Should Dean, et al, go hard after Kerry on Iraq War?

[Ugnmoose]

In reading this mornings article from Scott Ritter "Kerry, too, needs to clear the air", it struck me that this is the one central issue that most Americans can identify with and clearly poses one of the greatest problems to Kerry should he be nominated. This is some hard baggage to carry and the dirt is just beginning to come out from under the rug.

While I generally am not a big fan of going negative, I feel at this stage Dean, et al have nothing to lose by going full blast after Kerry on this issue. After all Kerry sat on the Foreign Relations Committee and had access to an ample amount of evidence on which to base his decision, including that which was presented to him by Ritter. Kerry has yet to produce a real credible response, nor has he really be pressed by the media or the electorate on this issue. The only candidates who can truly make a case for having clean hands on this issue are Dean, Kucinich, and Clark.

What do you think?

[LuminousX]

1. At this point, any negativity hurled at Kerry

won't make Dean look any more electable. If you listen to people's comments, the key reason why they are voting for Kerry is they think he has the best chance against Bush. They don't necessarily think he is the best person to be President, though.

Going extremely negative against him will not boost Dean's image and make him seem suddenly more electable than Kerry. What Dean needs to do, if he is serious about continuing this, is to do more stuff that makes him appeak Presidential. He needs to act like he already has the job.

[cheezus]

2. re: clean hands

That'd be Kucinich only. He's the only one who actually voted against the war. The other two SAY the wouldn't have, but there's some pretty contradictory statements by Gen. Clark on the subject. MAYBE Dean would have voted against it, but he didn't have the pressures of holding office, so it's hard to say.

[KC21304]

3. Seeing the results of exit polls on the Iraq question

I would say it wouldn't be a smart strategy, but if they feel they need to I would say go for it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Yes, Dean should stick to the strategy he used in NH and IA

[NashVegas]

5. I Think He Needs to Wait a Little Bit

Until it's confirmed the information was purposely faked.

[Gman]

6. Dean is already gone

I don't mean to be inflammatory but to only state the obvious. Dean is finished. Going very negative will only leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth about him should he choose to run again in future years. Dean should go gracefully and with the stature of being the person that brought campaigning into the 21st century. Waiting until the WI primary is irrelevant. Dean gave it his best shot and for that he deserves kudos.

One thing is very (and painfully to some) obvious. Dean will not be inaugurated president in January 2005 and there's nothing more he can do about it at this point.

[BootinUp]

7. Bombs away, I say

Of course the other candidates must attack Kerry sooner or later on his judgment. They have already but not too forcefully yet. They are afraid of the negative label. So the best thing is for them all to attack at the same time :)


And it seems the time to do so is approaching what with the direction of Bush's approval ratings.

[ozone_man]

10. Dean, Clark, and Kucinich

should confront Kerry directly with this, so that it is not coming from any one candidate. In fact it is coming from millions out here, we just need a few good mouth pieces.

[Skip Intro]

8. Forget politics - let's just have the truth from Kerry

Kerry owes us that.

If he can't come out and explain why he voted for IWR, clearly and without fuzzy language -

If he can't come out and say, finally, that invading Iraq was wrong -

Then every other candidate in the race should ask him how he expects to hold bush accountable for the fraudulent invasion.

They should ask him what the difference is between his stance, and that of the moron.

Forget political positioning - the Senator should tell the damn truth. That goes for for Edwards as well as Kerry.

[progressivebydesign]

9. No.

Every candidate has valid, negative arguments against each other. BUT.. I think the attacks have lessened, and it's time for them to do so. Pepole need info now. Attacks only seem to work for the GOP when they attack us... if we do it to each other, it backfires. Dean needs to keep on keepin' on. Be the best candidate he can be and make sure EVERYONE knows of his plans and successes.

[MaddogTerp]

11. Absolutely!

if Dean and Kuchinich want to have any shot at beating Bushie Lite (aka Kerry) for the nomination, they have to go hard on himfor the war thing. they should smack him, hard and often!!!