About 200 folks were present at the well-run event; interns directed attendees to sign-in tables for candidates or non-candidates as the case might be, as well as coat racks, and the several dozen dinner tables were littered with lit and buttons. There was no waitservice, which undoubtedly helped with cost. Dean took the podium right on schedule after a number of short speeches by statewide and IL-10 candidates. His focus was mainly on health care reform, the subject of his new book, Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer. Dean stressed, first, that Congress was not going to reform health care; "We're" going to reform health care, he declared, explaining that it would be public demand that eventually would change the system. He reiterated a concept he's fond of saying, namely that "change is never made until the pain of staying the same exceeds the fear of change." Dean was positive about the current (as of this weekend) health care reform bill; although stating that he thought the early strategic abandonment of single-payer was a mistake, and that he thought "the public option should be Medicare," he felt that the inclusion of a public option would create the ability for Americans to choose something other than the existing insurance plans. That said, he was not overwhelmingly an endorser, saying that while the current public option in the House and Senate bills -- and he singled out Harry Reid as not having been given enough credit for including same when no one thought it would happen -- was a "good public option," that if it gets any weaker, it would be a bad bill. Dean felt that opt-out was OK, but that an opt-in provision would render the bill "worthless," and that if it included a trigger it would be a "farce." Dean urged the attendees to, at this stage, call the White House and express the need for the bills to move forward and get signed, without further dilution. "It is not real reform," said Dean, "if all we do is put $60 billion into the pockets of the insurance industry."
No Dean speech on health care is complete without his personal insight as a physician; one tidbit (I won't steal all, since he needs to sell copies of his book) is that primary care physicians in the UK actually make more money, on average, than primary care physicians in the US, because our system of compensation rewards for procedures. Another was that we compensate more for treating sickness than for maintaining wellness, thus providing perverse incentives. No Q&A in Illinois is complete without some discussion of reform, and Dean was not shy in offering some prescriptions there either. One notable comment was that "Political courage is not just fighting the good fight; it is doing it over and over again despite the opposition." He also stressed the importance of lower-down-the-ballot races, saying, "If you don't run for the lesser offices, democracy doesn't work." Those of us present and vying for state, county, and township-level races were buoyed. One point of note was Dean's awareness of the moment of opportunity in Illinois, with the current disgust at our politics. He urged that to the extent possible -- and he knew that Illinois did not have the same initiative opportunities as other states -- campaign reform legislation be put on the ballot through referendum. Dean mentioned that when he ran for president, he was endorsed by Pat Quinn. Quinn, of course, has long been a fan of referenda. Statewide candidates who spoke included U.S. Senate hopefuls Alexi Giannoulias, David Hoffman, and (the first time I'd seen him) Jacob Meister, who stressed jobs creation; aspiring treasurer Justin Oberman; comptroller candidates Raja Krishnamoorthi and Clint Krislov. No gubernatorial or Gov Lite hopefuls showed. Toni Preckwinkle waved hi -- the only Cook Prez candidate there -- but wasn't allowed podium time. Naturally, both Dan Seals and Julie Hamos were present, and spoke, albeit briefly; the event organizers wanted most of the focus on their guest speaker and so limited candidate comments to a strictly-timed couple of minutes (complete with 30-second warning and "Stop" signs). Julie's comments were more personal and crowd-directed, and stressed her familiar themes of support by elected officials and legislative accomplishments; Dan talked with some polish about the centrality of making a better world for our kids and grandkids, and creating jobs; he had an easier time with the time limit. Both were well-received, and clearly have friends in the room, although my sense is that Julie has the bigger burden of getting known in the parts of the 10th outside New Trier. I picked up a copy of the book and chatted briefly with Gov. Dean, who I hadn't had a chance to see since his visit to Chicago about a year ago at a DNC fundraiser featuring some Wilco members. Dean was kind enough to inscribe a copy to Northside DFA, and I will (plug plug) donate it for a raffle at tomorrow night's meeting. John Hmuorovic received a founders' award, and Karen McCormick was honored for her volunteer work. 60th District Rep. Mark Walker (D.-Arlington Hts.) gave a nice speech. All in all an impressive example of a well-put-together meeting. Lauren Beth was in 10 places at once and, I hope, got a well-deserved rest afterward. |
