Are we lowering our standards to win?

[masonfl]

I have to say that the general tone of this campaign...and, for that matter, most of the last several campaigns...depresses me and makes me wonder whether we're letting the radical R's are bringing us all down to their level. I'll speak for myself here. I used to take pride in the fact that, with relatively few exceptions, D candidates tended to stay above the fray. Let the other guys play dirty. Eventually 'the people' will see through the ugliness and lies and make the right decision.

But the experience of watching Bush and Kerry lose increasingly makes me worry that we can't win if we don't fight back HARD. Does that mean we have to lie and cheat to win? God I hope not. But I have to wonder whether to win in this poisonous environment that we may need our own Karl Rove who is willing to do anything to win. Is it better to lose nobly or win by going to the dark side?

When I see some of the comments on DU...let's NUKE THE REPUBLICANS...I have to wonder whether we're compromising our principles and lowering ourselves.

I'm a hardcore Democrat. I've never voted for a Republican for anything. I've given decent amounts of money to Democratic candidates. I also believe that many if not most Republicans are decent people and have the same feeling about the awful state of our politics as I do. But it only takes a small number of...evil-doers ;) to screw things up for everyone.

Can someone affirm that we CAN win without going to the dark side?

[Faygo Kid]

1. "But the experience of watching Bush and Kerry lose . . . " ??

Well, Bush did indeed lose. I'll give you that.

[11 Bravo]

2. I will lower my fucking pants to win!

The stakes are too high.

[ColbertWatcher]

26. Pics or you're a Palin. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

3. No, but thanks for your concern. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. What Obama campaign strategy do you think is going to far?

Be specific.

[masonfl]

13. Good question

I'm biased but I can't think of anything that the campaign itself has done that's way over the line. Clearly running ads on McCain's comment on $5 million being the dividing line between rich and middle class was...somewhat disingenuous. Everyone knows McCain was doing what he does...making a sort of dumb/silly comment but not making a literal statement. But still, he did say it so it wasn't an outright lie.

I was referring more broadly to the tone from Democrats in this election cycle. I love DU...very regular reader and rare poster. I rarely see anything here that approaches the bigotry, idiocy and ugly nature of posts that show up on Freerepublic.com in practically every thread. But it's clear that we have our own breed of wackos who seem to be taking on the same negative, flame-throwing approach as the R's. Here's one brief example that comes to mind. This isn't an example of vileness...it's more the every day twisting of fact to make a silly point. At this moment, the 3rd headline in the General Discussion area is: John McCain: I invented the Blackberry.

Did he really say that? Do we need to go there to win?

Last comment from me: I'm far from holier than thou. Hell, when watching Palin's speech at the Republican convention and her comment on Barack's experience as a community organizer I yelled out fucking cunt in front of my entire family. Oops. In appropriate in so many ways.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Uh huh.

What do you think of democrats who use bullshit strawmen argumens?

Pretty stupid people, huh?

[cali]

17. if you don't think the Obama campaign has really done anything reprehensible, what's your problem?

DU is NOT part of the campaign. It's a political discussion board, and comments now are no worse than they were in 2004.

Oh, and I don't give a flying fuck how we win, as long as we win. There's too much at stake. Way, way too much.

[masonfl]

22. Got it. Proved my point

Your comment certainly expresses one way to look at it...

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. With the stupidity of the amerikan electorate??? Prob not.

Most are too stupid or too disinterested to learn about the issues. We tried it fair and square the last two elections and let it get stolen. Fuck that.

[Subdivisions]

6. No. And your concern is duly noted. n/t

[JVS]

7. Being nice to the pukes isn't a principle, it's a weakness.

[Lost-in-FL]

8. I'm for going Nuclear on Republicans, nt

[DJ13]

9. The ultimate standard lies in the candidate

Obama could punch McCain in the face and remain the better man.

[maxsolomon]

10. yes, we're lowering our standards

we thought that fighting back, fighting hard, and in the end, fighting dirty, was beneath us. it is not.

this time, the ends justify the means. the entire arsenal should be deployed:

serial adultery
broke under torture
cindy's addiction
cindy's charity fraud
7 houses
bristol's unwed teenage pregnancy
mccain's college grades
shooting wolves from planes
palin's college grades & transfers
mccain's privelege
todd palin the shadow governor
mccain hiding behind palin's skirts
mccain's physical decrepitude
mccain's senility
keating 5
phil gramm & whining


what am i missing?

[FiveGoodMen]

11. Pointing out the flaws in your opponent is in no way 'playing dirty'.

[pokerfan]

12. speaking the truth

is never dirty.

[NightWatcher]

14. all's fair in love and war.... and this is war. I'll publish McSame Momma Jokes if it will help

[butterfly77]

15. Do you really realize who and what you are dealing with?

These people are insane if you haven't been watching these people over the past two or three election cycles that may be what the problem is. These people will do or say anything to win and Obama has been a gentlemen so far but, in the last week he is putting the pedal to the metal which needs to be done.

Being nice will get you no where with these people they lie,steal and cheat to retain power. If you have been watching them over the last 8 years as I have and watched all of their dirty tricks you would be saying no mercy...Obama is just stating the facts.You have seen nothing yet when it comes to the RepubliCONS. Can you see what they have done to this country?

[anonymous171]

18. "By whatever means necessary"

[melody]

19. Thank you for your concern n/t

[Bluebear]

20. 66 posts and a disabled profile. I must be psychic.

[misanthrope]

21. Only if you're serious...

...History has been pretty clear in this regard.

[BronxBoy]

23. If it makes you feel any better...

We'll apologize when we're selecting the next supreme court justices and making sure Americans can get a living wage.

[louis c]

24. I won't kill anyone to win

but short of that, I'd do anything.

[bemildred]

25. Telling the truth is not lowering your standards. nt