Kaus on Dean, Gephardt and Special Interests in Iowa

Kaus gets it right:

A four-year old videotape shows Howard Dean perceptively maligning the sacred Iowa caucuses as "dominated by special interests" and "the extremes." Rep. Richard Gephardt seized the moment:

"The remarks he made about the Iowa caucuses to me are unbelievable. I guess I'd ask him a question: Who are the special interests dominating this caucus? Is it the farmers? Is it organized labor? Is it senior citizens?"

Um ... how about "yes", "yes" ... and "yes!" ...

Indeed. Like I like to say: any interest that isn't your interest is a "special" interest. And, of course, your interests are "vital" interests.