Dear Howard Dean,

I want to congratulate you on becoming our new party chair, and let you know how excited I am about your leadership of the party.

Yesterday you sent me an email in which you noted that my party representatives had “demanded a Democratic Party that stands up for itself and for an agenda that reflects our values.”

I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, I am receiving some disheartening signals that our Party—our Democratic Senators, at least—are neither standing up for us nor standing up for our values.

I speak of the matter of Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert, the details of which I am sure you are no doubt familiar with. Today the Raw Story reported (quoting from Mary Ann Akers’ Roll Call column) that

Senate Democrats were reticent about signing on after the escort revelations. One Senate aide told her “senators wanted to wait and see how the story ’shakes out’ before acting.”

The Raw Story also reports (quoting an unnamed Senate aide):

“Thus far, the Senate has been cool towards investigating this matter,” the aide said. “Most Democratic senators have been cool to actively participating in a hands-on investigation of this matter, but Senator Lautenberg seems to have taken the lead.”

Huh? “Wait and see how the story ’shakes out’ before acting”? “Cool to actively participating in a hands-on investigation of this matter”? Only three congressional Democrats--Sen. Lautenburg and Reps. Conyers and Slaughter--interested in pursuing the matter? Is this how our party plans to stand up for our values? Can you imagine Republican senators—had this scandal occurred during the Clinton administration—adopting a “wait and see” attitude? Being hesitant to investigate?

Let’s be clear: a working prostitute with no legitimate journalistic credentials, acting under a pseudonym under the auspices of a phony news service run by a Texas GOP activist was given direct access to that most guarded of inner sanctums, the White House press room, where he served no function but to shill for administration viewpoints. Additionally, he was given special access to a confidential CIA memo regarding Valerie Plame, the leaking of which (by unknown administration officials) is currently the subject of a criminal investigation. Additionally, Scott McClellan has made questionable (to say the least) assertions regarding what he knew about the provenance of Gannon/Guckert at the time he was given security clearance to the White House. Either someone in the White House wanted Gannon/Guckert inside, or else the security/vetting apparatus is so incompetent as to raise alarming national security questions.

This in a White House which campaigned (in 2000) on “restoring dignity the Oval Office” and (in 2004) on so-called “traditional values”?

Now, if transparency and honesty in government and respect for a free and independent media are Democratic values—and I believe they are—then isn’t it in our interest to investigate and expose corruption, lying, and unethical behavior when we see it?

What the HELL are they waiting for??? To quote you, Chairman: "Aaaaggagaghaghahgah."

You know what: the Dems have been thrown what appears to be a big, juicy softball of a scandal on this one. If they can't step up to the plate, I suggest you immediately dissolve the Party.

Thanks,

Blicero