Media pundits have been quick to smugly characterize Howard Dean's holler after losing the Iowa caucuses as the scream that will echo through modern electoral history, as the un-presidential outburst that disqualified Dean from the Democratic nomination and maybe the presidency.
The mainstream media's self-satisfaction at destroying Dean aside, there is much about Dean that truly will echo through electoral history - Dean single-handedly energized the Democratic Party and jump-started the movement to unseat one of America's worst all-time presidents.
The Democratic push for the White House began with a confused whimper. Bush and the Republicans had invaded Iraq and all of the major Democratic candidates either acquiesced to this bold and extremely dangerous move, or offered only mild rebukes of the immoral invasion - arguments further weakened by their own votes in favor of the war.
But not Howard Dean - even at a time when it was unpopular to criticize the war, Dean spoke out against the illegal invasion at the risk of being perceived as a traitor amid frenzied wartime patriotism.
His anti-war message gave the silent majority in America who opposed the war a message to latch on to, something the other major candidates failed to do.
Through innovative campaigning, Dean wielded the Web as a powerful weapon to mobilize Americans and get them excited about the prospect of defeating Bush. Dean created a progressive virtual community in America, which quickly emerged into a real-life political force.
The other candidates should thank Dean for invigorating the Democratic base in America. They should also thank the mainstream media, which brought Dean down.
Major news organization latched onto Dean early, because they needed a story. The other candidates were wishy-washy and boring, while Dean was brash and had a clear message. But they couldn't let Dean remain on top throughout the race - a story even better than his unlikely rise was his tragic fall.
In tearing Dean down - by over-hyping his "scream" and mentioning the word "unpresidential" along with it, while changing adjectives describing Dean from "brash" and "bold" to "angry" and "arrogant" - the media created a great story about a tragic fall.
Dean, the only legitimate anti-establishment candidate, was bound to be torn down by the media establishment that built him up. He won't be president, but if a Democrat is elected, Dean will be the reason.
He turned opposition to the war into a mainstream issue and forced the other candidates to co-opt it.
He energized Democrats across the country, enabling Kerry or Edwards to capture a power that they themselves would not have been able to generate.
He changed the format of modern campaigns through his use of the Internet and small contributions from individual donors.
He left behind a mass of loyal voters who can now act as catalysts for the progressive movement in America. These voters should vote for Dean in upcoming primaries, if they can, to demonstrate what an influential politician Dean was and how important his views are.
After either Kerry or Edwards takes the nomination, Dean followers should channel their political energy - previously directed at Dean - toward the Democratic candidate facing Bush.
Dean ignited a powerful liberal movement in this country, which will hopefully propel a Democrat into the White House. It is incumbent upon Dean and his followers to maintain this progressive momentum into the 2004 elections and beyond.
