Sign the Petition: Howard Dean for HHS Secretary

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So far, there’s a lot of support in these parts for Howard Dean to be HHS Secretary. And since then, some great progressives have come out in support of Dean to be HHS Secretary: Tom Harkin:

"I think that would be a very good move," Harkin told the Huffington Post. "He brings all the background and experience. He’s very strong on prevention and wellness, which I’m very strong on. I think he’d make an outstanding secretary of HHS."

Raul Grijalva:

Six years ago Howard famously addressed a meeting of the DNC where he chastised our fellow Democrats by saying, "What I want to know is why we’re fighting in Congress about the Patient’s Bill of Rights when the Democratic Party ought to be standing up for health care for every single American man, woman, and child in this country."

Fixing health care is central to the recovery of the American economy and the security of the American family. Howard Dean is my candidate for the job. I hope he will be yours.

And Alan Grayson (via email):

"He’s progressive, he’s experienced, he’s effective, and he’s vetted."

With support for Dean growing, we’ve put together a petition to collect signatures in support of Dean. We’ll deliver these to Max Baucus next week.

Please sign the petition to support Howard Dean for HHS Secretary.

49 replies
  6. ralphbon says:

    Anyone knows what his views are on HR 646? On finding a pathway, slow or fast, to single-payer?

    I want to make sure he’s not a Daschle in sheep’s clothing with regard to health funding policy before I get all creamy over this recommendation.

    • Katherine Graham Cracker says:

      Dean’s record on health as gov in Vermont is excellent. “Dean also oversaw the expansion of the “Dr. Dynasaur” program, which ensures universal health care for children and pregnant women in the state.”

      • ralphbon says:

        Thanks. I found a quote from last spring indicating that he thinks single-payer may happen “someday,” so I don’t hold out much hope he’ll be pushing hard for it happening soon.

        Still, annoying Rahm Emanuel is a mitigating virtue. I’m signing.

  7. readerOfTeaLeaves says:

    Done.
    I hope that I’m not alone in being appalling frank about the monthly health care costs of my own household.

    I’d like to see someone do a study in just one single ‘average’ zip code about what the inability of our electeds to address health care is costing Americans.

  9. MaryCh says:

    Done, on his own merits. But as bonus we Oregonians get to keep Senator Wyden where he is and avoid a potential zombie attack from Gordon Smith!

  10. chrisc says:

    Done, and I have a personal reason to sign it today.
    Univ of California retirement system is thinking about “restructuring.”
    Health benefits are not vested.

    The university already covers retiree health care costs from its general operating funds. Those costs amount to $225 million this year, growing to $416 million in five years and escalating rapidly thereafter, UC officials said.

    “We need to look at a complete restructuring . . . right now,” Regent Bruce Varner declared. “It’s headed for a train wreck.”

    Yudof agreed and said that restarting pension contributions addresses “just a small portion of the total problem.

    “This is going to be a very difficult set of decisions because no one is going to like the way it is restructured,” Yudof said.

  12. Teddy Partridge says:

    Signed and Dugg! Why not the best?

    (Also, please sign the SEIU petition to the US Senate telling them it’s time to confirm Hilda Solis as Barack Obama’s Labor Secretary. More here)

  13. victoria2dc says:

    Wow… nice pic Marcy!

    Thanks for the great diary and thanks to all for taking care of the petition.

    Get the word out and let’s pressure Mr. Craig to listen to us by vetting the “people’s doctor”… Doctor Howard Dean!

    Wouldn’t it be great?

  14. ffein says:

    Thanks Marcy! And to the folks that say he isn’t enough of a consensus builder, I think that sometimes we need an “in your face” kind of person to jar people out of their comfort zone, to jump start some real change. I think he can do that.

  15. rkilowatt says:

    Gov’t-run Univ Health Care is the correct enabler of citizen-power.

    I do not understand why it is called “single-payer”, instead of clearly identifying it as a gov’t run program, like Medicare, Social Security,etc. “Single-payer” does not communicate clearly. It does not even suggest a federal gov’t program. It obfuscates and confuses. The term may even have been chosen deliberately to do just that. How can it be popular if it is not understood?

    • bmaz says:

      I have always thought that the way to sell it is “Medicare For Everyone!”

      Everybody has had a parent or loved one utilize the Medicare system, and, by and large, have good interactions with it.

      • Petrocelli says:

        Brilliant, as always … Medicare for Everyone is exactly the way to sell this.

        I’m sure that Dean will close the deal, no matter what he chooses to call it.

  18. RNMolly02 says:

    New FDLC member who is SO pleased to be able to participae in the petition signing and encouraging our new President to nominate Governor Howard Dean, MD as Secretary of HHS !

    I / WE believe Dr/Gov Dean would do WONDERFULLY .. we were supporters of his when he was among those
    running for President..as well as of Senator Obama ’way back to his announcement as candidate for US Presidency. I’m a retired RN in Oregon who’s also planning on sending a check to you at Fire Dog Lake in support of your efforts.
    Again, many thanks

  21. sunshine says:

    I signed the petition, thanks EW.

    Also if your upset at Kellogg’s for dropping Olympic champion Michael Phelps because of the 5 year old marijuana photo issue give them a call at
    1-800-962-1413. They are getting so many calls their recording says if this is about Michael Phelps push 1.

    • Teddy Partridge says:

      Thanks for the Kelloggs info; they are closed now, but I plan to put that up at Oxdown Monday morning.

  23. wrensis says:

    I agree with ffein
    We absolutely need someone with clout. Dean is not well like in Washington and he and Rahm Emanuel do not see eye to eye. I would like to see Dean somewhere in this administration, but not this.

    • tejanarusa says:

      Yeah, well, Rahm and I (and a lotta FSL’ers) don’t see eye to eye, either. He can damn well learn to work with somebody who can do the job. And pays his taxes.

  26. ppatt says:

    Tere might be a little DLC animosity towards Dean, someone who did it his way without them and succeeded. Rahm Emmanuel who has Obama’s ear was neck deep in the DLC as was Hilary Clinton.

    Don’t underestimate the power of these intra-party petty power struggles. My impression is that it is not so much Dean who has show party loyalty but rather the DLC Corporatist wing of the Democratic Party.

    I wonder what sort of negative brush they’ve painted Dean with for him to be passed over thus far. He has done one hell of a lot for the Party and progressive causes.

  29. markiemark says:

    YES, THANKYOU, HOWARD DEAN AS WE NOW KNOW IS A GENIOUS, HE ALMOST SINGLE HANDEDLY , BROUGHT BACK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND SINCE HE AND HIS WIFE ARE BOTH DOCTORS, WHO ELSE WOULD KNOW THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY , BETTER THAN NFROM THE INSIDE OUT. HOWARD DEAN FOR HHS, HE HAS MY VOTE!!!! MARK SMITH.

  30. Cujo359 says:

    Having read these quotes from Howard Dean, I’d have to say I’m not as enthusiastic about him as I was. I don’t expect enthusiastic support of single payer, but I don’t think Vermont’s system is the answer, either. Especially on a nationwide basis.

  31. woid says:

    Signed it, commented too. Earlier today I wrote via whitehouse.gov to push for Dean.

    Enough with this team of rivals bullshit — how about a team of allies for a change?

    Thanks as ever, fdl.

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