The Washington Monthly

March 23, 2009

DEAN JOINS CNBC TEAM.... If you happened to tune into CBNC this morning, you may have noticed an unexpected development: "Squawk Box" was co-hosted by none other than Howard Dean.

It was not, apparently, a one-time thing. Sources close to the former Vermont governor told Sam Stein that Dean will become a regular contributor to the business news network.

The move comes at a time when CNBC is under intense pressure to change its format and criticism for its failures to report or foresee much of today's economic crisis. In this regard, Dean -- who worked Wall Street after graduating college, has family ties to the financial sector, but was nevertheless been an early critic of the business practices that contributed to the current recession -- should be a refreshing presence, particularly for progressive economists.
But the decision to bring the recently departed DNC Chair on board, the source says, was finalized well before the current wave of CNBC-angst. So while grassroots groups have sprouted up in recent weeks petitioning the network to make wholesale changes, Dean's hiring can't be viewed as a direct result of public pressure.

I don't know if CNBC is just saying that or not. Either way, Dean is a welcome addition to the network.

—Steve Benen 9:20 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (10)

Comments

You realize that this will just be more proof to the tinfoil hat crowd that the NBC family has gone "socialist".

Posted by: howie on March 23, 2009 at 9:26 AM | PERMALINK

that the NBC family has gone "socialist".

Or that Wall Street has always had uncomfortably close links to the DNC.

Posted by: Danp on March 23, 2009 at 9:32 AM | PERMALINK

Seems like an awful waste of talent and energy.

Posted by: beep52 on March 23, 2009 at 9:48 AM | PERMALINK

Jokes about the show being renamed "Scream Box" start in 5... 4... 3...

Odd choice. Makes me wonder if Dean negotiated something special (unedited Olbermann-esque "special Comments" where he can tear a new one for someone who desperately needs it) before accepting or whether the check was really huge.

Posted by: toowearyforoutrage on March 23, 2009 at 10:09 AM | PERMALINK

Has Larry Kudlow's head exploded yet?

Posted by: Jan in Stone Mtn on March 23, 2009 at 10:41 AM | PERMALINK

...2...1

How about changing the name to "YEEEAAARRGGH Box"?

Posted by: Grumpy on March 23, 2009 at 11:15 AM | PERMALINK

And you could see the discomfort on right arse-hole Joe Kernan's face all morning. and then they felt that they had to bring in "Leader" Dick Armey for balance... please...

Posted by: Andy on March 23, 2009 at 11:17 AM | PERMALINK

I think this is awful. If I made a short list of places a progressive activist is least likely to influence change, CNBC would be near the top.

Seems like a waste of a perfectly good Democrat.

Posted by: doubtful on March 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM | PERMALINK

Re the "waste" comments: Is there something I'm not aware of that prevents Dean from doing other things at the same time he serves as a regular contributor on CNBC?

Posted by: shortstop on March 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM | PERMALINK

How very sad that the architect of the 50-state strategy for the Democratic party must now go to the land of cheerleaders, ostriches, and fruit cakes to get a job.

Posted by: d4winds on March 23, 2009 at 3:13 PM | PERMALINK

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