Thanks, Howard and Jerry

Howard Dean will step down as head of the Democratic National Committee at the end of the year. I followed his election to the post in 2005, when a field of party insiders were rebuffed by party delegates ready to do something besides lose to the Republicans.

Dean marshalled the 50 state strategy:

Rather than focusing just on swing states, Dean proposed what has come to be known as the 50-State Strategy. The goal, the DNC says, is for the Democratic Party to be committed to winning elections at every level in every region of the country, with Democrats organized in every single voting precinct in the country. 

While it sounds obvious in today’s political climate, the idea of putting resources into states like North Carolina was considered foolish and wasteful. Dean didn’t heed the naysayers, and less than four years later, Democrats have wrested the White House and Congress from the hands of those promising a “permanent Republican majority”.

Dean’s vision is poised to become party orthodoxy. Dean told a Democratic operative that he is hoping to extract promises from all potential replacement candidates to preserve the 50-state-strategy. Other insiders, meanwhile, say that the next DNC chair, regardless of who it is, will build upon the model because of its tangible successes.

“The 50-state-strategy was successful in laying the groundwork for 2006 and 2008,” said strategist and DNC member Donna Brazile. “Clearly, the strategy has reaped a harvest of new voters for Democrats and the next Chair will no doubt build upon this foundation for 2010 and beyond. Remember, we have some interesting statewide and mayoral elections next year before the all out organizing for redistricting.”

Howard Dean took the momentum from his presidential bid and parlayed it into a leadership role that he performed with impressive skill. His diplomacy, force of will, and commitment to returning democracy to the grassroots have benefited every single American.

Closer to home, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair, Jerry Meek, is also stepping down. Meek’s ascension to the Chair in 2005 was against all odds as he traversed the state to build support one delegate at a time. A few years later, and NC’s Democratic Party has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The tenures of Howard Dean and Jerry Meek have been a time of renaissance for the Democratic Party and further indication that the Old Guard’s grasp on power is on the wane, leaving the next generation of Democrats to mold the future. 

As State Chair, Jerry has worked aggressively to rebuild the State Party’s grassroots network, to expand services and support to local party organizations, to make better use of technology, and to encourage new people – especially young people – to become active in the Democratic Party.

Thanks Howard and Jerry. Without your leadership, I’d have Charles Taylor for a Congressman, Pat McCrory for a Governor, and John McCain for a President.  I only wish you’d come along sooner and that folks willing to walk in your footsteps seek the Chairmanship at the NCDP and the DNC.