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Howard Dean’s emotional campaign

Mills College Weekly

“I like Dean because he gets angry!” said sophomore Grace
Cambell, contradicting the flood of criticism Howard Dean has
received for his sometimes combative style.

The governor of Vermont since 1991, Dean has strongly criticized
President Bush’s actions with regard to Iraq, as well as the
“massive deficit spending” he views as the stamp of the current
administration.

Beyond his criticism of Bush, Dean lists accessible healthcare
for all, and equal rights regardless of race, gender, or sexual
orientation as the foundation of his campaign.

Some of the more notable aspects of his campaign particularly
concern women, as well as future college students in general.

As a physician who used to share a medical practice with his
wife, Dean believes that women should be able to make personal
medical decisions, including the decision to have an abortion,
without the government’s interference.

Dean also lists equality in the workforce as a concern and
believes that “a commitment to policies that will make equality
achievable in practice, not just in theory” is essential.

Additionally, Dean has a plan named the “College Commitment”
which would guarantee funding to a four-year college to any student
who makes the commitment in eighth grade to do well through high
school and continue to higher education.

For some, his promises seem too good to be true.

“He acts a certain way, but will he actually back it up?” said
Mills student Rebecca Sueppel. “He seems like a sayer, not a
doer.

Others are less concerned with specific candidates and more
concerned about whether Bush will be re-elected.

“I’m worried that all the dissension among the Democratic Party
will lead to the unfortunate re-election of Bush,” said senior
Sarah Howard.

With numerous caucuses and primaries taking place in the next
few months, the public’s reception of Dean will become more
apparent.