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Howard Dean: Dems Must Not Cave on Health Care

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Mar 10, 2009 2:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – 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."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Howard Dean, then-chairman of the Democratic Party, addresses the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field in Denver on Aug. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

When it comes to the Rush Limbaugh hullabaloo, "enough is enough," Howard Dean says. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Then-Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean attends a forum about the presidential election on Nov. 5, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Political leadership will get it. Voters want this.
- Howard Dean, on health care reform

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COMMENTS

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Snowleopard

Mar 11, 2009 7:09 AM CDT

As just part of the solution, how about giving college grants for people that go into medicine? This would somewhat lower the salary cost of doctors and nurses, and would in turn lower people's medical bills. There's a big shortage of nurses in this country and medical doctors get the highest paid wages out of any career ...all that stuff with insurance needs to be done too of course, but no ones really talking about how to really reduce the bulk of medical treatment costs.

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Politics • Health • Media

alternative energy • Rush Limbaugh • Howard Dean • literacy • Rahm Emanuel • Democratic National Committee • health care reform • Obama administration • Bill Maher Grid

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