Howard Dean Politicizes Hurricane Katrina

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is never at a loss for trying to turn a tragedy into benefit.  It was no different on Friday when the controversial liberal leader hit the Big Easy for a photo op.

Dean Wants to Cash in on Katrina

Dean's gleeful message - 'Hurricane Katrina will put GOP 'Out of Business.'

ABC News reports:

In his first post-Katrina visit to the Crescent City, Dean helped Acorn, a nonprofit community group that works with low-income families, to clean out Vincent Cooper's flood-damaged home on Derbigny Street in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.

"I don't want to be partisan at a time like this, but this is why the Republicans are going to be out of business," Dean said, pointing to the destruction around him.

"Nine months after the hurricane, to have this? This is ridiculous. This is not the America we grew up in."

When asked if he thought Americans had moved beyond Katrina and may forget about the storm by the time the November elections rolled around, Dean replied, "This is a searing, burning issue, and I think it is going to cost George Bush his legacy and it's going to cost the Republicans the House and the Senate and maybe the presidency in the next election. People will never forget this."

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The America "we grew up in?" Dean grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.  Now he's replaced that with his foot.

Of course Dean wants to be partisan. 

Without question, the little man from Vermont has no trouble trying to cash in on a real human tragedy for an attempt at political gain.  Dean may be the GOP's best shot at hanging on to power in 2006.

--Josh Hart