WaPo's 'The Fix' attacks Wendy Davis' factual ad as "one of the nastiest you'll ever see

[cali]

Wendy Davis is running one of the nastiest campaign ads you will ever see

Wendy Davis is almost certainly not going to be the next governor of Texas. Apparently, though, she's willing to try just about anything to alter that reality.

<snip>

It goes on to attack wheelchair-bound state Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) for hypocrisy because, after suing and winning a large reward for the accident that caused his partial paralysis, he has opposed similar litigation as the state's top cop.

"A tree fell on Greg Abbott," the narrator says. "He sued and got millions. Since then, he's spent his career working against other victims."

This as is the sort of highly risky gambit you only see from a long-shot campaign. And, as often as not, these sorts of "Hail Marys" fail miserably.

If if does backfire and Davis wants to run for office in the future, you can rest assured this one will stick with her.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/10/10/wendy-davis-is-running-one-of-the-nastiest-campaign-ads-you-will-ever-see/

[Enrique]

1. i can tell you one thing

Wendy Davis doesn't care what The Fix thinks.

[DhhD]

120. If possible go to the Texas Group to see about this Ad with the empty wheel chair, as Abbott

dumped out the victims, before Davis developed the Ad. I think many of you might value the story told on another GD OP by a Texan.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025652057

[tularetom]

2. Is it true? If so, I don't see any problem

Seems to me "The Fix", whatever the fuck that is, is sort of hoping it doesn't work.

[onenote]

87. If you don't see the problem, you don't understand politics

I don't know how anyone with an ounce of sense would not have foreseen the blowback from this ad. And anyone who didn't foresee the blowback shouldn't be involved in running a campaign.

[DhhD]

95. Collin County will go Blue on Nov 4. This is about Plano Texas in Red Collin County it is not about

the empty wheel chair at the start of the Ad. The empty wheel chair is for all the people that where hurt, paralyzed or killed in a Plano, Texas hospital with the hospital allowing the doctor to continue to work there and Gregg Abbot supporting the hospital. Citizens will decide who was morally correct.

[onenote]

100. I hope you're right

Collin County went for Romney over Obama in 2012 by a 64-33 percent margin. Cruz took the county by a similar vote. That's a lot to overcome.

[still_one]

105. and what is wrong with pointing out the hypocrisy of Abbott?

[onenote]

116. Nothing. But using a picture of a wheelchair was guaranteed to get the reaction it did

It was absolutely foreseeable.
So if making a valid point is going to blow up in your face (and whether or not it should is immaterial…the question is whether it would) you either don't make the point or find a different way. Such as the exact same ad, without a wheelchair as a visual.

[Gothmog]

3. The ad is factual

Greg sued and used every trick in the book to get a good settlement. Thereafter, Greg has worked to prevent other people who are injured from getting any recovery.

[WinkyDink]

137. You are ignoring the HUGE impact that the visual has on decision-making.

[Dawson Leery]

4. Abbott is a hypocrite.

[Gothmog]

82. Abbott is also a liar

[UTUSN]

5. A recent saying, "Rich & guilty in TX counts for more than poor & innocent." n/t

[amb123]

6. F*ck the Fix!

Wendy will win.

[HubertHeaver]

7. A factual political ad.

As old Give'em Hell Harry said, "I tell the truth about the republicans. They just think it's Hell."

[TreasonousBastard]

8. WaPo is not WaPo any more...

It's Amazon.

It's a Bezos personal property now, and while he's a brilliant marketer and entrepreneur, there's nothing in his history that says he believes the press should be in any way enlightening.

He gave a great speech to the employees, but if how he treats Amazon employees is any hint, those were empty words.

He's had one, and only one, goal in business-- crush the opposition. Let's see how that works out in journalism. Until and unless he proves different, just put WaPo down there with the Murdoch rags.

[AnalystInParadise]

9. Attacking a man in a wheelchair

is never good politics. If the shoe was on the other foot we would be baying for blood. Sorry Miss Davis, you need to pull this ad before it causes more damage to your campaign.

[GeorgeGist]

16. Extremely shallow reasoning ...

but that sells in Texas.

[AnalystInParadise]

17. Right

because attacking a man in a wheel chair is always a good idea.

I swear to god, sometimes we are so shortsighted and determined to score political points we ignore the larger context. Attacking Greg Abbott is not much different than attacking FDR. Yes I know Abbott is a dickhead, but to most Americans they see an able bodied person attacking a crippled person, we lose by doing this.

[UTUSN]

19. She was not attacking "a man in a wheelchair". But he DOES attack her as single-parent.

Not to mention that his wingnut slashing policies are vicious to all needy people. But he's got a GREAT PERSONALITY so that's all that counts. He's so LIKEABLE!1 That's all that counts. Right now he's appealing the VOTER SUPRESSION to the Supreme Court and all the minorities he works AGAINST are friendly to him because he's so LOVEABLE!1 And don't forget that his wife is LATINA!1

Anything else?!1

[AnalystInParadise]

22. Greg Abbot is a dick head

BUT this attack ad will be the final nail in her coffin. Sucks because I am an absentee voter in Texas. I would say she loses by 8-15 points now. Attacking a cripple, even a loathsome dickhead like Abbot will backfire. Just don't do it.

[Beaverhausen]

27. have you heard the term 'abortion barbie?'

that's what they say about Davis. It's ugly on both sides.

[AnalystInParadise]

32. Yes I have

And it is also loathsome.

This is not some contest where if they insult us, we go after the crippled guy. Damn.

[alp227]

62. In politics, trash talk, not civility, wins.

That's the sad reality despite the ideals of civil, polite disagreement.

[Gothmog]

83. Greg has been encouraging his supporters to use this term

Greg's supporters are very active on twitter using the Abortionbarbie hastag

[onenote]

88. has he run an ad using it? is there an "i approved this message" post from him?

The DUers that don't understand why this was a bad move should never ever be allowed to make decisions for a political campaign.

This isn't about whether Abbott is a hypocrite or not. He is. But the blowback on this, whether its right or wrong, was entirely predictable. Which is why you don't run the ad showing him in the wheelchair. I doubt that there would have been nearly the blowback if the ad had not shown the picture but contained the same message.

[hobbit709]

30. "Greg Abbott is Rick Perry without the intelligence and charm."

As JuanitaJean said about him.

[UTUSN]

20. Where is this "paradise" that you're an "analyst" in?!1 n/t

[AnalystInParadise]

21. Hawaii

All Source Analyst. 20 years in the Army working on my second year as an analyst for the private defense sector.

[UTUSN]

23. So how did your analytical skills result in "attacking a man in a wheelchair"? n/t

[AnalystInParadise]

26. Because the average low info

voter will see a man in a wheelchair being attacked. I have no love for a fuckwad like Abbot, but I also know that nobody likes the perception that a handicapped person is being picked on. I got it, you don't think this will hurt, I think it will and I think at some point she will pull the ad and have to apologize to that little toad. It didn't have to be this way.

[UTUSN]

35. #1 TX is a non-voting state & has been "Red" (not really) for 20 yrs. #2 ABBOTT has $30M to spare.

#3 Campaign slugging is irrelevant (because of #s 1& 2).

Since you clearly don't regard yourself as "low information," why is picking-on-handicapped (which it's NOT) YOUR focal point?!1 You must be "low information" after all.

By the bye, "low information voter" was coined in previous cycles aimed at Faux Propaganda Network viewers. It is now a LIMBOsevic twisted-around term. Why do I suspect... (never mind).

[AnalystInParadise]

39. Please continue your thought

Don't let reality get in the way of your rant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_information_voter

I have offered an opinion, for some reason you are apoplectic that I would dare disagree....Please share with us what you suspect. I am begging you to.

I suspect you can't handle the fact that this ad is going to hurt our candidate and in true aggression redirection, you are taking that anger out at me.

Davis launched an ad that went after a guy in a wheelchair, that is a fact whether you acknowledge it or not. We are supposed to be better than that. I have said my piece.

[UTUSN]

45. "went after a guy in a wheelchair" - "going after a crippled guy" - What part of HYPOCRISY

do your analytical skills MISS?!1

The dude SUED and got MILLIONS and THEN he used his official positions to STOP other victims to get the same CASH he got.

He got CAPS on the liability that OTHER victims could get.

We're paying your paygrade for your ANALYTICAL skills?!1

[AnalystInParadise]

47. Why the personal attacks?

I have asked you to stop twice now, I am not attacking you at all. Again that is not necessary

[CatWoman]

143. I don't see his rationalizations as "personal attacks"

I see them as rational observations.

[AnalystInParadise]

145. Fortunately

your opinion is no more valid than mine.

[AnalystInParadise]

24. If you must know

I split my time currently between USARPAC G-2 in Hawaii, Fort Huachuca USAICOE in Arizona, and various other posts. My current position is to mentor enlisted Army Intelligence Analysts of the 35F MOS. For the month of October I am in El Paso supporting a huge exercise, was at Fort Irwin, CA last month doing the same thing. Next month will be home for a week, then out to Germany to advise the 2SCR and will spend the first two weeks of December at either Fort Leavenworth or Fort Drum.....Nobody on our team wants to go to Drum, so i will probably have to take it since I spend so much time in Hawaii.

[UTUSN]

29. I *QUAKE* for your filling your paygrade since you don't "analyze" well. n/t

[AnalystInParadise]

31. I am sorry

Are you always rude to people that have a different opinion than you?

That is very uncalled for.

[UTUSN]

37. Ah, more of your analytical prowess. nt/

[AnalystInParadise]

46. Again you

are being very rude, it is not needed and beneath you. I have seen your posts and you seem to be a very intelligent person, what is up with the personal attacks?

[UTUSN]

49. There's *nothing* personal. I'm being ANALYTICAL about your "reasoning" and possibly I'm suspecting

your motives.

[AnalystInParadise]

50. You are being rude

and apparently accusing me of something while denigrating my skills at my job, that is the definition of personal. Please stop.

[UTUSN]

52. No, been reading your interpretations here, your "analytical" skills HERE. Just wondering how you do

at work.

[AnalystInParadise]

53. Still you persist

I am unsure what is wrong with you, I have asked you twice to stop the insults and attacks, this is the third time. Please stop, no need to be a bully. We have a difference in opinion.

As for my job I do quite well, they let me work from Hawaii while only spending a little time in Arizona where the main office is. I am happy.

[Pastiche423]

40. Are you in a wheelchair?

If not, do you realize that a person does not change their ways because they have to sit down?

A jerk is a jerk whether they are standing or sitting.

You bought the RWs' "OMG, how dare you say something bad about someone in a WHEELCHAIR" emotional campaign bullshit.

It appears that Wendy Davis just might win and this is just RWs pissing their pants.

Congratulations, it worked on you.

[AnalystInParadise]

44. Max Cleland

n/t

But hey it's not wrong when we do it, huh?

[UTUSN]

48. You've got it ass-backward: Max WAS attacked PURELY as disabled. ABBOTT is NOT.

You just don't want to get it, do you.

[Pastiche423]

51. You are Max Cleland?

You live in Georgia? You lost three limbs in Viet Nam?

[DhhD]

97. This Ad will turn Collin County Purple or Blue. Abbott has appealed the decious on public

education and appealed the decision on voter suppression with Photo IDs.

[AnalystInParadise]

103. Bookmarking

this thread to see what happens. If you think this will turn Collin county blue, I am dumbfounded and wonder if you know who lives there. Williamson county down near Austin will go blue before Mckinney and North Plano will.

[Marr]

67. I wouldn't be.

At least, not if the person in question *had* in fact gone on to make a career out of fighting victims' rights.

If the charge was false, then the person doing the accusing is pretty damned low. If not, well, a wheelchair is not a halo. Someone in that position, fighting to keep others from getting the same benefits they themselves have had, is beneath contempt.

[TexasTowelie]

70. I don't agree with you.

Last edited Fri Oct 10, 2014, 11:58 PM - Edit history (1)

The last two gubernatorial elections the Democratic candidate came off looking as weak and ineffective for not wallowing in the muck and we reelected Perry. Texans expect their candidates to be tough and Abbott has been airing dirty ads that are factually in correct. The Davis campaign needs to do something to close the point spread in this election so if she has to sling some dirt to have a chance then Texans will realize that she has some fortitude.

[dballance]

72. She's not "Attacking a man in a wheelchair" Stop repeating their meme.

She's attacking a person who sued and got millions because of alleged negligence and now does his best to prevent others from the same justice.

That is the definition of hypocrite.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

75. Bull-fucking-goddamned-shit! He put himself in this fucking race! He doesn't

get to use the fact he's in a wheelchair to cry foul!

Fuck that asshole and the muh-fuckin' wheelchair he rode in on!

[xxqqqzme]

96. I seem to remember the rethugs

started the mud slinging by attacking Davis' relationship w/ her former spouse. I don't recall the details - don't live in Texas - but as I recall it was packed w/ innuendo and half truths ala saurove's campaign tactics. I'm sure a Texas Democrat can fill in the details.

[CoolOnion]

101. Greg Abbott's been using his wheelchair in ads to his advantage

He's got one ad showing himself going faster in his chair than people in their cars navigating congested traffic. He's got another showing how he exercises by pushing himself up parking garage ramps. Now it's time to say out loud what voters in Texas are saying, that he got rich from his injury, then worked on "tort reform" so no one else could do the same thing.

It's too bad these editorial writers didn't do their homework before making it sound like Wendy Davis is saying he's unfit to serve because he's in a chair. It's not the chair, it's the hypocrisy. Texans know it, and outsiders need to lay off.

[AnalystInParadise]

104. I am a Texan

friend........

And you miss the point, people see a man in a wheel chair talking about himself and they don't think anything about it. On the other hand an ad that is construed as attacking a man in a wheel chair? You are done. I swear to God, this is really not hard to comprehend. Avoid any imagery that makes it appear you are going after the crippled guy............It is dumb and gives the Abbot campaign ammo..........

[CoolOnion]

111. You're not talking to the same people I am

I've talked to Democrats and Republicans who roll their eyes at his ads, saying there ought to be some way to point out how rich he got off his injury while making it harder for others to do so. I imagine the Davis campaign has been inundated with requests for an ad like this, and SHE DELIVERED.

[AnalystInParadise]

115. She delivered an ad

that is being condemned by the left, right and center...........That is not how you win an election. But whatever man, you seem to think this ad will help, I guess we will see.

[Paladin]

114. Perfectly stated, CoolOnion. Many thanks. (nt)

[spanone]

10. media is well invested in the republicans winning the senate & keeping the house

[Rex]

11. Wow. I don't remember the last time I've seen GOPukers so scared and desperate!

Looks like Texas is going blue! Sorry little GOPukers...your fear and projection smells like victory for Dems!

[onenote]

89. Have you seen the polling in TX?

Wendy is down by nearly (or more than) double digits. I don't think this is about fear or desperation. If a Democrat with a significant lead was targeted in an ad that his campaign could characterize as offensive, they'd be foolish not to make an issue of it, notwithstanding their lead.

Again, this is Politics 101. Sometimes it doesn't matter that you're right on the substance. If you don't foresee the blowback an ad will cause, you shouldn't be in the game.

[PeaceNikki]

12. So... Democrats CAN't discuss Abbott's war on the disabled, but the GOP can use Wendy's

two abortions against her?

Nope. sorry. He's a selfish hypocrite and they can't dispute the facts in the ad.

[UTUSN]

25. Nailed. n/t

[MerryBlooms]

81. bingo

[Paladin]

13. Abbott is a world-class hypocrite, and he can't use his wheelchair as a shield against that fact.

Davis's ad is based on long-acknowledged facts concerning Abbott's two-faced actions. Democrats shouldn't be buying into the smoke that the WaPo and other right-wing outlets are spewing on this matter. Go Wendy!

[CoolOnion]

113. THANK YOU!!!!

Well said. I'm so sick of the anti-Davis bullshit, especially from fellow liberals who don't know what the hell they're talking about.

[AnalystInParadise]

14. I agree with Bob Beckel

It is disturbing that she ran this ad. Attack Abbot all day long and twice on Sunday, but for Crap's sake don't make the ad about the wheelchair he is in. She is toast and that sucks because she was looking to gain some ground.

I am sure I will take shit for this, but I don't care, we embarrass ourselves when we stoop to attack men in wheelchairs, even when they are pieces of shit like Abbot.

[sendero]

28. Bullshit..

.... Democrats have been taking this shit for three decades, it is time for them to DISH OUT what has worked so well for the Republicans.

[AnalystInParadise]

36. Sure

Let's be as evil, crass and tasteless as our opponents, just so we can dish it out. Shocking responses in here.

[sendero]

41. It gets votes...

.. and it is FACTUALLY CORRECT. Sorry you want to keep Dems bringing a knife to a gun fight. Who's side are you really on?

[AnalystInParadise]

54. I do not believe in ads

that go after the disabled. Even of dickheads. I am on the correct side, the one that doesn't feel the need to go after people with disabilities.

[alp227]

66. So having a disability outweighs ANY criticism of a person?

Should the Davis campaign NOT have pointed out Abbott's paralyzing injury when discussing Abbott's position on torts?

[AnalystInParadise]

68. An add

that highlights or uses the imagery of the disabled is wrong. Even Buzzfeed is making fun of Davis. The optics of this are TERRIBLE and give Abbot a chance to go on the attack. Stupid, stupid move.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/katherinemiller/yikes#22mr0ba

[Paladin]

84. Davis didn't run this ad until after Abbott injected the wheelchair into the campaign.

After hiding from public view for most of the campaign season, Abbott now has TV ads showing himself maneuvering down the edges of busy streets, and through empty parking garages (like Robert Redford in the movie of "All The President's Men&quot . Abbott is clearly using his disability to solicit sympathy and votes from Texans, so why should his hypocritical stance regarding others with disabilities be off-limits? And spare me the Good Conduct Rules For Democrats thing, OK? The Republicans have been kneecapping us with that goody-two-shoes attitude for years.

[onenote]

117. It's not a question of what is or isn't off limits. The question is whether

even something that isn't "off limits" (whatever that means) will blow up in your face. It was predictable that Davis putting an image of a wheelchair in her ad would blow up. She did. And it did.

The same exact ad without the image of the wheelchair would have been unassailable. There was more to be lost than gained in putting that image in the ad.

[Paladin]

118. You're carrying water for the opposition, as far as I'm concerned. Discussion over. (nt)

[onenote]

119. You are naive and should stay away from politics. Discussion over. (nt)

[onenote]

90. Do you really think that after the blowback from this ad, it will get her votes?

[sendero]

92. Yes I do..

.... it is how Republicans turned "liberal" into a dirty word. It is how many of them win races, it certainly is not on the issues.

Manufactured "blowback" is largely a result of the Reps' fear. If Dems would campaign like attack dogs instead of snivelling puppies, we'd win more races.

And finally, what is factually incorrect here? Nothing. Is is the truth, and Republcan hypocricy is EVERYWHERE and it should be ruthlessly exposed.

[Paladin]

93. Gotta love the full-throated support for Wendy and Texas here, right, Sendero?

Pretty much what I would have predicted.....

[onenote]

99. Not sure if you're talking about me, but I've sent her money

I really had hoped she could knock off Abbott. But this ad, truthful as it is, is a disaster. Thinking it will move independent voters in her direction in the last month of the campaign (i.e., low information voters) is dreaming.

[cali]

42. how is that add crass or evil?

precisely what makes it so? the only thing I would have done differently is not use the imgage of the wheel chair.

[AnalystInParadise]

57. You answered your own question

If it had been our candidate we would have reacted accordingly.

[demwing]

122. Damn straight. Yes, let's be bastards!

Sometimes all a bully will understand is the pain of your boot up his ass.

[AnalystInParadise]

124. And when it backfires on us

then what? We sure showed them, we acted like jackasses and it backfired on us, we sure showed them.

[demwing]

125. And what will you say when it doesn't backfire?

Not a damn thing, I'm sure...

Don't hurt yourself.

[AnalystInParadise]

126. What constitutes a backfire?

How do we define a backfire? It already has backfired, the Davis Camp is starting a slow walk back of the ad.

[demwing]

127. Of course they are, that's a feature, not a bug

but they're also talking about it throughout multiple media sites, which is like free airtime for the ad --and by default, discussing Abbott's greed and callous hypocrisy.

As messages go, it will be highly effective.

She'll take a small body punch, while Abbot takes a roundhouse left to the jaw.

[AnalystInParadise]

128. Wow

I don't even know what to say if you think this ad will help her get elected. This sinks her campaign, she will lose this election because her campaign staff wanted to go after the guy in the wheelchair.

I feel so strongly about this ad, that if she wins I will leave DU and never come back. She is sadly, unfortunately, toast. And we had a chance..............

[demwing]

129. On please...sigh...WHAT chance? She's been losing ALL YEAR!

There has not been a single poll showing Davis anywhere close to Abbott. Her RCP AVERAGE has her 11 points down! Her last PPP Poll (a left friendly pollster) had her 14 points down! So your prediction that THIS sinks her campaign is not something anyone should take seriously.

And BTW, I don't believe for a second that a Davis win would cause you to quit DU. It would be a ridiculous, empty protest, serving nothing and no one.

[AnalystInParadise]

130. Anymore that this disgusting ad

will be a solid punch to Abbot? I too can play the hyperbole game.

[demwing]

132. You've been playing the hyperbole game from the get go

What's your point?

[JanetLovesObama]

34. It was nasty !

I will vote for Wendy as I vote straight Democratic but there are several things I disagree with Wendy on. She is totally in favor of "open carry" and the death penalty. Her stance on abortion rights I do agree on. And I also do not like the way she refused to say she "regretted voting for Obama."

[seabeyond]

59. you are so concerned about taking shit, you post this twice in this thread. if a repug took welfare

and then actively worked at not allowing anyone welfare, that would be hypocrisy. are you suggesting no one could "touch" that cause we empathize with the poor? how dare we attack him about being poor. right? per you.

[AnalystInParadise]

60. And you seem to be glazing over the wheel chair thing

It's the imagery, it's the optics. It is so obtuse to roll an ad where the wheel chair is prominent. It is abhorrent.

[alp227]

64. Framing this as bigotry against the disabled is dishonest.

You're missing the MESSAGE about Abbott being a hypocrite regarding torts.

[AnalystInParadise]

69. And you are missing the message

that the average voter will care about tort reform when instead they will see an ad attacking a man in a wheel chair.

Whether or not the media is on our side or not, their headlines do inform low info voters, quite a bit.

[Calista241]

73. Then show his fucking face.

Show him flipping a pregnant single mom off, or driving in his Rolls Royce past the ghetto. Don't show a picture of a wheel chair, and imply that it's supposed to be Abbot sitting in it.

In addition, she spends the first 10 seconds of the ad spinning a sob story about how a tree fell on Greg Abbott and paralyzed him. Who's the marketing genius that came up with that strategy?

[DhhD]

94. The wheel chair is for the victims at the hospital in Plano, Texas; the Ad is not about Abbott's

wheel chair. The Ad starts off with an empty wheel chairs in Plano Texas which was very Red, until Abbott filled the chairs to heighten the sense of Redness and Plano's Red neighborhoods. In my opinion, residence of Plano Texas will be seriously Purple when turning out to vote. Gregg Abbott does not stand for what is right. Will Collin County go Red (again) or BLUE? Purple fads into Blue.

Abbott has been going with voter suppression, going against public education. This Ad is a wake-up call all over Texas and is being missed by many of you here on DU, in my opinion.

[WinkyDink]

138. No, YOU are "missing the message." THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE, REMEMBER?

[Calista241]

15. Even though the facts may be true

This ad is rather tasteless. There was a much better way to go after her opponent than to highlight his disability. We gave Saxby Chambliss a lot of grief for going after Max Cleland, and this is no different. It's tasteless, trashy and i bet it will be pretty ineffective.

[UTUSN]

18. No, this is NOT "no different" - nobody is attacking his disability, we're attacking his hypocrisy

Did you miss the part that he reaped millions through "lawsuit abuse" then stopped anybody else?!1 But we know you're sincere.

[AnalystInParadise]

55. The wheel chair

was featured prominently in the ad. We would call that a dog whistle if it was directed at our candidate.

[AnalystInParadise]

33. Good luck Calista

apparently when we go after a handicapped guy it is totally fine. I am saddened that so many people are totally cool with this.

[cali]

38. you seem confused. first you say attack him all you want and then you say

don't go after him. the facts in the ad are just that- facts. Surely you're not suggesting that because Abbot is in a wheel chair, he shouldn't be challenged or attacked. and his hypocrisy regarding his using the law to be compensated and not wanting others to have that opportunity is well documented. Are you saying his actions as AG in overturning these laws are not fair game?

[AnalystInParadise]

43. Attack him all day and twice on sunday

Avoid anything attacking his disability or any imagery linked to that. I am not confused, this ad is totally reprehensible. If the shoe was on the other foot, DU would rightly be in freakout overdrive.

[JanetLovesObama]

56. Yup.

I agree with you 100%. Davis had a very slim chance of winning before this nasty ad and it will take a miracle for her to win now. Who in the hell is her campaign manager?????????? Should be fired.

[Texasgal]

63. How do you feel about Abbot

Discussing Davis's abortions? Referring to her as "abortion barbie" ???

[AnalystInParadise]

65. He is loathsome

and reprehensible for doing so. The correct answer is not frame an ad where it looks like Wendy Davis is attacking a paraplegic. They did it first is not a winning political strategy. The headlines are already being shaped and they say " Davis attacks man in wheelchair". Low info voters will see the headlines and that is all. Why give Abbot the ammo when Davis was closing? This was just stupid.

[YarnAddict]

86. Did he do that? Seriously?

Is there an ad where Wendy is referred to as "Abortion Barbie?" Or that point out that she has had abortions?

Despicable!

[cali]

85. no I wouldn't. And I'm someone who frequently points out hypocrisy in our own party

the ad clearly wasn't attacking him for his disability.

[yardwork]

139. This is much different from what Chambliss did to Cleland.

I can't agree with you on that at all.

And, sadly, what Chambliss did to Cleland worked. Just as the lying attacks on Kerry - remember the purple bandaids? - worked.

I don't like negative ads, but Wendy Davis's ad is factual, as opposed to what the Republicans did to Cleland and Kerry.

The Republicans have a long tradition of winning on negative ads.

[bluestateguy]

58. I wonder what excuses DUers will make when she loses (likely very badly)

I'm sure it will be somebody else's fault, of course.

[AnalystInParadise]

61. This ad is so embarrassing it isn't even funny.

The headlines will be that Wendy Davis runs an ad that attacks a man in a wheel chair. Low info voter will see that and that alone. This is a disaster.

[FourScore]

71. Honestly, I have to agree.

I have no idea who advised her to do this.

[cherokeeprogressive]

77. It will be Texas' fault, of course. She will lose. DUers will blame Texas, NOT Wendy Davis.

It will give those who get their jollies bashing the south ammunition to last til at least the next election, and to some, it will solidify their geographical bigotry for years, nay decades.

[bluestateguy]

78. I'm sure all Texas statewide elected Democrats currenty in office would agree

[Drunken Irishman]

74. Whether you agree with the point is irrelevant - will others?

That's all that matters. Is this ad going to do damage to Abbott or Davis? The way it's playing, I'm guessing it'll do damage to Abbott. Frankly, I don't have a problem with it, but if I was running the campaign, I would've said no on running it. You could see the shit-storm something like this would create from a mile away.

[hrmjustin]

76. It is factually accurate but a mistake to run it.

The fact she is getting condemned like she is shows it was a bad idea.

Yes it is true what she said but the manner in which you campaign matters and this will turn people off.

Not me but those pain in the ass swing voters.

[PlanetaryOrbit]

79. AnalystInParadise is correct.

The ad might be factually accurate, but..........that doesn't mean running it is a smart idea.


Like AnalystInParadise said, it's one thing for an ad to be factually accurate, it's another thing for that arrow to actually hit its target.


The problem with Wendy's ad is that it requires viewers to dig down beyond the first layer. You have to think about it and realize that "Maybe what Wendy is saying is true."


But most viewers probably won't. They'll only see the first shallow layer - "Wendy is attacking a crippled man!". They won't see the second layer, underneath the first layer - "Maybe what Wendy is saying is true."


Therefore this ad will backfire.

[AnalystInParadise]

98. Thanks

I can't believe the level of vitriol I have received for pointing out that maybe picking on a guy in a wheel chair is not a good idea. Most voters are simple people unaccustomed to nuance. They will see a woman picking on a man in a wheel chair and that will be that.

[demwing]

133. Opinions

that's all.

ome people have differing opinions, others don't

[TBF]

80. Bad move on her part -

even Mother Jones is critical.

The odds were not in her favor here - and that is the reason Julian Castro was pulled to Washington (he's the up and coming star so they pulled him out of Texas). If there were a chance of winning demographically he would be the candidate. My opinion.

I like Wendy but this shows lack of judgment. I wish she hadn't run it.

[FreeJoe]

91. She never stood a chance

Texas will elect a Democratic governor again in the not too distance future, but this isn't the time and Wendy Davis isn't the candidate. The Republicans here have been marching further and further to the right and are steadily losing support from moderates. They will lose when we run another Ann Richards - a moderate Democrat, preferably one that can boost Hispanic voter turnout.

I thought that the benefit of the Wendy Davis campaign wasn't winning the governorship. The benefit was bringing attention and money to the Democratic party in the state. She was set to boost turnout in a lot of state senate races where we need to make gains. The governorship in Texas doesn't count for crap anyway. What we need is enough people in the legislature to block Texas from moving further into the arms of the Texas Taliban. Sadly, things haven't worked out that way. Wendy Davis hasn't been an effective candidate even running against a terrible Republican candidate.

This ad does just hurt, it hurts the Democratic brand in Texas. It's not that it isn't true. It is. Abbott is a terrible hypocrite. The problem is that it is too easy to spin it badly and that's exactly what people on the right are successfully doing. It was a mistake and I wish she hadn't done it.

[elleng]

102. What BULL SHIT!

(Yes, I'm YELLING!)
Repubs are nothing but nasty, Wendy and Dems are factual and usually kind. This one raps some hypocrite knuckles, and WaPos fix says THIS???

[AnalystInParadise]

106. Mother Jones says it too

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/10/wendy-davis-greg-abbott-nasty-bad-no-good-attack-ad

This ad is tasteless and will cost Davis votes.

[elleng]

107. Nothing tasteless about it.

It's low key and factual.

[AnalystInParadise]

108. Yes

the spinning wheel chair says low key............

Lordy.......lordy.....

I will just agree to disagree with you.

[gollygee]

109. OK I've now watched the ad

and if I hadn't read this, I'm not sure I would make the connection that he is in a wheelchair. It said he was in an accident and won a settlement, and there was a picture of a wheelchair, but I would have assumed that meant he was temporarily in a wheelchair after the accident, because pictures of wheelchairs and crutches are often used in news stories/ads/whatever about accidents and injuries.

I have a migraine headache today and I guess it's possible I missed something, but it looked like it just said, "He was in an accident and got a settlement, but he was opposed to other people who had been in accidents getting settlements, to the point of saying a woman who lost a leg wasn't disabled."

[Mister Nightowl]

110. Fire with Fire

Good for her!

[n2doc]

112. Repukes and their fellow travelers sure can squeal n/t

[Rex]

123. IKR!?

Such fragile little egos. They can dish it out, but can't take it.

[demwing]

121. If such ads fail miserably-"as often as not" -then -"as often as not" - they succeed...

nice negative framing, you pathetic sack of ass chewing turd weasels

[yardwork]

140. I have lived in North Carolina for a long time. Negative ads usually work.

Jesse Helms and his campaign people were masters at negative campaigning, and I don't recall the Washington Post ever wringing their hands over it.

More hypocrisy from the right.

[madville]

131. A sign of desperation

I'm sure there was internal debate in the Davis camp about green lighting this ad. That they actually released it, to me anyway, indicates they themselves view the race as not winnable now and they just unloaded a Hail Mary pass hoping for a miracle.

[Lunacee_2013]

134. Yet every voting woman I know

is still going to vote for Wendy. She may not have a huge chance, but it's still better than not voting at all, or worse, voting for Greg. Ewwww.

[Paladin]

135. K&R

[WinkyDink]

136. Can you say "Bad visual"? The hypocrisy, the facts, the truth---take a backseat to the VISUAL.

Is that not obvious? It is the reason FOR the use of the wheelchair. However, IMO, it will only serve to evoke sympathy, not anger.

Some things, true or not, viscerally strike Americans as off-limits.

[Calista241]

142. If this ad was about our candidate, we would be going apeshit bananas...

I'm somewhat disappointed to see the lack of offense, and even encouragement for Ms. Davis to go there.

Greg Abbott is an asshole, make no mistake. But Wendy Davis is sacrificing her morals and everything we, as the inclusive party, have fought for. WE passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. It came about because Democrats stood up for people with special needs. For Wendy Davis to focus her losing campaign on Greg Abbott's need for a wheelchair is despicable. It gives the impression she'll do anything, say anything, pay any price to beat Abbott, and that's not something i believe in.

I toe the party line as much as anyone else, but this ad OFFENDS me. Thank god i live in another state and don't have to wrestle with the decision to vote for someone willing to stoop to such offensive and despicable lows.

[CoolOnion]

147. "Thank god i live in another state..."

Ohhhh, okay. That explains it. If you'd seen Greg Abbott's barrage of ads bragging about how well he navigates a wheelchair, you'd get it and join us in saying, "YES!! GO, WENDY!"

[CoolOnion]

148. And speaking of the ADA, Greg Abbott doesn't want Texas to comply with it

From Dallas Morning News:

While Abbott, the leading Republican contender for governor, benefits from the ADA mandates that guide businesses, builders and cities, he believes it is unconstitutional to force the state to comply. He has argued that his duty is to protect the state’s autonomy and its taxpayers by using all legal tools available to him — including the argument that the state is immune from disability lawsuits brought under the ADA.

Greg Abbott pushes to block disabled Texans’ lawsuits against state

[Proud Liberal Dem]

144. Has WAPO come out against the "Abortion Barbie" smear

It's amazing how fast Republicans hit the fainting couch when somebody attacks one of their candidates. Speaking of hypocrisy.

[CoolOnion]

146. From Progress Texas--Wendy Davis' ad is true

Funny how a man who brags about going faster than Dallas traffic in a wheelchair turns into such a wimp when faced with the facts. Fact Check: Abbott Denied Texans The Same Justice He Received