Good idea/bad idea: Kerry delaying his acceptance of the nomination

[Paragon]

Poll question: Good idea/bad idea: Kerry delaying his acceptance of the nomination

...if you haven't heard, in order to continue to fundraise for the 5 weeks between the Democratic and Republican conventions.

[Goldom]

1. repubs will paint it as cheating the system

..which.. it honestly is... we can't sink to their level...

[Eric J in MN]

6. If Bush is making the Republican Convention so late it's

If Bush is making the Republican Convention so late it's unprecedented, let Kerry do something unprecedented by delaying his acceptance of the nomination.

Why give Bush a spending advantage?

[MsUnderstood]

7. I gotta ask. . .

Do the republicans usually hold their convention this late in the year?

[Leilani]

13. No, they pushed it back to be in New York

close to 9/11 anniversary, so chimp could parade around as leader of war on terror.

[H2O Man]

16. No.

It is apparantly the latest convention ever held. As a party, we do not benefit by accepting the republicans' crap about how wrong it is for Kerry to do this. Kerry is just leveling the playing field.

[k in IA]

22. It was also supposed to have to do with when the Olympics are being

held. I think they will be during two weeks in August. They just used this to push it back because the wanted to. After the convention they are limited to the matching funds. Before the convention, they can spend as much as they want.

[FighttheFuture]

11. That's why the Dems have to paint it as "leveling the playing field"

Really, no one thought the Repugs would wait so long to have their convention. By doing so they get even more money.

So, it is leveling the playing field. The way things are going, he may not have to. Martial law will wipe away all money rasied.

[H2O Man]

2. It has the republicans

mad as hell. That alone tells me it's probably pretty good.

[cheezus]

5. Maybe he'd accept during the Repub convention

and that's what they're really pissed about.

Talk about some thunder-stealing. Especially if the 911 report isn't a coverup...

[cheezus]

3. Publicly challege Bush to not spend during that time

When Bush refuses, paint him as unfair and say "but we're not going to let them get away with it!"

[k in IA]

4. The re pubs were trying to screw the Dem's over by pushing their

convention as far back as possible so they could spend their unlimited money.

This is just like when Dean and Kerry decided to not take the matching funds. People bitched but why would we put ourselves at a strategic disadvantage. We would be so screwed right now if Kerry had not opted out during the primaries.

It smart - let them howl if they want.

[FighttheFuture]

15. I agree... the one who will howl would never go Kerry anyway...

The undecideds are going to have much more to worry about than Kerry delaying his acceptance!!

[k in IA]

26. True, only the re pub spinners will try to use it and they are going to

vote for * no matter what. No undecided person would vote based on or care about this. Fair people will understand what is going on. The rest wont vote for Kerry anyway.

[Nite Owl]

8. He sure shows that he can be a creative problem solver.

Who would have thought of something like this to go around the Bush spending machine. Imagine what he's likely to do to a Repuke Congress if we don't get a congressional change until the mid term elections.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

9. The best Idea so far

this campaign season, a stroke of brilliance.

This will allow Kerry do what he does best, stay hungry. Say "I will work for your votes".

[Leilani]

10. Did not vote...Not sure

The conventions are already a big hoopla waste of money...if Kerry does not accept nomination, it is a bigger waste of time.

[FighttheFuture]

18. Disagree.... it is one of the few chances to get issues heard!!

Lets face it the media does not want to promote any liberal or democratic issues and talking points. The convention is a chance to do this. That is, unless all networks decide to rerun some reality show and ignore it, or, a July suprise is pulled by BushCo.

[Leilani]

24. That is the problem...how much media coverage will there be?

Back when the networks did gavel to gavel coverage, & people cared about issues, the conventions mattered more.

But now, how many people will be watching?

Hope they will not go up against the new Survivor series.

[k in IA]

27. They do still seem to get a bounce at least. Gore got a huge one

even after all pundits panned his speech. God, I was so pissed that night. Brian William, Chris Matthews and some other idiots on MSNBC were so immature and just making fun of him. So stupid. Focusing on the most shallow, superficial crap. They just didn't get it. They were shocked when he got an 18 point bounce.

[redqueen]

12. GREAT idea!

'Bout time Dems started pushing to get every advantage they can!

:evilgrin:

[kaitykaity]

14. I think this sends a clear message.

"I'll use the rules to my advantage the same way that you
do, and I don't give a DAMN what you think about it."

I'm sick and tired of Democrats who don't act like the Thugs
will do or say anything to win this thing. They can yell and
whine all they want. Fuck 'em, I say.

[NNN0LHI]

31. And the horse they rode in on too n/t

[hippiegranny]

17. 6 people voted bad idea so far

but no one has posted their explanation why. so i'll ask. why did you vote no?

[newsguyatl]

20. probably freepers

we've got quite a few here. and of COURSE they'd say it's a bad idea.

[newsguyatl]

19. how could anyone think this is a bad idea?

just leveling the playing field folks... that's all.

[kentuck]

21. Good idea..even if he changes his mind.....because

this has thrown the Repubs for a loop. They were smacking their chops thinking of how they were going to swamp Kerry in money for the 5 weeks after Democratic convention until the Repub convention. :)

[salonghorn70]

23. Maybe Those Who Voted No

Did not understand how it will work. There would still be Thursday night speeches by Kerry and the VP. There would just not be a formal legal use of the words "I accept your nomination." I think that it is a great idea.

[CityDem]

25. I think it is a bad idea

The media will attempt to reinforce the image as Kerry as a flip flopper. It will also make the dems appear to be skirting the campaign finance laws and may bring more focus on the 527's. The negative media Kerry will get out of this "stunt" will outweigh the positive of having more campaign funds.

[hughee99]

29. I agree

I can see *'s campaign commercial now (which the media will immediately echo). "John Kerry fought for months to gain the nomination, now he's not even sure if he wants it." They'll use this and scream "flip-flopper" or at the very least "indecisive". The press will lap it up. He'll spend much the extra money, and lots of time, fighting off these attacks, rather than putting out his message.

[troublemaker]

32. Depends how he handles it

The Republicans probably think this issue is a natural for their evolving 'big lie' that Democrats play legal games with elections because they cannot win legitimately. (Lautenburg, Mondale, 2000 Recount, Texas Democrats fleeing the State) But it doesn't sound very weaselly if put this way.

Bush broke longstanding tradition by monkeying with the traditional summer months reserved for political conventions. He did that for two reasons. One was that he wanted to exploit the 9/11--another publicity stunt like the Carrier landing. His other reason was to take advantage of a loophole in the election laws that would allow Bush to run TV ads in August but Kerry wouldn't be able to. So Kerry decided to take advantage of the same loophole Bush was using to level the playing field. If both candidates formally accept their party's nomination on the same day then both sides have an even chance.

[many a good man]

28. Creative problem solving

Thinking outside the box. Any lawyer or businessman has got to admire him for it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. This is one of those cases where "the rules" don't work

Obviously, it's time to change the rules. Why does the spending limit kick in when the candidate accepts the nomination? The national conventions are never at the same time, although they've never been this far apart either. The "rule" needs to be changed to a set date, like September 1st. That would truly level the playing field and no one would have to "cheat".