The Democratic Party has been losing ground and moving right for the past 15 years.

All the major congressional candidates have supported this move, voting for No Child Left Behind, or the Patriot Act, and, most importantly, the Iraq war.

If you’re looking for a progressive candidate, no one but Howard Dean qualifies.

Sen. John Kerry has made about as much progress in the U.S. Senate as Rep. Dennis Kucinich has in the U.S. House.

Howard Dean has raised the minimum wage twice, brought Vermont up to 30 percent renewable energy and cut domestic abuse and child abuse in half. While the other candidates were being duped by Bush’s radical right-wing agenda, Dean was extending health care to all the young people in his state, and providing prescription drugs to a third of the elderly.

Dean is the only major candidate who doesn’t owe favors to the Democratic Party leadership, a party leadership that has gradually marginalized progressive values.

Dean is the only candidate who is bringing enough people into the political process to guarantee a Democratic majority for the next generation, not just the next election cycle.

If you care about Democratic ideals, you should caucus for Dean on Jan. 19.

Drew Miller

Senior

Computer Science