Kerry to use one of Dean's lines against the "liberal" Bush meme tonight.

[mzmolly]

Bush is trying to paint Kerry into a box that may not appeal to moderates (undecideds) ... Dean handled this label well by saying:

"If being a liberal means a balanced budget, I'm a liberal. If being a liberal means adding jobs instead of subtracting them, then, please, call me a liberal." ~ Howard Dean

That is the best way to address Bush's "liberal" meme. First, Kerry needs to first embrace it then re-define it. :hi:

[caledesi]

1. Yes, HD had the perfect response. Do it JK! nt

[JuniorPlankton]

2. Brilliant

It could work.
But then, if the media only repeats "I am a liberal, call me a liberal" the next day....

[NYCGirl]

3. I'll add:

"If being a liberal means going to war for the right reasons, in the right way, and winning, then, please, call me a liberal." (Democrats always win the wars they begin; Republicans always lose theirs.)

[fob]

6. bush* got away with renaming Affirmative Action in the 2000 debates

you think the SCLM will let Kerry do something similar?

[NYCGirl]

11. Worth a try. (eom)

NT

[fob]

19. I agree. Although I would end with,"so be it" rather than "then call me a

liberal" just to deny bush*co the soundbite.

[Francine Frensky]

15. That's a great one, then list off our dem presidents who won wars

[mzmolly]

17. Ohhh, I like!

:toast:

[H3Dakota]

4. No, he needs an original line

Else he'll be slammed for using someone else's zinger...

[glitch]

7. all he needs to do is reference the source - as my good friend Howard Dean

said...

[mzmolly]

8. Right, he can tweek it or simply say... As my friend Howard Dean says

...

[joshcryer]

5. He already uses the "labels are meaningless" meme. :)

So it might work, but it might backfire since he doesn't really try to ascribe to labels.

[mzmolly]

9. I think this would work with what he says previously beautifully ...

note the word "IF"

If being a liberal means ... ;)

[AlCzervik]

10. Sweet jeebus i miss Dean!

Whenever i see him on the tube i always feel more optimistic.

[madfloridian]

12. Dean is taking back the word "liberal."

He has said so in two interviews. He said at first he thought it was too damaged, but he thinks he will try it now.

[mzmolly]

13. Yep, we need to NOT let THEM define US.

:hi:

[Senator Lamb]

14. i agree

he should use that line.

[mzmolly]

16. Welcome to DU Senator Lamb!

:hi:

[madfloridian]

25. Did you know Dean wrote the foreward to Lakoff's new book?

"Don't Think of an Elephant." I thought that was neat.

I hear it is very easy reading and eye-opening.

[mzmolly]

29. I didn't know that.

:hi:

I'll have to check it out.

[jean]

37. it's a magnificent little book and inexpensive - $8 at amazon

On the cover there's a comment from Howard Dean:
"one of the most influential political thinkers of the pregressive movement" in reference to George Lakoff.

[davidjhorrell]

18. How it would be reported...

KERRY PARROTS RADICAL DEAN;
"I'm a liberal... please call me a liberal"

[mzmolly]

22. Kerry said "wrong war, wrong time, wrong place" don't think he's concerned

about the association, nor should he be. ;)

[NYCGirl]

23. You know they'll twist ANYTHING, so why not err on the side of strength?

NY

[goodboy]

20. I think this is a GREAT idea. (nt)

[endnote]

21. Wow. That is good.

[itcfish1]

24. What does

"meme" mean? Seen it a few times but never understood its meaning

[LuminousX]

26. meme defined

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=meme

[mzmolly]

28. "Meme" ... according to dictionary.com

A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

It's basically a "talking point" :hi:

Welcome to DU!

[itcfish1]

38. Thank You

I thought it was computer jargon

[quaoar]

27. I agree

that is the perfect response

[IIgnoreNobody]

30. I'd give the credit to John F. Kennedy, not Dean

http://www.cjnetworks.com/~cubsfan/whatis.html

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

[madfloridian]

31. OMG, Dean is talking like JFK! and Wellstone! He'd better stop.

Good grief, I think you need to read his book.

[IIgnoreNobody]

35. I'm not sure I understand your post.

I didn't mean to say or imply that Dean did or said anything wrong or that I don't agree with, I'm just pointing out that he didn't originate the answer.

Perhaps you were already aware of this, if so, I apologize for forcing you to read information you already knew.

[madfloridian]

36. He has many times, and also gives credit to Wellstone.

I am sorry, I guess we just followed the campaign so closely that I knew he credited everyone for every word.

There was a huge to do here over the "Democratic Wing" stuff....but he often credited Wellstone.

When words are right it is ok to use them and reuse them. He does not give JFK credit every time, and he does not need to do so. He uses the theme, but often quite different words.

[NYCGirl]

32. And that was before the right wing made "liberal" into a dirty word. (eom)

NT

[madfloridian]

34. He is trying to make it a good word again.

It will be a battle to do it, though. May have to stick with progressive, since folks think it is wrong to invoke JFK.

[mzmolly]

41. I am familiar with Kennedy;s similar remarks, but Dean's are tailored to

to "today" in a shorter, and more direct fashion.

I prefer not to make this a Kennedy vs. Dean vs. Kerry contest, they're all great men. :hi:

Thanks for the Kennedy quote by the way, I've always love that one.

[LizW]

33. Love it!

That was when I fell in love with Howard Dean -- the Children's Defense Fund Debate. He had a whole list of "If being a liberal means.... then you can call me a liberal!"

I SO hope Kerry uses this line!

[wicket]

39. ALRIGHT!!!!!

[secular_warrior]

40. Kerry needs to stand up and be proud to be liberal

He didn't handle it well in the last debate IMO. It was obviously irking Kerry and Bush came back with it, which seemed to put Kerry on the defensive.

I think Kerry should've been ready for it with a snappy answer, "I'm proud to be a tough liberal. I believe we can be fiscally responsibile while investing in our people, I believe we can have a strong military while also leading the way for nuclear disarmament, I believe in science: medical innovation, energy independence, a clean environment, I believe in security and our civil and Constitutional rights. The Republicans try to smear the word 'liberal' because they prefer division and fear to progress and hope."

Regardless of how we do it, Dean is absolutely correct. We must take back the word 'liberal'. Liberalism is not what it was when McGovern ran, or even Dukakis. Liberalism back then was defined too narrowly. Modern Liberalism is a responsible, mainstream political ideology. If you believe in social security, medicare, unions, and civil rights you are a liberal. If you believe in a woman's right to choose you are a liberal. If you believe in the progressive tax system you are a liberal. There are many more liberals out there than is counted in polls because it is defined too narrowly. Most Democrats don't consider themselves liberals because of the old McGovern stereotype.

Most of us are moderate liberals (not DLC'ers or Wellstone/Kucinich-ites), but it sounds like we are ashamed if we say we are moderates. We are all liberals. This is the main reason why we must redefine the word 'liberal', so that moderates and lefties alike feel comfortable to call themselves 'liberals'. This is how conservatives did it, and why more people consider themselves conservative in polls. Their definition is broad enought that far right wingers and suburban moderates can call themselves conservatives. Having one ideological label for all party members helps build party unity and strength.

[mzmolly]

42. Nice post.

:toast: