defendandprotect]

33. DONE . . . but only 500 characters--!! .... And . ..

they say they're not "monitoring" the e-mail that comes into

[e-mail] anymore!!!

That's not good -- we need more open e-mail addresses not more forms --- !!!

500 characters suggest they're really not into wanting to hear too much

from voters --- !!!

[WePurrsevere]

71. It is a bit annoying but from what I've heard they're planning on

adding more ways to communicate and this was just a quick fix to open things up until they can get the rest set up.

[quidam56]

15. We need a Cure for Health Care,

See what is deemed, defended and fully supported as "THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HEALTH CARE" in East Tennessee. http://www.wisecountyissues.com Profit Care comes ahead of Patient Care !

[snappyturtle]

61. I watched 'Sicko' last night. I don't know what came over me but

I was crying by the end of the film. I was upset over just your point here of profit over care and at the same time happy to see the young Americans living in France in what I regard as utopia.

It looked like a win all around both for patients and the healthcare professionals. Can you imagine not worrying either about having no healthcare or praying,if you do have healthcare, that it will actually pay out when needed? I cannot imagine. I think Howard Dean would do an extraordinary job! Going to the white house website pronto!

[mzmolly]

17. Dean has a history of getting things

done. I truly hope that Obama will consider him for this position.

[NashVegas]

19. They Can Have Him Inside, Or Agitating Outside ...

[truthisfreedom]

20. The 'thugs should be careful what they wish for.

Dean would drive them out of their gourds.

[Jefferson23]

36. Very true, lets hope Dean gets it.

[shadowknows69]

21. Should have been President Obama's first choice for the job

Time to show if you walk like you talk Mr. President. Are you for progressive health care or not?

[JackRiddler]

24. To be specific, I'm with the majority: for single-payer universal. Europe or bust!

[msfiddlestix]

47. Agreed..

Howard Dean should have been the FIRST pick, hands down. Period. I couldn't BELIEVE that Mr Tom Big-Pharma/MED Insurance SHILL Daschel was Obama's pick. DLC running interference on all fronts.

[camera obscura]

22. We need more Senators coming forward for Dr. Dean!

[Mithreal]

23. Howard Dean NOW! nt

[cosmicone]

25. Howard Dean rules!!! n/t

[Inspired]

26. Harkin also endorsed Dean for pres. in '04.

I'm proud to call Harkin my Senator.

[brentspeak]

28. Just as long as Worm Emmanuel doesn't prevent it from happening

[valerief]

29. Dean is the BEST choice! nt

[Khaotic]

30. Here here Harkin

I'm with my senator!

Appoint Dr. Dean to head up the Department of Health and Human Services!

[notesdev]

31. I just hope

that they're pre-vetting people on tax issues, I'm getting sick of this.

[Metta]

32. Shoulda been him all along. It's a blot on Obama and Rahm until it's resolved.

They're acting as if they're on the schoolyard playground. They need to go to school on this.

[Jefferson23]

34. Can we have him do this please!!!!

Then he can replace Reid when he is not too busy, and then he should have his job back as head of the DNC. I'm sure he could manage all of this quite well too. LOL, please don't interfere with my dreams folks! Dean, you rock.

[Maestro]

37. That would be awesome and no brainer choice!

What am I missing?

[Zhade]

38. Hell yes.

NT!

[progressoid]

39. Well of course he did!

WTG Tom!

[Life Long Dem]

40. I voted for Harkin when he run in NH.

Against Clinton. Hows this going to work out with Clinton in the administration? Obama would have to be a referee?

[Soylent Brice]

41. fuck yeah!!!

that's what i'm talking about!!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

42. Oh my, YES!

So that would be Dr. Governor Chairman Secretary Howard Dean to you!

[ooglymoogly]

43. A big kick for the man who should be president. kr nt

[unkachuck]

44. Senator Tom Harkin....

....you are truly a gentleman and a scholar....

"He (Howard Dean) brings all the background and experience. He's very strong on prevention and wellness, which I'm very strong on. I think he'd make an outstanding secretary of HHS."

....c'mon Obama, do something for the people who brung ya....

[friendly_iconoclast]

45. To employ a cliche: THIS

Oh, and good riddance to that DLC slime Daschle.

[marauding liberal]

46. Howard Dean is a man of integrity and the BEST choice.

[Historic NY]

48. The Dr is in & ready to go.

[DFW]

49. About time!

At least SOMEone beyond the Blogospehere has has the guts to pipe up and say it.

Now the others who meant it but never dared say it can come forward, too.

Al Gore, Russ Feingold, Bernie Sanders, might you guys have any thoughts on the matter?

[earcandle]

51. So what the hell is wrong WITH GIVING THE PROGRESSIVES

(reposted to catch up)
who work really hard, SOME PEACE????

Don't we deserve it?
Isn't it the rule of law in this country to cause no harm ?

And the principle of the land to cause NO ill will to another?

It takes the practice of civility to easily follow the law, and all are happy for it,
but the greedy beast let out will wreak havoc dupliciously and progressives won't allow it.
That is a good think.

(I think) What "Progressives" want is a simple return to a civilized nation.

America's philosophical foundation was built on Aristotle's Three Offices of Truth:

Ethics (character, intelligence,goodwill),

Logic (ability to demostrate or refute a claim, and

Passion (the ability to arouse or allay the emotions of an audience).

"One Dem says choice of Dean "political pacification" to progressives...."

Adding the word "Political" to this statement is all about fear of these ideas gaining power.
Well, that is good for humanity, when progressive ideals, which are really traditional foundations
come home to roost to be at peace. Hey lets give our kids a taste of our earlier, more stable expections by demanding them now. Progressive, you bet. Bad, no way.

Progressives should be promoted and emulated now. Give peace and quality of life a chance.

Those fuckheads running the game now are psychotic killers. Why let them continue to run the economy?
Wanna just be their fodder? That is soooo stupid. Please... we can do better. We need people who are into prevention and wellness to be in charge to get over this disease economy killing us an wreaking havoc on our lives.

[Left Coast2020]

52. If you haven't noticed, Emanual has the adminstration full

of the DLC gang. Clinton-Secretary of State is another. So I get the feeling they want to keep this "middle of the road" atmosphere in the WH. We need to get through to Obama that he needs to listen to us--not only to Emmanual.

[PatSeg]

53. He is the perfect choice

I don't understand why his name hasn't come up before this.

[pundaint]

54. Now we're talkin'

I would support Gov Dean for any post you might name, but he seems to be a particularly stand out candidate for the leadership of health care reform. Enough bi-partisanship, it's time for sheer competence! I hope my senators Kennedy and Kerry join Sen Harken.

[pjt7]

55. Obama has tried to hard to appease the nut ball

side of this Country, that has been wrong about everything in the past 8 years.


Select Dr.Howard Dean & deliver the change we expected from our new leadership.

[peace frog]

56. Exactly

Moderate nominees like Daschle do not please Congressional wingnuts, such that their oppo research shoots 'em down? FINE, YOU FUCKWITS. We'll nominate an unapologetic liberal you crybabies can't touch with a 10 foot pole. Elections have consequences, dickweeds.

[PassingFair]

57. Easiest, quickest way to reward the democratic wing of the democratic party...

that gave him the NOMINATION!

It's the LEAST he can do.

Really.

[BlueMTexpat]

59. Harkin is one of my heroes ...

and I'm not even from Iowa. He had the good sense to back Dean in 2004.

Dean would have been the best first choice for HHS and, IMO, he is STILL the best choice.

Not only is he a physician, married to a physician, but he was Governor of a state that basicallly has extended health care coverage to all its residents ... and he had to work with a bipartisan legislature to do that. He has shown that he knows how to listen and learn from others, is pragmatic and persuasive. And that's even without considering what happened with his 50-state strategy that Rahm and the DLC insiders pooh-poohed, and not politely at that.

So what if he is perceived as "partisan" ... we have too damn many milquetoast Dems as it is ... and not one of them has delivered as Dean has.

It's LONG past time.

[DemWynner]

74. He is a great senator

He is my senator and he does a lot for this state and is a great senator! I love living in Iowa where we have such a honest and hard-working senator.

[realFedUp]

60. What a good idea. nt

[kmac3]

62. K & R . . . Keep this active . . . . .

Howard Dean should have been Obama's first pick. He has all the necessary qualifications and has been a major force in the success of the campaign. I truly believe Karma prevented the Daschle nomination .... Howard was meant to be! Wake up Obama! Your first 100 days are already looking shakey .....

[janx]

63. A wise choice. Too bad people see the political over

the practical so often. K&R

[CAcyclist]

64. This comment strikes me as manipulative

"Whether this endorsement helps or hurts is a topic of debate. The conventional wisdom seems to be that Dean's frosty relationship with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will be the main impediment to his ending up at HHS. Others are concerned that a major netroots movement to appoint Dean will actually turn the White House off the notion. They don't want it to seem like they are "bending to the demands of the left," as one Democrat put it -- not because they aren't concerned with progressive priorities, but because the choice will be criticized as an effort in political pacification."


If this statement were true, it would fly in the face of Obama's whole stated philosophy. Remember FDR's "I want to do it. Now make me do it."
that is so often quoted? That works as well for a position as it does for a policy . And it would fly in the face of what we actually did when we demanded that Dean be seated as DNC chair.

The best way to conduct a campaign is to generally do the opposite of what the opposition says you should do and to do exactly what the opposition says you shouldn't do. I am sure the people this reporter talked to who said that the progressives shouldn't campaign for Dean are the same people who are very afraid of having him in the position.

[VenusRising]

66. Two Democrats I very much admire.

I would be happy with either man in the post.

[ChiciB1]

68. It's HOWIE For Me!!! I HAD Hoped He Would Have Been "The One" From

the get go!! But then there's the matter of Rahm. I was rather PO'ed that Rahm got so much credit for Dems winning in '06. when in fact had it not been for Dean's "50-State Strategy" there may not have been any real surge! Dean has NEVER been given enough credit for ALL he's done for The Democratic Party and it's TIME to give him his due!!!

He's much more my kind of Democrat, but then I'm still proud to say I'm A LIBERAL!

[earth mom]

69. I wish I could be more optimistic about this, but given Obama's picks so far....

I doubt it's gonna happen.

We all need to face it: we have been SO screwed over-again.

[IndianaGreen]

70. K&R

Too late to recommend, but here is my enthusiastic endorsement of the Doctor for HHS Secretary.

[defendandprotect]

72. If we want Dean at HHS, we have to persist and make a lot of noise about it, every day-!!

[Life Long Dem]

73. So, Howard Dean seems to be what the people want.

Will this choice be derived from the will of the people or Emanuel Rahm? Not to put Emanuel on the spot but I'm not sure if one man should decide this based on his personal issues with Dean. And we have no idea what it could be about or if an issue even exist.

But in the mean time why should a good man who works hard for the Democratic Party and is even a doctor be denied in helping the people if we the people want Dean?