Don't Call Me, I'll Call You

In the Business Journal of Phoenix, Michael Sunnucks gives an insightful analysis of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's avoidance of DNC chairman Howard Dean during his visit to her state on Wednesday.

Personally, I can understand why one would do everything in one's power to dodge Dean. I don't blame Napolitano for conveniently having a fully booked schedule and not rearranging it. However, it doesn't look good when the Democrat governor decides to shun the DNC chairman.

Sunnucks writes:

Dean addressed a rally hosted by the Young Democrats of Arizona and attended by state Democratic Party chairman Jim Pederson. Pederson is a shopping mall developer and is considering a challenge next year to GOP U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl.

But the head of the Democratic ticket, Napolitano, was not at the Dean appearance and had no meetings scheduled with the former Vermont governor and vanquished 2004 presidential candidate.

Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer gave the obligatory scheduling conflict as the reason for no face time with Dean.

...The Democratic governor has thrived politically in Republican-oriented Arizona by appealing to moderate voters and portraying herself as a pro-business, centrist. Napolitano is up for re-election next year and could face a challenge from U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona or Marilyn Quayle, the wife of former vice president Dan Quayle.

The governor has avoided getting mixed in with the more left-wing, Michael Moore/MoveOn factions of the Democratic Party.

...Dean called the GOP a "corrupt party' but lauded Republican Sen. John McCain for opposing conservative efforts to chain Senate filibuster rules in order to get votes on Bush judicial nominees.

...Dean also hailed Tuesday's election of Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa defeated fellow Democrat James Hahn to become L.A.'s first Hispanic mayor in more than century. Dean said the GOP cannot boast of that kind of diversity in its roster of mayors or U.S. senators.

The DNC chair failed to point out the U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and top Bush administration officials --Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez -- are Hispanic and that the GOP improved its standing with Latinos in the November vote.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Matt Salmon termed Dean an "ultra-liberal" and accused Democrats of not offering solutions to problems facing the country.
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Naturally, Napolitano needed to distance herself from "liberal bulldog" Dean. As Sunnucks points out, the chairman fits right in with the "more left-wing, Michael Moore/MoveOn factions of the Democratic Party."

Considering she's up for reelection in red state Arizona next year, Napolitano wisely kept her distance from Dean. It would be political suicide for her to give the impression that she condones any of Dean's extremist, hateful comments. I'm sure she didn't want any photos of her and Dean to be used against her by a Republican challenger.

The Democratic party's chairman is so radical and out of the mainstream that Arizona's top Dem leader can't afford to be seen in his company.

Think of what that says about Dean.

Think of what that says about the state of the Democratic party.