Vicious attacks

[CTLawGuy]

against our candidates hurt the party as a whole. Everything we say should have the effect of making people want to vote FOR our candidate. Negativity is what Repugs use just before an election to depress turnout. Everytime you attack someone without turning it into a reason to vote for your candidate, (some people won't even say who they are for, they seem to exist to only attack Dean) you are driving people away from our party into the electoral graveyard or to third parties or God forbid, the Bush camp.

If you make a voter hate Dean, but don't give them a reason to like Clark, what is to say they won't stay home, or vote for Nader?

PROMOTE YOUR OWN CANDIDATE, STOP DESTROYING OUR PARTY

[jmaier]

1. Naturally,

The converse is also true. :-) For example:

Clark - One issue man.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=33264&mesg_id=33264

Does Wes Clark endorse the PNAC plan?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=30610&mesg_id=30610

"Black Commentator" exposes Clark and Rangel

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=27518&mesg_id=27518

Clark supporters anti-Dean strategy exposed -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=29469&mesg_id=29469

Clark played major role in Corp. helping spy on citizens.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=29188&mesg_id=29188

Another Con Job From the Neocons

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=29823&mesg_id=29823

Wes Clark meets with war criminal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=28962&mesg_id=28962

A major Clark liability: Too many of his co-workers can't stand him

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=sho

[CTLawGuy]

4. well..

true.

but last night I found 17 anti-Dean attack threads in the first 3 pages of GD2004 ALONE.

1. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32710#35412

"uh oh, a Dean coverup?"

2.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=22365

"I think we need to face facts"

3.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=33881

"if bush beats( generic) dem by 9%, yet bush beats dean by 20%"

4.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=33793

"DEAN suffers batting slump????"

5.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=33873

""Assessing Mr. Dean" editorial from today's Washington Post..."

6. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=34703

"Dean Hits Cheney Task Force, But Had Own" John Solomon, AP writer"

7.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=33728

"Where were they right after 9.11? HD vs Clark:"

8.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=30174

"Dean On The Way Down"

9.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=34448

Dean- the Democratic Bush (this is a gem!)

10.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32628

"Dr. Dean's Giant Donut Hole"

11.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=16930

"The Dean Deception (part 2)"

12. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=30073

Does Howard Dean still think Americans are not safer after the..."

13. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32899

"Happy Hanukah from Dean"

14.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=33031

"Kerry Says Dean Has No Chance Vs. Bush"

15.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32651

"Howard Dean: Hard Work and Frugal Living?"

16.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=28605

"CSPAN- Dean may suffer from being pessimistic and angry in the GE."

17. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32437

"CNN Capital Gang: Dean Nomination And Bush Landslide 3/5"

I didnt even LOOK in P and C or anywhere else.

[jmaier]

7. Yep

I agree but it is no doubt "front-runner" effect. I hate all of these threads I was just pointing out that if you were being sincere in your post, you should probably have indicated that this applies to all candidates instead of highlight Dean/Clark ... :-)

[bearfartinthewoods]

11. perhaps the dean supporters might make better use of their time by

attempting to deal with the problems listed in those threads than trying to dismiss them as poop or complain about how many of them there are.

[mouse7]

20. Mainstream newspaper dismissive of Dean attacks

"...They're angry because the Republicans are getting away with murder and the Democrats have spent most of the last three years on the ropes. This explains why the Beltway boys, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards and Richard Gephardt, are not doing so well in the polls and are having trouble raising cash. They're the ones who rolled over and played dead while George W. Bush looted the Treasury, turned the government over to polluters and profiteers and took advantage of 9/11 to attack civil liberties and launch a half-cocked invasion of Iraq. That Mr. Dean is actually gauche enough to point this out galls them immensely...."

"...In their desperate attempt to stop Mr. Dean, party leaders may wind up weakening their chances in the fall. If he emerges damaged from the primaries, or falters and gives way to a weaker candidate like Wesley Clark or John Edwards, George W. Bush may be able to thank a few Democrats in his victory speech.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~6267~1868013,00.html

[Jerseycoa]

15. This was a good one, jmaier

Uh oh...A Clark Coverup?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=32539

[maddezmom]

2. same should be said for all the candidates supporters

please limit the use of the words war criminal and killer to decribe my candidate.

edited my reply to try to clarify my thoughts

[CTLawGuy]

3. I have never used those words

attacks on Clark are just as bad. I strongly urge Dean supporters not to attack Clark. We do not need to in order to win.

My first post was meant to apply universally to all candidates.

[maddezmom]

6. didn't mean to imply you used them

but they have been used in the past and I'm sure will continue to be used by a small minority.

[MGKrebs]

5. Ugh. And I just read a post saying

one of the candidates was "way more fascist" than the others. God help us.

[Justice]

8. Thank You

"Negativity is what Repugs use just before an election to depress turnout"

That is what the media is stirring up now.

I almost wish we had a debate over the holidays. During the debates, there were lots of pictures with all the candidates, laughing and talking with each other. It made it harder for the press to sell the claim that there is hatred among the campaigns.

[deminflorida]

9. Another Dean Supporter begging for mercy. Just like their....

candidate was begging for it from the DLC yesterday. The same organization he's been attacking throughout his campaign. It's just a return on your investments, buddy...enjoy it.

[jmaier]

10. Actually

I disagree with the notion of "hey, they did it first." I think that defense expires when you pass the age of 10.



Wes Clark. He will make an extraordinary American President.

[Upfront]

14. Congrats

I will now never vote for Clark. Hope you are happy.

[jmaier]

16. I'm glad to see

that you make your political decisions based upon an informed assessment of the issues and the candidate and NOT something silly and trivial like what some other idiot says.

[mouse7]

21. I got some "begging" for 'ya right here

"They're angry because the Republicans are getting away with murder and the Democrats have spent most of the last three years on the ropes. This explains why the Beltway boys, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards and Richard Gephardt, are not doing so well in the polls and are having trouble raising cash. They're the ones who rolled over and played dead while George W. Bush looted the Treasury, turned the government over to polluters and profiteers and took advantage of 9/11 to attack civil liberties and launch a half-cocked invasion of Iraq. That Mr. Dean is actually gauche enough to point this out galls them immensely...."

"...In their desperate attempt to stop Mr. Dean, party leaders may wind up weakening their chances in the fall. If he emerges damaged from the primaries, or falters and gives way to a weaker candidate like Wesley Clark or John Edwards, George W. Bush may be able to thank a few Democrats in his victory speech.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~6267~1868013,00.html

[bearfartinthewoods]

12. BTW...i don't say who i support because some supporters in several

camps use attacks against a critical poster's candidate as an attempt to deflect the conversation. that, and the current ploy of
"what you say really makes me think less of your candidate"

oh brother......

both strategies are pathetic and, frankly used because people either can't come up with substantive arguments or are "too tired" to bother. people better toughen up and sharpen up quickly because none of this whining will work on bushco!

[HFishbine]

13. So you just stick to the attacks

without ever trying to advance your candidate. Makes sense.

[janx]

17. It doesn't even seem to be about the candidates anymore.

It seems to be some twisted and degenerate cyber game.

[mouse7]

22. We wouldn't do that...

John Edwards mother wears Navy Boots!

[oasis]

18. When a candidate stumbles there will be both negative and defensive spin.

I see nothing vicious in pointing out a candidate's flaws and the gaffes he might make while campaigning. Nothing will go unnoticed by the nmainstream media.

If the Emperor has no clothes, why wait for the GOP to point that out during the campaign for the general election?

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[arewethereyet]

23. is it me or is it only the Dr Dean supporters making this case ?

its standard fare in primaries folks. If you can't take the heat...

[Scott Lee]

24. People forget that low voter turnout always benefits Rethugs.

It's such a simple and straightforward fact - but is not so easily remedied.

One way is to encourage everyone you know to vote - and don't take the "well why bother, it doesnt amtter anyway" for an answer.