Dean Blames Economic Woes on Bush Policy, Timid Democrats

Presidential hopeful Howard Dean is dismissing Democrats in Washington as too timid to challenge President Bush's economic policies, arguing that their reticence reflects a fear of losing.

"Too many Democrats in Washington have become so afraid of losing that they have remained silent or only halfheartedly fought the very agenda that is destroying the democratic dream of America," said Dean in remarks prepared for delivery to a union hall audience Wednesday.

"In order to change America, we are going to have to change the Democratic Party, and make it stand for principles once again," he said.

"Never has a president talked so much about jobs while doing so much to destroy them," Dean said.

The former Vermont governor, who often cites his record on balancing the state budget, proposed several economic steps, including an increase in the minimum wage, broadening unemployment insurance to cover part-time workers, more money for cash-strapped states and expanding high-speed Internet access. The cost and additional details will come in September, he said.

"We must return to fiscal sanity for the sake of future generations, yes, but also for the sake of our national security," Dean said. "We cannot be a world-class country if we are the world's largest debtor."