Howard Dean's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination may have hit a snag last Friday, when he announced that his son had been detained by police in connection with a burglary at a Vermont country club.
Paul Dean, 17, and three friends from his high school hockey team were reportedly discovered early Friday morning at the Burlington Country Club by a police officer on routine patrol.
"Children do stupid things and this is one of them," Dean said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.
Dean said his understanding was that "Paul's role was to drive the car," while his classmates burglarized the country club.
An officer on patrol saw Paul and questioned him, Dean said, and the incident unraveled from there. Dean said it was his understanding that his son, whom he described as "an honor student," would be charged as an accessory.
Dean said he also understood the boys were cited in court and apparently were not formally arrested.
He said, though, that he encouraged Burlington police not to try to protect his son merely because of his position. Dean said that since Paul is captain of his school hockey team, the incident would inevitably have become public, although he conceded that his own prominence would probably make it a bigger issue.
"When you're 17 years old, you get to make bad decisions and this was one," Dean said.
"I'm cutting short my next two days on the campaign trail to deal with a family problem that I consider to be a serious problem," he added.
The Democratic candidate and former Vermont governor had been scheduled to appear before a Democratic meeting in St. Paul, Minn., and an event in Iowa on Saturday. Nonetheless, Dean said he did not plan to delay his formal announcement to launch his presidential campaign at a kickoff today in Burlington.
Over 10,000 people have pledged to participate in rallies to celebrate the announcement, according to his office.
The promptness with which Dean moved to deal with the issue may help him save face, according to political analysts.
"The most important thing is he looks like he's taking it seriously," said Rockefeller Center director Linda Fowler.
Fowler also noted that if President George W. Bush could survive the scandal surrounding his twin daughters' underage drinking charges -- they have since reached legal age and have been sighted often at fashionable bars throughout the nation -- Dean would be able to as well.
Sarah Ayres '06, who works for Dean's Lebanon field office, said she was unable to comment on the developments.
Dean, one of several contenders in a crowded race for the Democratic nomination for president, is next scheduled to appear in the Upper Valley on June 29 for a fundraiser in Lebanon. Known for his impassioned speeches criticizing the Bush administration -- in particular the President's handling of the war in Iraq -- he is considered among the front-runners in several states important in the early stages of the election.
Dean last visited Dartmouth to speak at an event held in the Top of the Hop during Spring term.
