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JOAN JETT, Janeane Garofalo campaign at Iowa Central
from: Fort Dodge, Iowa Messanger
byline goes here (remove this line if there is none)
Here? In Fort Dodge?
Musician JOAN JETT and actress/comedian Janeane Garofalo were in Fort Dodge Saturday night to campaign for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. The entertainers appeared at a rally at Iowa Central Community College's Triton Inn less than 48 hours before Iowans kick off the 2004 race for the White House.
In a telephone interview before the rally, Jett said she became involved in the Dean campaign after investigating the Democratic candidates who were running against George Bush.
"I knew a little about (John) Kerry, (Joseph) Lieberman, (John) Edwards and (Richard) Gephardt. Then I became familiar with Dr. Dean. I searched out his name on the Web, and found out about his record Vermont as governor," said Jett.
Jett was impressed with Dean's record in balancing that state's budget, and getting near universal health care for those age 18 and under.
"Those are accomplishments, and I think they are goals that we need to achieve nationwide," she said.
Jett and her band, the BLACKHEARTS, have played in Iowa before. "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" is one of their most famous hits.
Jett agrees with Dean's stance on the war in Iraq.
It was the icing on the cake for me. I quite often play for troops and have been in combat zones. I get to see firsthand what our troops have to endure and go through and what is expected of them. So I probably have a better perspective on the military, and I don't think we should wield power gratuitously," said Jett.
Jett believes that Dean speaks plainly, with no double-talk.
He speaks in a way that I can relate to him. He sounds like a regular person - I don't have to sit there and figure out what he is talking about," she said.
To Jett, Dean represents change.
As governor of Vermont, he had to work with Republicans and Democrats," she said. "I do believe that he can unite America, be strong on defense, and that his saying that he did not support the war in Iraq is not a ridiculous premise."
Jett said she has been aware of the Iowa caucuses.
"It is exciting to see it from the inside, and I think people in Iowa take it seriously. I was actually quite amazed that people I spoke to last night were still undecided, and I told them why I supported Howard Dean. But people speak for themselves, and this is a great exercise in democracy," said Jett.
Jett arrived in Iowa Friday. Along with Garofalo, both have been to and will continue to go to Dean rallies at college campuses around the state.
Garofalo supports Dean because she is dissatisfied with the Bush administration.
"I consider myself a news junkie and a political junkie, and as the different candidates threw their hats into the ring and spoke, what Howard Dean said resonated with me," said Garofalo.
Garofalo wants to see an intellectual in the White House.
"I'm not saying that Bush is stupid - I think he's a smart man but he is not intellectually curious. He does not see the nuances, or the historical contexts, or sees the big picture," said Garofalo.
Garofalo says Dean changed his opinions over the years because he has an educable mind. "Everybody is a work in progress," she said. "Dean is a highly evolved man and he is continuing to move forward. He does not take the narrow view of 'us' versus 'them,' or of 'good' versus 'evil.'
"I prefer the positivity and the vision and the intellect of the Dean campaign," said Garofalo. "I prefer his human rights stance, his support of unions, his support of the environment, his support of reproductive rights, and George Bush does not."
Garofalo pointed out that Dean would bring experience to the White House.
"He has emotional maturity and political maturity, and he will bring those to the table," said Garofalo.
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