Howard Dean: Dems Must Not Cave on Health Care

Howard Dean didn't get the health cabinet post he wanted, and doesn't want the job that's open—surgeon general—but is pushing President Obama's health-care plan just the same, the Washington Times reports. "Democrats can’t cave," says the former doc. Obama’s plan is "perfect," and since it stresses choice it should be "right up the Republicans' alley." If the GOP wants to filibuster, he adds, "be my guest and let’s see how they do in 2010."

He also tells the Times:

• Now that he’s out of the job as Democratic National Committee chair, he's working on a project, called "Baby College," to support early-childhood literacy. "It’s incredibly hard for poor people" to find time to read to their kids.
• He's also working on a top-secret alternative energy "breakthrough."
• Rumors of a rivalry with Rahm Emanuel are greatly exaggerated. Still, says Dean, the Rush Limbaugh thing—kept alive by the Democrats—is played out. "Enough is enough."

(More Howard Dean stories.)