Democratic presidential contender says Fed chairman's support of tax cuts is 'troubling." January 23, 2004: 3:04 PM EST
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried out a new tactic Friday while campaigning in New Hampshire, accusing Federal Reserve Bank chairman Alan Greenspan of making decisions that were "too political" and suggesting it may be time to replace him.
At an early campaign stop stop Friday morning, the one-time front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination said that Greenspan, who has been chairman of the Fed board since 1987, has had a "long and distinguished career" but his decisions lately have been "troubling."
But in an interview later in the day, Dean said he has no desire to get rid of Greenspan.
In the campaign stop, Dean said that while he didn't think Greenspan himself is foolish, failing to oppose President Bush's tax cuts was "foolish enough" to warrant his replacement.
"The Fed should never succumb to political temptation," he said.
A Federal Reserve spokesman had no comment about Dean's remarks, but Greg Valliere, a political economist and chief strategist at Charles Schwab Washington Research Group, said Dean is "stepping into very dangerous waters here."
"The financial markets often get uneasy when they sense friction between a possible president and the Fed chairman," he said. "Greenspan's not perfect but I think the financial markets hold him in very high regard."
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Howard Dean says Alan Greenspan should be replaced - Jan. 23, 2004
Democratic presidential contender says Fed chairman's support of tax cuts is 'troubling." January 23, 2004: 3:04 PM EST
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried out a new tactic Friday while campaigning in New Hampshire, accusing Federal Reserve Bank chairman Alan Greenspan of making decisions that were "too political" and suggesting it may be time to replace him.
At an early campaign stop stop Friday morning, the one-time front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination said that Greenspan, who has been chairman of the Fed board since 1987, has had a "long and distinguished career" but his decisions lately have been "troubling."
But in an interview later in the day, Dean said he has no desire to get rid of Greenspan.
In the campaign stop, Dean said that while he didn't think Greenspan himself is foolish, failing to oppose President Bush's tax cuts was "foolish enough" to warrant his replacement.
"The Fed should never succumb to political temptation," he said.
A Federal Reserve spokesman had no comment about Dean's remarks, but Greg Valliere, a political economist and chief strategist at Charles Schwab Washington Research Group, said Dean is "stepping into very dangerous waters here."
"The financial markets often get uneasy when they sense friction between a possible president and the Fed chairman," he said. "Greenspan's not perfect but I think the financial markets hold him in very high regard."
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Howard Dean says Alan Greenspan should be replaced - Jan. 23, 2004
Democratic presidential contender says Fed chairman's support of tax cuts is 'troubling." January 23, 2004: 3:04 PM EST
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried out a new tactic Friday while campaigning in New Hampshire, accusing Federal Reserve Bank chairman Alan Greenspan of making decisions that were "too political" and suggesting it may be time to replace him.
At an early campaign stop stop Friday morning, the one-time front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination said that Greenspan, who has been chairman of the Fed board since 1987, has had a "long and distinguished career" but his decisions lately have been "troubling."
But in an interview later in the day, Dean said he has no desire to get rid of Greenspan.
In the campaign stop, Dean said that while he didn't think Greenspan himself is foolish, failing to oppose President Bush's tax cuts was "foolish enough" to warrant his replacement.
"The Fed should never succumb to political temptation," he said.
A Federal Reserve spokesman had no comment about Dean's remarks, but Greg Valliere, a political economist and chief strategist at Charles Schwab Washington Research Group, said Dean is "stepping into very dangerous waters here."
"The financial markets often get uneasy when they sense friction between a possible president and the Fed chairman," he said. "Greenspan's not perfect but I think the financial markets hold him in very high regard."
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Howard Dean says Alan Greenspan should be replaced - Jan. 23, 2004
Democratic presidential contender says Fed chairman's support of tax cuts is 'troubling." January 23, 2004: 3:04 PM EST
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried out a new tactic Friday while campaigning in New Hampshire, accusing Federal Reserve Bank chairman Alan Greenspan of making decisions that were "too political" and suggesting it may be time to replace him.
At an early campaign stop stop Friday morning, the one-time front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination said that Greenspan, who has been chairman of the Fed board since 1987, has had a "long and distinguished career" but his decisions lately have been "troubling."
But in an interview later in the day, Dean said he has no desire to get rid of Greenspan.
In the campaign stop, Dean said that while he didn't think Greenspan himself is foolish, failing to oppose President Bush's tax cuts was "foolish enough" to warrant his replacement.
"The Fed should never succumb to political temptation," he said.
A Federal Reserve spokesman had no comment about Dean's remarks, but Greg Valliere, a political economist and chief strategist at Charles Schwab Washington Research Group, said Dean is "stepping into very dangerous waters here."
"The financial markets often get uneasy when they sense friction between a possible president and the Fed chairman," he said. "Greenspan's not perfect but I think the financial markets hold him in very high regard."
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Howard Dean says Alan Greenspan should be replaced - Jan. 23, 2004
Democratic presidential contender says Fed chairman's support of tax cuts is 'troubling." January 23, 2004: 3:04 PM EST
LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CNN) - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean tried out a new tactic Friday while campaigning in New Hampshire, accusing Federal Reserve Bank chairman Alan Greenspan of making decisions that were "too political" and suggesting it may be time to replace him.
At an early campaign stop stop Friday morning, the one-time front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination said that Greenspan, who has been chairman of the Fed board since 1987, has had a "long and distinguished career" but his decisions lately have been "troubling."
But in an interview later in the day, Dean said he has no desire to get rid of Greenspan.
In the campaign stop, Dean said that while he didn't think Greenspan himself is foolish, failing to oppose President Bush's tax cuts was "foolish enough" to warrant his replacement.
"The Fed should never succumb to political temptation," he said.
A Federal Reserve spokesman had no comment about Dean's remarks, but Greg Valliere, a political economist and chief strategist at Charles Schwab Washington Research Group, said Dean is "stepping into very dangerous waters here."
"The financial markets often get uneasy when they sense friction between a possible president and the Fed chairman," he said. "Greenspan's not perfect but I think the financial markets hold him in very high regard."
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But Dean is not the first political candidate to take Greenspan to task. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and other GOP candidates did the same in 1999, accusing him of assuming too much power and manipulating the stock markets. Bush was notably absent from the criticism, and in fact announced his unqualified support for Greenspan.
Dean said that Paul Volcker, Fed chairman from 1979 to 1987, was "the greatest chairman" and would be a model of the type of chairman he would look for as president.
But Dean is not the first political candidate to take Greenspan to task. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and other GOP candidates did the same in 1999, accusing him of assuming too much power and manipulating the stock markets. Bush was notably absent from the criticism, and in fact announced his unqualified support for Greenspan.
Dean said that Paul Volcker, Fed chairman from 1979 to 1987, was "the greatest chairman" and would be a model of the type of chairman he would look for as president.
But Dean is not the first political candidate to take Greenspan to task. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and other GOP candidates did the same in 1999, accusing him of assuming too much power and manipulating the stock markets. Bush was notably absent from the criticism, and in fact announced his unqualified support for Greenspan.
Dean said that Paul Volcker, Fed chairman from 1979 to 1987, was "the greatest chairman" and would be a model of the type of chairman he would look for as president.
But Dean is not the first political candidate to take Greenspan to task. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and other GOP candidates did the same in 1999, accusing him of assuming too much power and manipulating the stock markets. Bush was notably absent from the criticism, and in fact announced his unqualified support for Greenspan.
Dean said that Paul Volcker, Fed chairman from 1979 to 1987, was "the greatest chairman" and would be a model of the type of chairman he would look for as president.
But Dean is not the first political candidate to take Greenspan to task. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and other GOP candidates did the same in 1999, accusing him of assuming too much power and manipulating the stock markets. Bush was notably absent from the criticism, and in fact announced his unqualified support for Greenspan.
Dean said that Paul Volcker, Fed chairman from 1979 to 1987, was "the greatest chairman" and would be a model of the type of chairman he would look for as president.
