Reply #35: I disagree that anyone...

[YvonneCa]

...including John Kerry, should keep their mouth shut when ugly political tactics are used. In a letter to supporters, Kerry stated, "The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more." I think that is what he is trying to do. If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination, I am sure he will continue to speak out about 'how you fight the lies' during the general election. I think his fight WILL produce something positive if it leads the country to change our politics for the better. I posted this on another thread:



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I think it is Rovian political tactics: Exploiting a known division (existing gender bias, racism, position on abortion, etc.) in order to win. It's what Karl Rove excelled at, and helped Bush (and many others) to do. The Clintons (who I think have been and can be great leaders) are using these 'tried and true'...but now old politics...strategies to win. Kerry and Obama share the new philosophy that the politics of division are wrong and they hurt the country, and they are calling the Clintons on it (which I'm sure the Clintons don't like).

For me, the main reason we need to do away with Rovian tactics is their divisiveness...which lasts long beyond any primary or general election, and keeps the country from uniting afterward to solve our problems...leading to gridlock. The many years of Rovian tactics hurt the country, they hurt the candidates, they hurt the groups singled out, they hurt our Democratic party (and the media LOVE the show, and make money covering it instead of issues)...and they hurt people like us who want to respect our former President...who was a good (not perfect) President...and don't want to give help to Republicans who have always enjoyed and made sport out of trashing him. We all lose with Rovian politics.

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And, for what it's worth, I don't have a candidate yet. :)