During an appearance this weekend in Cedar Rapids, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean outlined his vision for the Democratic Party and attacked a Republican who’s running for governor. Dean is now the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and he hadn’t been in Iowa since that January night last year when he finished third in the Caucuses and verbally let loose. Dean jokingly mocked the now-infamous scream on Saturday night.
“It’s kind of fun to be back. It’s been a while. Right after I leave here, we’re going to be going to Michigan and Mississippi and Idaha,” Dean said, laughing as the crowd applauded. During his half-hour long speech, Dean spent time outlining his vision for the issues on which Democrats should stake their future.
“We are going to have a positive agenda and we are not going to be afraid to talk about moral values,” Dean said. “The Bible talks about helping the poor 3,000 times. I have yet to find gay marriage mentioned anywhere in the Bible.” Dean also took some shots at the Republican candidate who’s considered the front-runner for governor here in 2006.
“You can’t trust the Republicans with taxpayers’ money,” Dean said. “And now, the state of Iowa is actually considering putting in the head of the Budget Committee as the governor of the state of Iowa after he has already ruined the balance sheet of the United States of America. Don’t let Jim Nussle do to Iowa what he did to America.” Dean has said he will not run for president in 2008, but Dean did speculate about another candidate who may enter the race.
“There’s a fair chance that Iowa won’t play a role in the presidential election next time up. We’re not planned on moving it much around or anything, but you may have a favorite son on the ballot and if you do, I think he’s going to do well in Iowa,” Dean said of Governor Tom Vilsack.
Dean did not speak with reporters. He did autograph a tie, which was auctioned off at the event. The winning bid: $1100.