Dean says ‘enough’ on Limbaugh

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean warned that Republicans who stand against the president’s health care plan or try to label it “socialized medicine” will suffer at the polls in 2010, and admitted “enough is enough” when it comes to the Rush Limbaugh hullabaloo.

Mr. Dean, a medical doctor passed up for health care spots he once coveted, told The Washington Times that because the president’s plan stresses choice - it would allow people to choose their preferred health coverage or keep plans they like - it’s “right up the Republicans’ alley.”

Mr. Dean said “Democrats can’t cave” on Mr. Obama’s plan, which he called “perfect.”

“Not every Republican is a right-wing ideologue,” Mr. Dean said in an interview Monday.

“They called Medicare socialized medicine,” he said. “If they want to filibuster this to death, be my guest and let’s see how they do in 2010.”

Mr. Dean said he is not interested in an administration job, but he wouldn’t engage in hypotheticals about what he would do if Mr. Obama asked him to serve as surgeon general, for example.

He said he has told the White House he does not want to be considered for the post.

Mr. Dean said he is “free to freelance” and is busier now tackling several projects than when he was leading the party for the last four years.

The interview covered a wide variety of topics - from “exaggerated” reports about tension between him and the White House chief of staff to a theory the tough Virginia Democratic primary may help the party come November.

While he is focused on technology, health care and alternative energy projects in his new job as an independent consultant at Washington mega-lobbying law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge, politics and the administration’s policy weren’t far from his mind Monday.

“This has to get done,” Mr. Dean said, or major corporations may not survive.

In addition, a health care system would drastically help small businesses, he said.

He said Medicare for all would be a good solution since “people like it,” and “it works.”

“It’s ridiculous to say care would be inferior,” said Mr. Dean, who was a family practice physician in Vermont and later the state’s governor. “It’s perfectly good for the millions and millions of people over 65 in this country.”

Mr. Dean said the fight would be between the “conservatives and insurance companies” and the rest of the nation.

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