Howard Dean Vs Right Wing Outlets

Howard Dean Compares "Civil Unions Compromise" To Mosque Controversy

Dean thinks the downtown NYC mosque should be located elsewhere, a "good reasonable compromise" he compared to the creation of civil unions when he was governor of Vermont.

Howard Dean Sends Open Letter To Obama Demanding Repeal Of DADT

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean has written an open letter to the president demanding that a repeal of DADT be attached to a Department of Defense funding bill. An excerpt:

While I understand the need to research how repealing DADT will affect members of the military, the law can still be repealed with an implementation timeline this year. The time to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is now. I urge you to take immediate action to insure that Congress includes the repeal of DADT -- with an implementation timeline -- in the Defense Authorization bill currently under consideration. I am sharing this open letter with my friends in the Courage Campaign and Democracy for America communities, thousands of whom will join me in signing a petition asking you to take leadership to repeal DADT this year. You can read the petition -- and Americans can sign on to it here. One of our nation's most precious and fundamental values is the guarantee of equal rights for every American. Gay and lesbian Americans have demonstrated their courage and given their lives in service to our country since our nation's military was founded. Now it's time to allow them to say who they are.

The Courage Campaign has posted the full letter on Facebook.

Howard Dean Speaks At DC DADT Rally

And six more protesters have chained themselves to the fence of the White House. Clip by John Aravosis at AmericaBlog.

DADT Rally Underway At White House

Today's DADT rally is underway outside the White House, where Howard Dean has joined the protesters. Photos via Twitter. Follow along at #DADT.

Quote Of The Day - Howard Dean

"This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. And, honestly, the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill and go back to the House and start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill. The American people don't care how we get this, as long as we get a decent process. The Republicans in the Senate will moan and groan, but they're out of touch with where America really is. You have the vast majority of Americans want the choices, they want real choices. They don't have them in this bill. This is not health care reform and it's not close to health care reform." - Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean, speaking to Vermont Public Radio.

Howard Dean: It's Do Or Die For Public Option In Senate Today

Clown Hall: Man In Obama Mask Whips Elderly Outside Howard Dean's Speech

VA: Teabaggers Booted From Howard Dean's Town Hall Appearance

Rep. Tim Moran (D-VA) booted out protesters who were drowning out DNC Chairman Howard Dean's speech. Good for him. Anti-abortion nutcase Randall Terry was among those kicked to the curb.

Howard Dean Endorses Kirsten Gillibrand

And in this clip, they both discuss marriage equality and LGBT rights.

Howard Dean Drops Out Of DNC Event

Saying he has a "scheduling conflict," former DNC chairman Howard Dean has dropped out of tomorrow's LGBT fundraiser. The list is lengthening. John Aravois at Americablog reacts:

It's interesting that the very heterosexual Howard Dean is willing to take a stronger stand for civil rights than our own gay elected representatives, Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis. That Howard Dean is willing to take a stronger stand for the gay community than the following who are still attending, or have lent their name to the event:

Suze Orman
Elizabeth Birch
Virginia Governor / DNC Chair Tim Kaine
Chairman Barney Frank
Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis
District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty
NBJC's Alexander Robinson (while NBJC has said that none of their board of directors will be attending, it's not clear what Robinson's current role is with the organization, nor whether he has yet decided whether to pull out or not)
GMHC's Marjorie Hill
Iraq Marine vet Brian Fricke (whom you may have seen on 60 Minutes)
Billy Bean
Former GLAAD head Joan Garry
Keith Boykin
Ray Buckley
Brian Johnson
Former SLDN head Dixon Osburn
Paul Smith
Krystal Ball

Olbermann: Are Democrats Blocking Obama's Health Care Reforms?

Maddow On DOJ-DOMA Flap

Rachel Maddow hosted Howard Dean to rip into the DOJ-DOMA flap. Dean: "I think this was a big mistake." Dean doubts "very much the president knew this was coming."

Howard Dean Calls On Vermont To Approve Marriage Equality

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean appeared before LGBT activists yesterday to demand that Vermont approve its pending marriage equality bill.

A boisterous crowd cheered former Gov. Howard Dean's support of Freedom to Marry legislation and health care reform Saturday at a Vermont Democratic Party reception at the Hilton Burlington. Dean's emotional endorsement of both issues headlined his acceptance of the 10 annual David W. Curtis Award. The event celebrated Dean's tenure as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- and his 50-state strategy that is credited for helping return the party to power in Congress, and for President Barack Obama's victory. Dean urged Vermont party members to press forward in this year's legislative drive to grant marriage rights to all Vermonters, regardless of gender. "Vote your conscience, not your district," he advised legislators. "Stand up for doing the right thing; for being a human being," he continued. "Put human rights above politics -- because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your political career." Conservatives, he said, should note that the first American soldier to "take a bullet" at the onset of the current war in Iraq was a gay man.

Current Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas has threatened to veto the bill if it gets to his desk.