Radiofree West Hartford - The High Jacking of Howard Dean by Stephen Erwin

The High Jacking of Howard Dean

By Justin Darr

January 30, 2004

It might be a surprise that Dean's demise has nothing to do with what he said or did. In fact, most Liberals see Dean's history of distorting and creating facts, outright lying, and policy flip-flops as a sign of his dedication. For over three decades, the Democrats have generated no new ideas of their own except ways to waste taxpayers' money, weaken national security, and undermine the values of our society. So, when confronted with a "non establishment" candidate (i.e. one they do not completely control), the Democrats have gone back to their tried and true methods of the past (usually reserved for Republicans). First, steal the other candidate's message and claim that it was a mainstream Democratic idea first. Second, allege to run a positive campaign while assassinating the character of an opponent, all the while criticizing other candidates for negativity when they try to respond to these attacks.

Howard Dean had five main policy points that he made the focus of his Presidential Campaign: 1. The war in Iraq is bad. 2. Nationalized health care is good. 3. Congress needs to repeal the Bush tax cut. 4. "No Child Left Behind" is ineffective. And 5, Washington is run by Republican special interest groups. The rest of the Democratic field could never gain traction against Dean because they could not decide what they believed or would do as President other than not be George W. Bush. Obviously, this did not work. Since Liberal candidates rarely give anything other than lip service to their campaign promises, John Kerry decided that he would not waste his valuable time thinking up his own ideas that might not be popular, he would just steal a few that were. Unfortunately, for Kerry, when he decided to "borrow" a few dreams, he scrounged Howard Dean's. The good news for Republicans is that Kerry's plagiarized policies will be no more appealing to mainstream America than they were for Dean.

First, the Iraq War is bad. Kerry's record on this subject is beyond insane. He voted against the first Gulf War, which had U.N. approval. Voted for the second Gulf War which did not, then opposed the War because Bush did not get the U.N. approval he did not care about earlier. Criticized Bush for "f***ing up" the War, but then voted against the money desperately needed to properly end the conflict and establish democracy in Iraq (a hypocritical elitist snob with a foul mouth. What more could the Left want). Can anyone make some sense out of this? Kerry evidently feels that he cannot be held accountable on any of these votes because he is a veteran. Well, Mr. Kerry, so are many other people, including those fighting and dying while you tossed other soldiers' medals (but not his own) at the White House. Serving your country should never be diminished in its importance, but it does not give anyone immunity from scrutiny.

Second, nationalized health is good. Did not Clinton run on this and find it unworkable? Ahhh, who cares, it sounds good. The one question no Democrat can seem to answer is in actual dollars and cents what the benefit of nationalized health care will be on the average American family. Typically, Americans pay part of their own health benefits through pre-taxed payroll deductions. Nationalized health care would just shift the costs to the Federal government. The money still would have to come from somewhere and there is no evidence that N.H.C. would lower costs in any way. The only change is that Americans would be paying for their healthcare through increased taxes. What does this program offer the taxpayer? At best, Americans can hope to break even.

Third, Congress needs to repeal the Bush Tax Cut. I have bad news for all of you Socialists out there. Taking away the tax cut will not pay for health care, education, or environmental programs; it is just not enough money. Nor will increasing the tax burden on the wealthy (the cold fact is that America's coffers are filled out of the pockets of the Middle Class. Liberals could tax every penny that every millionaire makes a year in America and it would not fund us to our tax-filing deadline. This is why Democrats refuse to give up the marriage penalty tax!) All tax increases hurt the Middle Class the most.

Fourth, "No Child Left Behind" is ineffective. Currently, the Democrats are attacking Bush on this program by saying that he has not given it enough funding. Typical Liberalism; if you want to solve problems throw money at them ad infinitum. Strangely, this argument seems to have come unexpectedly. Last I had heard on this issue was that the teachers' unions were having a conniption fit about having to produce qualitative results through mandatory standardized tests. How dare the Conservatives challenge our educational autocrats! Does Bush not understand that teachers do not have the time to distort our history, indoctrinate multiculturalism, demoralize any sense of individualism from our children, and teach them to read and write?

Fifth, Washington is run by Republican special interest groups. In characteristic fashion, Democrats define special interest groups as any company or individual who aspire to being anything but Wards of the State. Now wait… Democrats are accusing Republicans of pandering to special interest groups? How ironic! I am honestly curious what the Democratic candidates call trial lawyers, animal rights activists, environmentalists, homosexuals, labor unions, Planned Parenthood, the N.E.A., the National Organization of Women, the A.C.L.U., and the entire spectrum of left-wing groups they champion. Would the Democrats have been happier if the Bush Administration gave the contract to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure to the Gay and Lesbian Task Force?

Dean made himself an easy target with his outrageous statements and periodic screaming episodes. But the fact remains that the Democratic Destruction Machine has claimed its latest victim and many voters bought it. The other Democratic candidates paraded about touting their "new message" for America while calling Dean "too far left" for holding the same views. They cheered "positive campaigning" and "getting away from the hate" while sending their cronies to leak scandals about opponents to the press. Republicans should carefully watch these Primaries. These same tactics will be used against Bush. Unless Conservatives are ready to counter these Liberal deceptions with facts, the 2004 Presidential Election will be very close.