To the Editors:

The new political mantra in America seems to be “Desperate times call for simple answers!” Republicans nominated a Governor of a much-misunderstood state with a simple ideology, little policy depth and no national experience. A man who was driven by the hardcore activist wing of his party, failing to compromise with a take no prisoners attitude.

I refer of course to “Curious George,” “Shrub,” George W. Bush. Although Bush seems to have none of the cute, soothing themes of the children’s series. A man who, with a few mispronounced words, could move a crowd of partisans to their feet, harkening back to icons of his political party. A man who has the venomous tongue of Ann Coulter supporting him and the theology of the Christian Coalition making sure that he is self-righteously assured in every decision. Worst of all he is a man who made Democrats ashamed to be Democrats and sent progressives running for the hills. What sickens me most of all is that he shattered Democrats with no great attributes, he didn’t have the courage and intensity of John McCain or the thoughtful, steady approach of Colin Powell. No, he dodged military service, boozed his way to middle age and used family wealth, which he didn’t earn, to run several businesses into the ground.

And then the white-coated messiah emerged from the Church of Progressivism. A man from the green mountains of Vermont, Howard Dean. A man who fired up Democratic activists, that as far as I could tell haven’t been involved in Democratic politics for at least the last few elections. But wait….is Dean bearing false witness at the altar of Liberalism? Is this the person we need leading, or more likely scuttling, the Party through the next election? Dean freely invokes the shinning memory of Paul Wellstone (a true mensch) to elevate himself among the field of Democrats. Yet, Dean never amassed the policy depth or thoughtful approach of Wellstone, who worked tirelessly to steer thoughtful and significant policy to the floors of Congress. Wellstone fought like hell for everyone who needed it. Dean simply gets on a platform and riles up the faithful. He recently quipped to a reporter that he is “right on everything” and his campaign slogan should be “I told you so!” This self-indulgent, smug and arrogant attitude reeks of hubris and moral superiority. Paul Wellstone, Paul Simon and Hubert Humphrey did not behave like this they attacked problems with humility and compassion.

Don’t be fooled — we are doing the same thing Republicans did with Bush. Electing a man who never made a tough political decision or has any real significant experience. We went sifting through our ranks and come up with this: a Governor of a much-misunderstood state with a simple ideology, little policy depth and no national experience…. For every Ann Coulter there is Michael Moore, who while brilliant and hilarious can be just as mean-spirited towards others when he wants to be. Dean is our version of Dubya, proverbial Democratic comfort food. A man with all the right answers and portrays himself as the rogue maverick with the moral compass to save the Party.

Like most things, the fantasy is better than the reality. From the very start Dean vehemently attacked John Kerry in New Hampshire, challenging his legitimacy as a Democrat and personally chastised Kerry at every opportunity. Dean swore that he would not be scripted and then gets fed lines from James Carville (watch “K-Street” if you don’t believe me). Dean’s major claim to fame is his vehement opposition to the War in Iraq.

No matter what campus public opinion is, the country is not decidedly against the war. I believe current public opinion suggests that degrees of doubt exist with questions arising like: “Why weren’t Weapons of Mass Destruction found,” “How are we dealing with the current guerilla war in Iraq,” “What is the US exit strategy.” Americans are not fundamentally uncomfortable having removed Saddam Hussein. They are concerned by the aftermath of the War. The fact that we are encamped in Iraq for the foreseeable future makes Dean’s frequent harping on the Iraq issue both silly and impractical. Dean loves to claim credit for major changes in Vermont. He claims that he made sure that virtually every child in Vermont has health insurance, thanks to his administration. What he neglects to mention is that a major percentage had health insurance before he took office. He had no problem chiding Marian Wright Edelman, an icon of the civil rights movement and head of the Children’s Defense Fund on issues relating to welfare reform.

Dean has no experience with foreign policy, urban issues, or minority issues, yet he seeks the Democratic nomination. This is the man usurping the liberal cause and the Democratic Party with him.

His smug brand of politics and polarizing style will not attract independent voters or moderate Democrats. He will lose in any general election. Politicians like Dean and Nader play politics like it is an elite game to satisfy their own moral superiority. They forget that losing an election because you’re a blowhard to out of touch with the mainstream (and yes, that means Conservative America too) has real consequences. People who depend on Democrats to fight for healthcare, equal treatment, and social justice will be forsaken, left with no representation. Democrats need to “fight like someone’s life depends on it, because I guarantee you, it does.”

The remainder of the field of Democrats is not perfect. But can we honestly say that we prefer George Bush to John Kerry or John Edwards, or Dick Gephardt?

We are so desperate to find a politician who is a firm Democrat that we are willing to follow Dean without critical examination of his policies or any form of pragmatism.

Dean will lose in battleground states like Missouri and do a disservice to all those who need the Democratic Party. Dean’s stand on gay rights is visionary and just but it doesn’t overcome his failings and hypocrisy.

–Dave Leahy
College sophomore