Dean "didn't run an active campaign in DC" or did he???

[jadesfire]

So, I haven't decided if this is a big deal or not so I thought there is no better way to find out than by asking one of the most opinionated groups I know (myself included, of course).

Please READ entire article before posting the canned, automatic attacks or defences...

___________________________________________________________


Boston Phoenix
Dean wants it both ways
He campaigned in DC to get an early win, and told Iowa and New Hampshire he didn’t
BY DAVID S. BERNSTEIN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2004 -- Contrary to his staff’s claims, Howard Dean’s national office ran an active campaign in Tuesday’s Washington, DC nonbinding primary. That effort included at least one print advertisement, as well as signs, mailings, and email from the national campaign asking DC residents to vote in the primary.

On MSNBC’s Hardball Monday, Dean media consultant and senior advisor Steve McMahon insisted that the campaign had not engaged in any campaign activities for the unofficial primary, which was not recognized by the Democratic National Committee.

"We’re not competing there. We haven’t run a single ad. We haven’t put a field program out there. We aren’t doing direct mail. We’re not doing anything," McMahon said on the program. " didn’t campaign there, because it’s against DNC rules."

The ad, which ran in the January 9 Washington City Paper, urges readers to "Participate in the DC Democratic Primary -- January 13, 2004," and says at the bottom "paid for by Dean for America Inc."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[funky_bug]

1. This is so sad

You know, it's no secret that I like Wes. I'll even go on record as saying that Dean is my #4 pick. That being said, this is getting ridiculous! It is not out of the realm of possibility (not by a long shot) that Dean will get the nomination, and as another poster so aptly put it, I'll be running out to my car, peeling off my Clark bumper sticker, and replacing it with a Dean one.

So WHY can't this camp get their stories straight? Come on guys! You're killing me here! If Dean said he didn't, and he did, this is not a good sign.

This alone in the long run is a minuscule issue. But if these issues keep adding up, we might have a big problem in a few months. I for one do not want to see Howard go down in flames.

[Jerseycoa]

2. Typical Dean crapola nt

[Eloriel]

8. WHOA!!!

Steve McMahan, not Dean himself, is quoted.

Let's get our attributions right when we're calling people liars, shall we?

You'd expect that for YOUR candidate.

Call it "the Dean campaign" if you want, but NOT "Dean" as if it's him personally.

[AP]

10. A fish rots from the head.

You've heard this phrase before, no?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Too busy lying and distorting about other candidates

to see where he's lying about his own campaign.

[bitchkitty]

4. Non-issue #1,455,368,444,001 n/t

[blm]

6. In Rove's file it looks more like this: Dean lie #4,001

.

[LuminousX]

11. The Commercial in the GE

VO: The Dean campaign said they didn't run an active campaign in the D.C. primary...

SFX - OMINOUS CHORD

VO: But here is an ad that was run in the D.C. newspaper. And here are campaign signs for Dean, passed out to D.C. residents.

VO: Can you trust a candidate who says he isn't campaigning when he actually is?

[Moderator]

5. jadesfire

Please be aware that DU rules prohibit posting copyrighted material in its entirety. Please limit snips of copyrighted articles to a maximum of four paragraphs.

Thanks,
DU Moderator

[DoctorMyEyes]

7. Link to Hardball transcript gives more context

I'm learning, and I hope everyone else is that you cannot take any single article or quote at face value, because the media has been playing "fast and loose" with the context.

I can't say why McMahon either wasn't aware, or denied the mailings - but it's clear from the transcript that Dean does support DC having a voice.

http://msnbc.msn.com:80/id/3947572/

As an aside - on this very same show, Clark's guy tried to use that edited tape of Dean talking about Iowa caucuses on a Canadian talk show a few years ago to say that Dean "he seemed to have some concerns about talking to ordinary people and average citizens."

I'm not pointing this out to slam Clark or his campaign. I like him and Dean - we've all got to stop being so very willing to cannibalize our own.

[AP]

9. Why do they think they get the free pass on stuff like this?

Is it because the Phoenix is the only place that will talk about it?