Should the left use exaggergation, emotional agitation, spreading of rumors and falsehoods

[howard112211]

like the right wing does?

I am kind of torn on this issue. Part of me says that the liberals should strive to always take the high road. But looking at the political landscape in the USA, it sometimes seems to me that such idealism is out of place. As the old quote, attributed to Mark Twain goes "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."

We have witnessed elections being decided by things such as the John Kerry Swiftboating. And today the Republican voters in large numbers actually believe Obama was born in Kenya.

Is it possible that pushing lies "backfires in the long run"? Maybe. But it is also possible that ten years from now no one will even remember or even care how a certain goal was reached.

There is also a part of me that says "who gives a fuck if the baby was actually Sarah's. Let's keep spreading that it wasn't". One thing at least is for certain: The right wingers are gonna cry and play the victim any g** d*** way, and whine that "both sides do it", next time they make up some racist conspiracy theory. Part of me says, might as well give them something to cry about.

[Fuzz]

1. Not this lefty.

[arcane1]

2. No.

I'd be happy if more of them would just speak the plain truth, and more importantly: call out the lies for what they are!!

[readmoreoften]

3. What would we have to lie or exaggerate about?

They've fucked shit up so bad that there's no real need for that.

[silverweb]

4. Absolutely not!

The truth is on our side. One of the best weapons we have against the RW is being able to point out their lies and hypocrisy. We can't accuse them and be like them at the same time.

We'd lose all credibility if we started using their dishonest tactics and we'd deserve to. Not only that, but we should immediately disassociate ourselves from anyone of our number who proves to be using RW tactics of disinformation, false rumors, and lies.

[upi402]

5. the truth will win, yet we keep our powder dry

even when 'we' get on the air...:shrug:

[Thunderstruck]

6. FUCK NO!

[W_HAMILTON]

7. As you say, the left is going to get accused of it regardless...

...so, why not fight back?

[opihimoimoi]

8. Bad Notion....

[Turbineguy]

9. Only with

nuclear power.

So it would seem.

[TheKentuckian]

10. We ought to try calling the fuckers out on their traitorous and criminal ways

as well as their steady stream of lies instead of mealy mouthed half agreement and hoping not to upset anyone.

Don't go to lies till you try the truth.

[applegrove]

11. You fight the good fight is what you do. The truth will win in the end. It always does.

That doesn't mean you lie down and take it. You fight with all you got in the ways you are talented. Each and everyone of us.

[Zorra]

12. No. I never want to be or do anything like a republican ever. nt

[AlabamaLibrul]

13. Lying is bad! However "fear, uncertainty and doubt" is not a new tactic and is not lying

so much as making sure everyone weighs the pros and cons, especially the cons.

"The idea, of course, was to persuade buyers to go with safe IBM gear rather than with competitors' equipment. This implicit coercion was traditionally accomplished by promising that Good Things would happen to people who stuck with IBM, but Dark Shadows loomed over the future of competitors' equipment or software."
-Eric S. Raymond

I don't like lying. I see nothing wrong with letting people see what's bad about an idea. The Republicans promote their idea, they attack the Dem idea, the Dems.... don't do much of anything. It's okay to say xyz could happen if the Republicans pass xyz bill! Instead of rolling over and promoting it as the new "bipartisan" idea, only in that you agreed to everything they wanted, and sure, they'll vote for it.

[me b zola]

14. No n/t

[slipslidingaway]

15. No. n/t

[hulka38]

16. Let's try not being afraid

to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth for a while and see how that works.

[athenasatanjesus]

17. No,but maybe the left could try a few more catch phrases..nt

[RB TexLa]

18. Yes. You do whatever you have to do to win.