Howard Dean calls Greenspan a political burden

Dean said "I think Alan Greenspan has become too political," in response to a question from the audience at a town hall meeting.

"If he lacks the political courage to criticize the [budget] deficits, if he was foolish enough -- and he's not a foolish man -- to support the outrageous tax cuts that George Bush put through, then he has become too political and we need a new chairman of the Federal Reserve," he added.

"Greenspan has been an excellent chief, and yet in the last couple of years, I've been deeply troubled by his willingness to accede to positions that I don't think are in the best interest of the country," Dean later told reporters.

"I'm troubled by his willingness to bend in political winds. That's something a Fed chief should never do."

At a news conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, later on Friday, Dean explained he was not calling for Greenspan to be ousted before his term ended but that if he were elected president he would not reappoint him.

Under the law, he would not be able to reappoint Greenspan even if he wanted.