Dean Encourages Youth in Local Speech

OAKLAND - With his arms stretched open, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean greeted Bay Area supporters last night against a backdrop of blaring hip-hop beats.

Taking the podium, Dean met an enthusiastic crowd chanting, "We want Dean!"

At $100 a head-and $35 for students and teachers-Dean's fund-raising stop drew UC Berkeley students, union members and local political leaders, including Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Oakland City Council President Ignacio de la Fuente.

The doctor and former Vermont governor took stabs at President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, health insurance and education while presenting the distinguishing aspects of his presidential platform: universal health care, investing in renewable energy and mobilizing youth.

As governor of Vermont, Dean reformed the state's health care to provide low-cost coverage to a third of senior citizens and nearly all children under 18.

"If we can do that in a small state then surely as the most powerful society we can join the the Japanese, Dutch and Norwegians in providing health care," he said.

Dean said the U.S. government does not commit enough money and resources to renewable energy sources.

Pointing to the United States' shortcomings compared to Europe, Dean said this country gets less than 1 percent of its energy from wind power, whereas the Danish get 20 percent.

"We need renewable energy and the president just doesn't understand that," Dean said to a cheering audience.

The enthusiasm in many of the crowd's young faces reflected Dean's optimism toward today's youth.

For example, Dean said, about 70 percent of today's youth participate in community service.

"Bush put the Iraqi war on credit card and, speaking of under 30, who do you think is going to pay that bill?" he said.

This faith has showed in Dean's own campaign supporters: A fourth of the $25 million Dean has raised so far has come from those under 30. It greatly exceeds funds raised by the eight other Democratic presidential candidates.

With a firm grass roots base and successful Internet fund-raising drive, Dean's campaign has spurred youth across the country into political action.

The 300-member Berkeley Students for Howard Dean group, begun in February, brought in about 25 supporters, who dominated the crowd.

The campus group has worked closely with the deanforamerica.com campaign.

"There's a lot of splintered Dean organizations across the state and I'm here to connect with them and to raise awareness for our group," said UC Berkeley graduate student Aaron Hurst.

Blasting Bush's "No Child Left Behind" policy, Dean said he was tired of "having the right wing blame public schools for not graduating them."

"We're not spending money on young moms in helping them become better mothers and we need to do that," Dean said.

Audience member Marjorie Sheldon, who lived in Vermont when Dean was governor, said that her children benefited greatly from his health care reform.

"He's pretty consistent with his promises and his policies and I like that," she said.

Bates said Dean held strong appeal in Berkeley where people want to see change in the current administration.

"He's the person who's straight-talking," Bates said. "People respond to that."

Dean did not end his speech quietly, chanting "You've got the power!"

"We're going to have more votes than George W. Bush and this time the person with the most votes is going to the White House," Dean said.