Did our Primary Candidate "Bashing" Give ROVE any ammo in '04?

[rucky]

John Kerry

DU primary "bashes": He's too "nuanced." Not angry enough. Voted IWR.

His Media Death Knell: "He's a coward"

Nobody saw that one coming in the primaries.



Howard Dean

DU primary "bashes": "Not a real progressive" Spotty record as Governor.

His Media Death Knell: ARRRRRRRGH!

We may have well just handed them the playbook :sarcasm:


Wes Clark

DU Primary "bashes": Closet Hawk. Alleged MIC ties.

His Media Death Knell: *crickets* (he was basically ignored as a serious candidate)


John Edwards

DU Primary "bashes": Voted IWR. Inexperienced. Gave up Senate seat.

His Media Death Knell: "Breck Girl"


Dennis Kucinich (to be fair)

DU Primary "bashes": I agree with him, but...Unelectable!

His Media Death Knell: First debates - he lost us at "He-looooo!"

Didn't take much to knock him down to the fringe after that early gaffe.


When we vet the primary candidates, it's usually too substantial to be anything Rove would crib off of us. Usually.

[rucky]

1. ...

[geek tragedy]

2. Howard Dean gave Kerry flip-flops in December 2003.

More accurately, Dean's campaign gave them to Kerry's campaign.

[LoZoccolo]

4. Yep, self-propelled Deaniacs hamstrung the Kerry campaign.

I know this because I was in the Dean campaign (people should go back and look if they don't believe me)! A flock of amateurs did whatever they wanted to with the campaign and look what happened! Let's not let this happen again - there should be no criticism of any Democrat that could hurt them in the general.

[Lucinda]

3. I would assume that any post on this site

that points out out flaws in any candidate has to provide ammo for the other side, should they choose to use it.

I also imagine they don't need us to find the talking points they use, since they often just make them up. :)

If the point of the post is to say that we do a disservice to our candidates, I am in agreement. But at the same time, I think that any candidate who isn't strong enough to stand up to our internal "trial by fire" process certainly wouldnt have a chance against the propaganda machine.

I DO think that we could, and should, debate the pros and cons of the candidates without eating our young. But I'm not naive enough to think it will happen. :D

[billyoc]

5. No. Republicans have opposition researchers.

They don't need to follow the Democratic primaries to find "ammo" to use against Democratic candidates.
All Democratic candidates for President should be ruthlessly examined without any regard to what may
be "uncovered". Then, once the primaries are over, the Democratic nominee should be supported no matter
who I supported during the primaries.

[JVS]

6. "Voted IWR" is not a bash. It's a stain on a politician's record