Dr. Howard Dean is the butt of 1,000 late night jokes. He brings chills to insiders determined to see him fail in his bid to become the Democratic National Committee chair. Senate minority leader Harry Reid (rightfully assessed by D.O. columnist Drew Bland as essentially corrupt and lacking integrity) has been openly criticized by the principled, blunt doctor who sees political business-as-usual as not only unethical, but as strategically nonviable for the ailing opposition party.

Predictably, Reid and House minority leader Pelosi have backed Tim Roemer

for chair instead of Dean. Rumor has it the Clintons are not down with Dean either.

Why then are the Democratic Party’s state leaders lining up behind Dean in formidable numbers?

Before the ‘Iowa scream,’ Dean was the symbol and spokesman for a social phenomenon; A post- Sept. 11 awakening of masses of deeply concerned, patriotic, issue-oriented, critically thinking citizens. Dean’s presidential run made history by effectively coagulating these masses, creating real social capital that was not wasted in his failed candidacy.

After the campaign, Dean Supporters continued on as part of his new ‘Democracy For America’ group that has mobilized the grassroots in raising millions in small contributions. DFA has helped ‘fiscally responsible, socially progressive’ Democrats win contests at nearly every level of government, nation-wide.

State leaders are wise for tapping in to the Dean money-machine. If they are choosing the populist Dean for simply fundraising reasons, then so be it. Having a party chair who actually cares about popular sovereignty might be the best thing to happen to our Democracy in a long time.

Jim Milton

Senior marketing major