The University of Vermont will host a panel discussion on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 called “The Media and the Public Trust: The Making and Breaking of Political Heroes.”

I see the juxtaposition of Howard Fineman and Howard Dean on the same stage for this topic as the height of irony. I wonder if the organizers or participants are aware of it or intend it that way.

To me, and many other Dean supporters, Fineman was Stereotype-Perpetuator-In-Chief of the anti-Dean punditocracy, adding much to the image of Dean as the unhinged wacko from Vermont.

On a seemingly weekly basis, Fineman penned article after article about the reasons why Dean couldn’t or wouldn’t be the nominee.

To Fineman, Dean was ~too emotional, too humorless, too unwilling to suck up to the press in order to manipulate them.~ And many other inside-the-beltway wisdoms from the same crew who helped beat the drums of the Iraq War.

I hope someone brings this up during the event.

There’s lots of evidence that I’m sure I could find, but here’s a nice take-down at Salon that I quickly found…

Newsweek’s grand inquisitor
When Howard Fineman asked Dean if he believes Jesus Christ is the son of God and the route to eternal life, campaign reporting reached a brand-new low.
By Aaron Kinney
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2004/01/13/fineman/index.html

(from an email to a friend)