Not the Republican way...

[mikelewis]

Set aside the debate on Chavez's statement before the U.N. Yes... George works for the Devil so it is hard to distinguish the servant from the master but that's not the real issue. Set aside the anger at ignorant remarks made by some of our Leaders, they believe their jobs require them to disassociate themselves with Chavez... and they're right. They're not right about what they said or how they said it but they were right to move away from something so politically caustic. To support a foreign President's statement that "Bush is the Devil"... no matter how much we may agree... puts them in a real bad position right before an election. The "enemy" here is not Chavez... the "enemy" here is not the Dems in Congress... the "enemy" in the upcoming battle is the ravenous "Bible beating" Bushbots who are simply dying for a reason to stir up their base. Chavez's statement was awesome but his timing was terrible... We cannot win by trying to convince this country that Bush is the Devil... no matter how much evidence supports that label. While I join you in your glee over his statement... (it's about time someone fucking said it in front of the world)... it does not help our collective cause. I can understand why Rangel might be a little pissed about Chavez's attempt to change the debate. I can understand why Pelosi may be a little ticked off that Hugo decided to drop the D-bomb right into the middle of her campaign. I can understand the Dem reaction and frankly I agree with it... from a strictly strategic point of view. Morally, I'm sure they all believe it but politically, they need to leave no room for attack... We must not let Chavez run this election for us. We must not and we will not. Like it or hate it... it's the best play... it's the only play.

Personally, I want to like and trust President Chavez. I think he is a breath of fresh air to the people of Venezuela and he definitely brings a unique flavor and a force of opposition that seems to be lacking in the world forum. I think it's shitty how we've tried to manipulate his country and overthrow his government all at the expense of the Venezuelan people. I think it's shitty how our press tries to demonize him and degrade his friendship to the American people. I think it's shitty that the help he offers is ignored and denied. However, with that said... Hugo Chavez is not helping us right now... he's hurting our cause... no matter how well intentioned he may be. It was a stupid move on his part and we should not waste the next few days or weeks trying to diffuse this potentially disastrous attack... an attack not only on "our" President but on those who actually align with our Devil. Not everyone completely and utterly despises Bush (thought they should)... not everyone believes Bush is the Devil... do we really want to offer that as our campaign pitch? Do you?

Do you want to spend your afternoons canvassing with this pitch? "Hi, I'm Mike with the Democratic Party. Yeah, I'm out here today trying to get you to understand that the Devil really does exist and he's sitting in our White House." Is that what you propose? Come on... America is looking for a new path not continued bitter rivalry. American's want an end to the fighting and the hatred and the deceit. They want reasonable people with a reasonable message and a strength born not from the threat from without but a strength that radiates from within.

America is hungry for a change and we have the heart to change it... but not that way... not Rove's way... not Cheney's way... not the Republican way. Yes, Bush is a servant of the Devil, that much is certain... Jesus said you will know the false Prophets by their fruits... Bush's fruit is rotten to the core. But to feed the people, we can't offer equally rotten fruit... no matter how sweet the taste. Forgive Pelosi, forgive Rangel... let Pelosi run our campaign and let the chips fall where they may. If by some miracle, Bush and Cheney are impeached... she will have a unique position in our Party and in the history of the United States should we win the House. She will be the first woman President of the United States. Don't think for a second she hasn't thought about that and don't think for a second that she doesn't want the job. For Pelosi, there can be no higher stakes... and for us as well. Keep your eye on the ball folks... ignore the feints and the distractions... we are in a campaign to restore our country and there is a way to win... There's a lot about Chavez to like and a lot to distrust but that is not the debate right now... or at least it shouldn't be. Let's get back to what matters and prepare for this election... it's going to be hard enough as it is without fighting fights we weren't prepared to fight.