Dean and Clinton - Separated at Birth?

Michael Goodwin writing in the New York Daily News has an interesting comparison of statements by avowed lefty Howard Dean and "centrist" Hillary Clinton:

Hillary: "Right now we have a White House and a majority in Congress who are systematically weakening the democratic traditions and institutions on which this nation was built. They are turning back the clock; they are tearing down the building blocks of democracy ... turning the clock back on the 20th century. Turning the progress back beyond Franklin Roosevelt, even beyond Teddy Roosevelt."

Howard: "This administration is beginning to erode the core of our democracy. ... The great genius of American democracy is that if 48% of you vote one way, you still have some say. ... Now they're trying to eliminate that."

But wait, there's more:

On GOP honesty

She said: "It's very hard to stop people who have no shame about what they're doing. ... It is very hard to stop people who have never been acquainted with the truth."

He said: "Republicans ... can do that, because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives."

On GOP and religion

She said: "Some honestly believe they are motivated by the truth, they are motivated by a higher calling, they are motivated by, I guess, a direct line to the heavens."

He said: Republicans "all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party."

On GOP power

She said: "There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda."

He said: "This is a culture of corruption and abuse of power in Washington. This is what happens when one party is in charge of everything."

On ballot-box problems

She said: "Too many communities, too many people of color, too many college students are effectively denied an equal right to cast their vote."

He said: "The Republicans are all about suppressing votes. Two voting machines if you live in a black district, 10 voting machines if you live in a white district. I think every single American ought to be able to vote!"

There is one difference between them. He has promised not to run for President in 2008.

I'm sure some very bright folks on the GOP side are making note of all of these comments. They're sure to resurface during the '08 campaign.