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DNC Chief Attempts to Take Back Seat to Obama
June 11, 2008 11:06 AM
ABC News' David Chalian Reports: Now that his party has a nominee, don't look to the chairman of the Democratic National Committee to call the shots on how Democrats proceed through the rest of this election cycle. Gov. Howard Dean spoke with reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor this morning in Washington, DC and repeatedly answered questions with caveats such as "that won't be my call" or "the nominee comes in and runs the DNC."
While playing that deferential role to the Obama campaign, Dr. Dean parroted Sen. Obama's remarks delivered to reporters yesterday when asked about the controversy swirling around Sen. Obama's decision to ask former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson to head up his vice presidential search committee.
"Jim Johnson doesn't work for the campaign. He doesn't get paid," Dean said. "He is a volunteer," he added.
The Obama campaign's effort to draw a distinction between "work" and "volunteer" has clearly not yet quelled critics who question Sen. Obama's judgment in tapping Johnson to take the lead on what will likely be the single highest profile executive decision Sen. Obama makes throughout the course of the campaign. Jim Johnson has come under fire for acquiring favorable mortgage rates as a friend of the CEO of Countrywide Financial Corporation, the mortgage lender at the center of the subprime mortgage storm.
Chairman Dean also offered up a preview of what we may expect to hear from Democrats should Sen. Obama choose to opt out of the public campaign finance system as many party insiders expect him to do. "It is wrong and unfair to criticize Sen. Obama should he do this...Sen. Obama has not taken one dime from lobbyists' money -- not one dime. When the Republican National Committee does what we did two days ago and decide they're not going to take a dime of lobbyist money then we can be lectured by Republicans about campaign finance reform. Otherwise I think it is great to have people who are giving small donations -- 3 million Americans who supported the presidential candidates is exactly what we need in this country," said Dean.
When pressed by a reporter on Sen. Obama's pledge to remain in the public finance system should the Republican nominee agree to do the same, Dr. Dean reversed course and said he wouldn't comment until Sen. Obama had made his intentions clear.
REPORTER: "Why shouldn't he honor that pledge?"
DEAN: "I don't know what he's going to do. I'm not going to comment on this until I do."
REPORTER: "Do you not think he should honor the pledge?"
DEAN: "I don't know what he's going to do and I'm not going to comment on it."
REPORTER: "Would it be wrong for him to break the pledge?"
DEAN: "I can say it a third time. I'll be happy to do it."
June 11, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (56)
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Same old Obama, different day! SOODD.
Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jun 11, 2008 11:24:01 AM
lets reword the first question three times and see if he catches on..lol
maybe dean should record it and push play and just leave the room, the reporter can sit and ask the same question all night.
Posted by: melissa | Jun 11, 2008 11:25:46 AM
After that he let a primal scream that was heard round the world.
Posted by: Mack | Jun 11, 2008 11:35:23 AM
McCain has all the money he wants. He just has to beg the wife for it!
Not the first one he abandoned, the second one, the one that owns the beer company!
Posted by: DAVID NH | Jun 11, 2008 11:43:17 AM
Jim Johnson doesn't work for the campaign. He doesn't get paid," Dean said. "He is a volunteer," he added.
So Dean admits the obama campaign and DNC were one and the same. Big surprise.
Posted by: geevill | Jun 11, 2008 11:46:33 AM
Dean:
You can still change mind, to endorse Hillary instead. All SDs can still change their mind, to endorse Hillary.
We can see Obama, the Washington outsider, will change the way Washington is running today. Dean, you may lose your power or your job, gradually. I can see your pain, you HAVE to parrot whatever Obama said. You know he is less experienced than you, but he is just better at prepared speeches.
Please leave some space. In case something wrong with Obama, the DNC can roll back the way it was. Don't make Obama nomination fixed yet. Electing Hillary is safer choice.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | Jun 11, 2008 11:52:21 AM
Why is Obama so afraid of town hall meetings?
Posted by: Just Curious | Jun 11, 2008 12:07:41 PM
how can any of you sit there and think hillary would of been a better president she went into debt bigtime whats that tell you how she would be she used every card race sexisim etc she took money from little kids that cant even vote she ran obama down every chance she got she agreed with mccain on war in iran as well as the gas tax holiday the only reason you want her is president is because of the CLINTON NAME!!and woman just want to see a woman president well dont get me wrong i would love to see a woman as well but NOT HER!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 11, 2008 12:07:57 PM
All DNC leaders and Speaker of the House should be fired because they deserve to be lost when endorsing and supporting the inexperience, 2 years new grad Senator.
Posted by: stock_craft | Jun 11, 2008 12:09:23 PM
stock_craft -- Easy to see that the democratic hierarchy believes they'll have free reign over the inexperienced puppet. A puppet who demonstrates that he doesn't even know what he stands for when confronted with a situation where he has to speak extemporaneously.
Posted by: A | Jun 11, 2008 12:12:07 PM
Will someone please tell Obama to start wearing a tie at press conferences. He looks like he just got mugged in some of these press conferences and he appeared in Chicago again without a tie.
Not to be nitpicky but it just doesn't look presidential.
Posted by: Samantha | Jun 11, 2008 12:26:35 PM
All DNC leaders and Speaker of the House should be fired because they deserve to be lost when endorsing and supporting the inexperience, 2 years new grad Senator.
Posted by: stock_craft
Wasn't President Kennedy a first term senator?
By the way, Thanks for your comment Angie - I couldn't have said it better.
Posted by: roxanne | Jun 11, 2008 12:29:15 PM
Roxanne,
He did. Fortunately, the third world war didn’t happen (almost happen because the Cuba crisis) and he died so early.
Posted by: stock_craft | Jun 11, 2008 12:48:33 PM
Roxanne,
you can't compare President Kennedy with Obama. One is American hero although he didn't do much for the America while the other seems unpatriotic. Otherwise, Obama will not stay with the Pastor who hates Americans more than anyone in this world for 20 years.
Posted by: stock_craft | Jun 11, 2008 12:58:45 PM
Will you all please get it through your heads that Howard Dean DID NOT make the rules regarding FL and MI!!! That mess was created by HRC's very own campaign manager, Terry McAuliffe. It was HE who was the head of the DNC when those rules were passed. It was HE who repeatedly said "those delegates will not be seated and you can take that to the bank". I could have had a little respect for her if she'd come forward and said that it wasn't Dean, but we all know that didn't happen and never will.
Just remember, it wasn't Pelosi; it wasn't Dean; it was HER campaign manager who set that whole fiasco in motion.
Posted by: CCLAdy | Jun 11, 2008 1:03:05 PM
I just saw a media news of Michelle and BHObama on a podium he kisses her then they touch fists and go thumbs up, she turns and he pats her on the ***. No DIGNITY NO CLASS AND THIS IS THE DNC CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT OF THIS GREAT NATION ONLY ONE THING TO DO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE GO FOR MCCAIN IN NOVEMBER, KEEP SOME DIGNITY IN THE PRESIDENCY.
Posted by: Hope | Jun 11, 2008 1:10:58 PM
CCLAdy,
When something go wrong, it's the fault of the leaders. Why don't you complaint the CIA for the faulty information regarding the invading of Iraq instead of G.Bush?
Posted by: stock_craft | Jun 11, 2008 1:17:38 PM
I have to agree this election is so boring now, nothing to get hyped about, what a difference it is without Hillary in this race.
I thought Obama was this great new force that was driving all the media and people to excitement daily , now Hillary is gone it seems as if we are at a dead stop, the blogs, cable and print media all seem dull and uninteresting now.
At this pace it won't be long before people get caught up in other thing in live and November will come and go without a whimper, so much for killing a good thing.
Posted by: SJ | Jun 11, 2008 1:27:07 PM
SJ, I agree 100% these two have got to be the most boring candidates in years.
Posted by: tww | Jun 11, 2008 1:29:27 PM
Folks are now making the Obama/Carter comparison...
For those of you who don't remember the Carter years and how screwed up they were, take a moment or two...
-Waiting in line for gasoline that was short in supply. Forget about high prices. You just couldn't get any.
-Runaway, double-digit inflation with astronomical interest rates. Forget about getting refinance. The rates just kept going up.
-Third world countries with no respect or fear for the United States or its military...Iran takes hostages and the President can't even organize a successful rescue mission.
Now, the Democrats want to nominate a candidate who is to the left of Carter?
Ocarter...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Jun 11, 2008 1:36:51 PM
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