'Hypocrite' Dean Undermines Campaign Finance 'Reform'

Howard Dean is either too cowardly or too indecisive to dump the campaign finance "reform" that Democrats cried for but now hate. So he's asking his supporters to tell him what to do - that way he can blame them for breaking his word.

"I am putting this decision in your hands to prove that while this president may let his most powerful contributors shape his policies, the next president will be beholden to only the people," Dean said in a speech prepared for delivery today in New York.

He failed to say how those giving money to President Bush are "powerful contributors" but those giving money to him are "the people." Could it be the other way around? Even Democrat plantation overseer Terry McAuliffe has expressed envy at how small donors have flocked to the GOP while the donkeys remain addicted to big fat checks dashed off by zillionaire Guilty White Liberals such as Ted Turner, Barbra Streisand, Martin Sheen and George Soros.

Dean wants his supporters to vote Thursday and Friday by Internet, telephone and snail mail on whether he should become the first Democrat in history to reject campaign "contributions" seized from U.S. taxpayers.

Just eight months ago, Dean pledged to go on the taxpayers' dole and abide by spending limits. "He even vowed to criticize any Democrat who opted out of the system," the Associated Press reported today. But now he's envious of Bush, who again plans not to be a parasite on the American public and hopes to raise $170 million or so on his own.

So how does Dean intend to square his grab for big money from not-so-special interest groups with his vow to fight not-so-special interest groups? "Even as he prepares to abandon a system forged amid Watergate-era reforms, Dean said 'true political reform' is giving Americans control of their government," AP reported. "His critics were poised to call Dean a hypocrite."

"I know Howard has said in the past that he supports campaign finance reform, so if he opts out of the system, it's inconsistent," rival Sen. Joe Lieberman noted today.

"In order to truly level the playing field, every single presidential candidate should pledge to stay within the public financing system," rival Rep. Dick Gephardt said.

Dean refuses to acknowledge any hypocrisy in copying what he has attacked Bush for doing. Even today he said: "The Bush campaign is selling our democracy [sic] so they can crush their political opponents. We cannot let this happen."

Oh. Doesn't he believe that it's "true political reform" if Americans get control of their government by donating to and re-electing Bush?

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