Yesterday, I read a book called "Howard Dean – A Citizens Guide to the Man Who Would be President" (Steerforth Press) by several reporters who had covered him in Vermont.
Today, I watched Tim Russert interview Dean at length on "Meet the Press."
The book was rich. I take away from it the impression that Dean is not much of a liberal, that he pursues idealistic goals in practical ways and that he is inner-directed, his own man.
The Tim Russert interview was clarifying. As someone who worked in TV news for 25 + years, I know it is dangerous to try to figure out from watching them on the Tube what anchors or politicians really think. So i venture no opinion on that. However, I did find Howard Dean and Tim Russert, though seated feet from each other, worlds apart.
Russert, an excellent, well-prpeared questioner, is part of a national elite of reporters who belong to the same social class as the politicians they cover. And share similar values.
Dean, I saw, did not belong.
Oh, he gave Russert one or two appropriate answers, the kind that come with the Good Politicking Seal. Mostly, though – Hold on, the phone just rang. It was a recorded plea that I vote for Dean from a big union.
OK, we are back. Mostly, though, his answers were very complex. In several he didn’t just say "I believe X and Y," but explained his reasoning or referred to the experience that led to the position.
And he continued to speak English, characterizing the leaders of the NRA (not the rank-and-file) as "nutty."
Not long ago, Dean, asked about his foreign policy experience, admitted that was "a hole in his resume." The press was unanimous in coming down on him. For they can abide honesty only in small doses.
Long before this, Dean made it clear he was running as much against the Democratic Party "establishment" as against the GOP. Of course, he’s since taken support from Al Gore and other "new Democrats."
But I think he really is an outsider. That he is strong and absolutely right on Iraq. That his views on health care and other bread-and-butter issues are reasonable, if not as leftist as I would like.
And that he understands the corporate domination of our country the way John McCain understands it.
Oh, how I wish he had gone to Vietnam. That would have made the contrast with the chicken hawks in the White House really big.
Kerry and Clark would benefit from that contrast. And I do care about electability. But that’s not so easy to figure; remember when Dewey trounced Truman?
And while it’s true Kerry is admirable and gaining strength, I still feel no intellectual or emotional connection. Maybe other Americans will feel the same way.
So I will vote Tuesday for Dean.
Remember. You read it here first.