Before the first vote was cast in any of the 2004 Democratic primaries, Dr. Howard Dean, a physician and former governor of Vermont, was the candidate to beat. After the first vote in the Iowa Caucus, and the now infamous "Howard Dean scream," he was dubbed the loser. However, instead of encouraging his supporters, many of them young college students, to pack up their marbles and go home, Dean for America became Democracy for America, much as Obama for America became Organizing for America, only DFA was born from defeat rather than victory.
Governor Dean the Candidate
The main issues of Howard Dean's primary campaign were ending the Iraq War and reforming healthcare as he had done in his home state of Vermont. His campaign also energized college students, a foothold Democratic candidates had been trying to regain since the Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy campaigns of the 1960s. However, unlike Senator McCarthy, after dropping out of the primary Howard Dean continued to campaign strongly for Senator John Kerry and other Democratic candidates for the House and Senate in the 2004 elections.
Jim Dean and DFA
In February 2005 Howard Dean was made Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. In that position he raised campaign funds and instituted the 50-State Strategy. With Howard otherwise occupied, he asked his brother Jim Dean to take over as Chairman of Democracy for America. Jim continues to serve in that role.
Today, DFA defines itself as the "nation's largest progressive political action committee." They are a "grassroots" organization, meaning their staff and volunteers work to get progressive candidates elected at every level of state, local, and national government. They also conduct online and on site trainings to teach prospective candidates and their supporters about all aspects of campaigning from fundraising to getting out the message.
Recent Democracy for America Issues
Most recently DFA was active in supporting Healthcare Reform legislation and working until the end to gain support of the failed "Public Option." Some of their other issues are support of same sex marriage and the Employee Free Choice Act. According to their website, their main issue continues to be "reforming the Democratic Party" to make it more progressive and "responsive to the needs of everyday Americans."
In the upcoming Congressional primaries, DFA is supporting progressive Democrats over moderate and so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats. Ironically, the 50-State Strategy may have been responsible for the election of many of those Democratic candidates from historically Republican strongholds who now often oppose more progressive legislation.
References:
D*F*A Democracy for America democracyforamerica.com
SourceWatch, sourcewatch.org. Howard Dean
Nannette Croce - Nannette Croce is a writer and editor who has worked with online publications for more than ten years, most recently as Co-Managing Editor ...
