Not Responding to Attacks "a terrible mistake" (DUKAKIS)

[UTUSN]

******QUOTE*****

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040109/1055371.asp

.... Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts, jumped out to a 17 percent lead in the polls. Then the late Lee Atwater, campaign architect for the elder Bush, quickly turned things around with television ads and personal attacks. ....

Regardless, the attack strategy worked and Bush won in a landslide. There was an important media lesson in the Dukakis defeat.

"You better be ready for the attack campaign and you better have a well thought out strategy for dealing with it well in advance," Dukakis said. "I made a basic judgment that I wasn't going to respond to the guy's attacks.

"It turned out to be a terrible mistake. You just can't do that," Dukakis said. "You have to anticipate these attacks and have a well thought out plan for dealing with them. Preferably, it's a plan that turns it into a character issue on the guy who's doing the attacking. That's the lesson of '88." ....

*****UNQUOTE****

[Eric J in MN]

1. I'm disappointed that Howard Dean hasn't yet broadcast an ad to

I'm disappointed that Howard Dean hasn't yet broadcast an ad to respond to the Club for Growth latte-ad.

If he does by next weekend, then it's ok, but part of the promise of the Dean campaign was that it would have lots of money to rapidly respond and wouldn't let attacks go unanswered.

So far, the attack that his supporters are a "left-wing freak show" hasn't been responded to on tv or radio.

Why doesn't Howard Dean at least call a press-conference to say that calling political activists freaks is contemptible?

[arewethereyet]

3. thats the least of his problems

ask an actual Iowan if they believe those two in the commercial are actors reading a script. That ad was so poorly done its laughable.

Dr Dean is in far more dire straits trying to keep from drowning in his own ill considered words.

[Cheswick2.0]

6. Deans words are just fine, that is why he is ahead

it's the other gutless wonders who are drowning

[ShimokitaJer]

7. Dean should save his money for the credible ads

That ad was so ridiculous I can't even imagine who approved its use. Responding to it would do nothing for Dean.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty but only the pig enjoys it.

[Snow]

2. And guess who one of Atwater's top proteges is....

none other than Big Karl!

[HFishbine]

5. Big Karl?

You mean federal prisoner 1180283?

[Clark4VotingRights]

4. Yeah, Dukakis is the proverbial voice of experience on this subject.

A cautionary tale for the ages.