A little tribute to Judy Dean's courage in being who she is.

[madfloridian]

She has the courage to be who she is. Her husband has the courage to let her be that way.




Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean, right, watching her husband, Howard Dean, at a debate on Nov. 4. With her was Kristen Morgante, a campaign aide.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/13/politics/campaigns/13JUDY.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5007&en=1f9f793bfa25f74b&ex=1389330000&partner=USERLAND

"Most of the time, wearing sensible slipper-flats and no makeup or earrings, Dr. Steinberg can be found in an unadorned medical office she shares with two colleagues in the suburb of Shelburne, where the snapshots under the desk's glass top have not been changed since it belonged to her husband, before he became governor in 1991.

Or she might be puttering around their five-bedroom ranch-style house near Lake Champlain, writing a list of chores — fix the toilet, change the light over the stoop — for Dr. Dean to tackle on his rare days home. Or racing through Hannaford's supermarket in sneakers at 10 p.m., her list of bananas, milk, wheat bran, low-fat fudge bars, aluminum foil, tea bags, Gatorade, lemonade and grapefruit ordered according to aisle location.

"I'm very happy doing what I do," she said. "He's happy doing what he does. I think that he's doing a great job, and I think that he thinks what I do is a great job."

Dr. Steinberg said she is simply too busy to get involved in the campaign. Along with her work, and a bimonthly book group, she has volunteer commitments at Burlington High School, where the Deans' son, Paul, 17, is a senior (their daughter, Anne, 19, is a sophomore at Yale."

People who are courageous enough to be themselves. I am writing this because some are saying Dean could not be elected because of her.

First off, he is not running. Secondly, if that makes a difference, there is something seriously wrong with our party and country.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Cheers, Judy! Eleanor would be proud of you! nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Kudos, Dr. Steinberg!

It's refreshing to find someone who is not enamored with the glitter and power of politics, but just wants to be who they are. For the record, after reading about Dr. Steinberg, I was determined to vote for Dean in the primary; unfortunately, he had dropped out before my state (Arkansas) had their primary election.

[seabeyond]

3. SHE is what endeared me to dean. look at the woman

and look how the woman is with dean. same for kerry with his wife. both women, so empowered. allowing their man to be empowered. individuals empowered, not one owning the other. that is the sign of charcter. i couldnt agree more. seeing how if my hubby ever ran i would be the woman in jeans and sneakers myself, saying screw it, i am not running, wink

i agree totally with this post

[madfloridian]

7. Yet someone is still going after her...

for being Jewish, for not campaigning with him. Not backing down either.

If he were running in 08, it would be a fair hit. Hell, we have enough to bash who are running.

[seabeyond]

9. going after a wife for looks, and independent and seems to be nice

and kind is not a fair hit to me. seems to say more about a person doing the hitting than the woman.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

12. .

What seabeyond said. MKJ

[madfloridian]

13. .

.

[Mythsaje]

4. I admire that more than I can say...

Good for both of them.

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. They said the same thing about Teresa Heinz Kerry

She was a "liability" because she was "too opinionated" and she was "polarizing." And though Hillary Clinton is not my favorite person now, the attacks she suffered as First Lady because she dared to speak about policy were nauseating.

What they are really saying when they attack Teresa Heinz Kerry or Judy Dean is "a woman who is not a smiling, vacant piece of arm candy is a liability to her husband because America wants its women nice and submissive." They barely bother to clothe their naked sexism - isn't it funny how women are "opinionated" but men are "forthright"?

Personally, I think Teresa Heinz Kerry and Judy Dean reflect wonderfully on their husbands. A truly strong man is not afraid of a strong woman, and John Kerry and Howard Dean are real men who welcome real, strong women. Too bad more men don't follow their model.

[election_2004]

6. Judy Dean is a cool lady!

It would have been a breath of fresh air to have her as First Lady.

Maybe she might have a Surgeon General appointment in her future?

[Catchawave]

8. I've always liked Judy Dean...

She's her own woman, and a husband confident enough to let her be that way!

[spooky3]

10. c'mon folks, let's give this a fifth recommendation!

[NMDemDist2]

11. you got it and a kick too

:kick:

[Ninga]

14. I feel robbed just looking at her photo.

[Gloria]

15. Kick for the fabulous woman!

[eridani]

16. Just the usual ration of shit that independent wives get

I was disgusted, but hardly surprised. Seems to be some kind of requiremtnt that candidates have wives that are always on call to be photo-op appendages.

[Triana]

17. Something is seriously wrong...

...if we want plastic, pretentious people instead of real, unpretentious ones running this country.

HOWEVER, Judy Dean isn't even running this country, nor does she want to. And they STILL have issue with her - what, because she has a mind, body, and life of her own and doesn't kowtow to blue eyeshadow, lipstick, Givanchi suits and pumps? She's a REAL WOMAN. Why the Hell should she?

This country can't DEAL with REAL WOMEN or REAL PEOPLE.

Sad.

VERY sad.

[NNadir]

18. I wonder if all the travelling is getting old though?

Is Dean still practicing as a doctor?

I think she's great though. Clearly she's made a sacrifice for her country.

[lojasmo]

19. I like that woman.

What a great family.

[rurallib]

20. My daughters may want to change their role model from Laura Bush

to Dr. Steinberg. Just kidding. Maybe Dr.Steinburg could help Laura kick the pills.
I always told my kids that they must be able to stand on their own. I don't know if they have heros, but I do know that they both laugh at Laura Bush in particular and those like her in general.

[MODemocrat]

21. Dean for President, Judy..that is

or Judy Dean for First Lady. Either way, she would be perfect. I truly respect and admire her.

[MasonJar]

22. Why should it even be thought that she is courageous to be who

she is? She is obviously a small town doctor of wonderful compassion...a much more important calling than to be a corporate CEO, a president like Bush or almost any other thing I could name. She is the epitome of what all mankind should be. She is not looking for accolades, just more people to help. How do I know this? My father, my grandfather and my only two uncles were all small town doctors doing their best to cure their neighbors and friends and patients. I love knowing that there are some left; I imagine the number is large.