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Is It Time For Governor Dean To Return To The DNC Chairmanship?

01/19/10- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
As the chaos of the Coakley Senate run comes to the final stretch, the finger pointing has already begun. Problems plagued this campaign, including the arrogance of the candidate who ran a more passive campaign than she should have. Ms Coakley also had other issues, including unwisely wading into sports when it appeared that she knew very little about it. As the Democrats begin to assign the blame, the problem is that they will not assign blame where it is due. Yes, Coakley ran a rough campaign, but there are systemic problems which are not being addressed.

While it is true that Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is a fund raising disaster and an embarrassment to the GOP, he is not quite the disaster that Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine is. While people are fearful and angry at Obama, Kaine has done little to counterattack those seeking to undermine the DNC brand, and to sink Obama. He let fear hold sway over the August recess, and that fear turned into a situation where a handful of Democratic Senators were able to steamroll the ineffective Harry Reid into all but killing health care reform and exacerbating the situation. Governor Howard Dean did a better job countering the GOP propaganda machine with his own attacks, often from the sidelines. He had strong enough connections to the grass roots community that he was able to bring together a broad coalition of people to counter the Republicans and keep the demoralized party on the ropes. He was able to tap into them while also tempering their expectations, something that Governor Kaine has been unable to do.

Governor Dean, unlike Governor Kaine, was a full time DNC chairman. At a time when it was necessary to protect the majority in the Senate, Governor Kaine was wrapping up his final term as Governor of Virginia, a job which went to a Republican. While the GOP may gripe about Michael Steele’s day job selling his book, few people have really complained about Governor Kaine’s day job.

With two major losses, and a third more than likely on the way, one has to wonder just what kind of a leader Kaine has been, and whether or not the arrogance within the Democratic Party in the wake of Obama’s election lead to a series of losses.

Perhaps it is time for the Obama Administration, which arrogantly rode over the power of Governor Dean’s chairmanship, should be asking him to return to the office that let him turn the DNC into a competitive Party once again.