Why the Bush/SBV shared lawyer thing will go nowhere; Kerry/ACT has 1 too

[wndycty]

-snip-
The campaign of Senator John Kerry shares a lawyer, Robert Bauer, with America Coming Together, a liberal group that is organizing a huge multimillion-dollar get-out-the-vote drive that is far more ambitious than the Swift boat group's activities. Mr. Ginsberg said his role was no different from Mr. Bauer's.
-snip-

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/25/politics/campaign/25swift.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position

[annxburns]

1. Oh, has ACT lied about Bush?

Has ACT disputed known military records of Bush? Has ACT launched a smear campaign against BUSH?

NO. THAT IS WHY IT IS NOT THE SAME.

[wndycty]

2. You and I know the truth. . .but when it comes to public perception. . .

. . .it has to be simple. Most people are not going to take the time to look at the nuance.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. It's not the lawyer's fault his clients didn't tell him they were lying

:)

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. Did Kerry's lawyer steal the election for him? just wondering.

[wndycty]

5. Hey I am just putting out the facts. . .

. . .and the press will not look deeper. If Kerry shares a lawyere with a 527 how can the press crucify Bush for doing the same. I understand the difference. . .but your average voter would think they cancel each other out.

[hexola]

6. Has Kerry denied it? Bush claimed "No Connection" (nt)

[Guaranteed]

7. Yeah, I was wondering about the condition of our own house...

with regard to these issues.

I was also wondering if any of our DNC websites were linking to 527's. Maybe someone should check that out? :)

[Inland]

8. OMG! Kerry tied to get out the vote drive! Stop thinking like a lawyer

The point isn't whether campaigns and 527 are colluding. The point isn't that the 527 or Bush broke the law. The point is that the Bush campaign associates with dirtbags, is aided by dirtbags, won't denounce dirtbags, and has a revolving door between its "official" campaign and the groups who make lies their intended purpose.

[wndycty]

9. I am not thinking like a lawyer, I am thinking like a reporter. . .

. . .it is going to be hard for the press to make a case (don't forget most newspapers are written for 4TH GRADERS) about the Bush sharing a lawyer with the SBV, when Kerry is doing the same. I understand where you are coming from, however the press is going to let these two things cancel each other out.

The issue is not the nuances of 527 involvement, but whether or not there is 527 involvement. Don't shoot the messenger, just realize that most press will feel this to be a non issue. I agree with you, but facts is facts. The press is chasing so many things on this story and they are lazy (I know I may have contradicted myself) so they will look for something more obvious.

[Inland]

12. You are pressing the wrong case.

>>. .it is going to be hard for the press to make a case (don't forget most newspapers are written for 4TH GRADERS) about the Bush sharing a lawyer with the SBV, when Kerry is doing the same. <<

Kerry isn't sharing a lawyer with the SBV. He hasn't had to run up and down to distance himself from the SBV, hasn't had to disagree with their message, hasn't formally stated that there is no connection. Kerry is sharing a lawyer with a get out the vote group--exactly the type of non-partisan effort even a Bushite can't say is wrong. The case is that Bush associates with dirtbags.

[wishlist]

10. But damage already done to Bushco and they are on defensive now

Since networks like CNN are prominently pointing out the Buscho/Swiftliar Lawyer sharing info, this finally puts Dems on the offensive forcing Repubs to respond after the damaging connection has already come out against them.

Also, if ACT isn't responsible for anti-Kerry ads such as those done by Move.On., it is not the same thing as the Swiftliars ad campaign collaborating with Bushcampaign.

[JPJones]

11. Did Bauer donate his time to ACT? n/t

[Southern Patriot]

13. Some of you folks are killling the messenger because you

don't like the message.

Wndycty was doing exactly what Dem/Kerry strategiest should be doing: thinking two or three steps ahead.

From all indicators Kerry's campaign was blind-sided by the SBVT smear because they couldn't envision anyway that Bush could destroy or damage the centerpiece of their campaign. This is unexcusable after Rove demo'd the strategy with McCain in the 2000 primaries.

Now Kerry is wasting money/time/engergy/public perception on playing catch up.

The Kerry Campaign should have had moles in the SBVT organization and been ready to discredit them when their commercials seemed to be gaining traction. This group didn't just materialize out of thin air. There were plenty of warnings.