With all the fuss over the British election, I've almost forgotten my American political heroes. I read this yesterday at Kos, and I'm glad the media is finally getting beyond the scream:
Link: Yep, Howard Dean Takes the Subway
Let's just state the obvious: New Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is no Terry McAuliffe . Where the flashy former Clinton fundraiser was a gregarious ringmaster accustomed to the bling-bling of the highest non-publicly elected Democratic job around, Dean is almost a seminarian in his approach to the post. And, oddly, his style seems to fit with the party's bid to build its blue-collar base--just as McAuliffe's meshed with the DNC's need to raise gobs of money and go high tech.
What's so different? McAuliffe would limo around town, dropping in at the Palm to huddle with Washington big shots. The 2004 presidential hopeful, by contrast, takes the bus or subway, buying his own $1.35 ticket. Sometimes he bums rides from staffers or walks the four blocks to the Capitol for meetings. "Please Call Me Howard" never flies first class and always carries his own bags.
I can vouch that this is true. I also remember scouring Albuquerque for cheap hotel rooms for him and his staff, during a national native American conference. The leading Democratic candidate for President ended up staying at a Best Western. I didn't hear any complaints.
Other signs of the ex-guv's modest style: He eats at his desk, stays in a cheap D.C. hotel, and likes oxford shirts and penny loafers. Affectionately dubbed a "geek" by pals, he's often glued to his cellphone and loves E-mail. "His expertise is grass roots and his lifestyle is no different," says an associate. So far, Washington likes what it sees, surprised he's not the oddball that newsies pegged him as last year. Says an aide, smiling: "They're giving him a shot."
One of these days I might tell you all about the time we lost the Governor. He was pretty cool about it, though one of his staffers blistered our ears.
(Another political hero of mine, Sen. Russ Feingold, is blogging over at Kos. Every time I think I'm jaded about the political process in America, I remember the way he painted his pledges to the people of Wisconsin on his garage door. I drove by his house and saw it. He's kept every one, too.)
