C-SPAN: Bush Plans to Accuse Kerry of Hypocrisy. Will It work?

[ecstatic]

On C-Span, they are discussing how the Bush camp will try to paint Kerry as a "hypocrite" in their 170+ million dollar campaign. They plan to point out Kerry's numerous ties to special interests, his alleged hypocrisy on the Vietnam war, and they also said that Kerry was wrong for "25 years" and he is still wrong now. I am guessing that they will also bring up his IWR vote if and/or when Kerry criticizes the Iraq war.

"What's he done?" asks Mary Matalin, a Bush campaign adviser. "He's been on the Hill forever, and what does he have to show for it?"

The drawback to the Bush strategy is that much of it has been tried before, most recently by Kerry's rivals for the nomination. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean called Kerry "the handmaiden of special interests," and retired general Wesley Clark said he's "part of the problem" in Washington. Those criticisms have not slowed Kerry in the Democratic primaries. But Bush strategists believe that the sustained attack they began last week will take hold with voters and raise doubts. Bush's campaign will have at least $170 million to spend, much of it on TV ads hammering Kerry's record.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-02-16-bush-paint-kerry_x.htm

Will this strategy work? I don't know, personally. Americans tend to love attack politics. Kerry should plan ahead to turn the tables back on Bush.

[molly]

1. They are grasping at straws

[rucky]

2. What do you call a hypocrite who hypocritically accuses somebody

of being a hypocrite?

a hypohypocrite?

[gandalf]

3. To attack Kerry with special interest-ties is bold

regarding the fact that Bush himself is obviously the representative of very special interests.

Nevertheless it could work if the media plays the game, I'm afraid.

[mouse7]

4. GOP can't spend money promoting Dumbya's accomplishments

Dumbya has no positive accomplishments.

[mhr]

5. The Big Lie Works Every Time And Rove Has 200 Million Plus For Propaganda

eom

[Gman]

6. The last caller almost made me spit coffee on my laptop

when he mentioned about the past and Bush's cocaine!

[Vogon_Glory]

7. Bush Campaign Kerry Smear Might Work

The Boosh regime's planned smears of John Kerry might well work--because too many American voters are politically half- or fully-asleep. The thoughtless or inattentive voters in this country yet to realize that just because someone may be waving a flag or SAYS that he or she is patriotic, doesn't mean that that candidate or political party has their interests at heart.

The American electorate has proven remarkably gullible in 2000, and again in 2002. The recent run-off elections here in Texas, where voters have rewarded the party involved in Tom DeLay's redistricting scheme, give me no cause for reassurance. I don't know if the dumbed-down American electorate has the smarts to see through the right-wing propaganda.


I fear for the future of this country.

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[ecstatic]

8. Wow. Almost 50/50

I guess the next question to ask is whether Kerry really is a hypocrite. That could have a large influence on how the ads are received.

[revcarol]

9. I voted not sure.

Kerry is a hypocrite on some things. If they get the right things, they could make it stick. The Vietnam war thing is a dead issue, except for Kerry photo-oping with ex-Vietnam vets, but more to the hypocrite point is his voting for the IWR and thus THIS war of aggression.

[RobinA]

10. Dead Issues

Vietnam as an issue is dead against Kerry. Special interest money is dead about 10 times over. If the public is going to pay attention to Bush ads showing Kerry taking money, they will pay attention to Kerry's ads showing Bush taking money. At worst, that issue is a wash. If I were Bush and trying to go after Kerry, I think I'd try to paint him as a liberal. Then I might try to go the elietist millionaire married to a millionaire route. Bush wasn't exactly raised in a trailer park, but he does seem to be able to get people to buy his "just folks" schtick.