Dems Press Kerry to Step Up Bush Attacks

[Thrill]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_kerry_fighting_back&cid=694&ncid=1963&sid=96378798

I agree with this. Why the Kerry Camp wants to play nice guy is beyond me. Negative campaigns win in this country. You don't win shit in politics being nice and turning the other cheek

[spotbird]

1. The response must be the same as the attack.

There is so much to attack Bush about, I'm at a loss as to why it hasn't been done.

Kerry's current strategy is a tried and true loser. Don't they have any historical perspective?

[MercutioATC]

2. New Kerry mantra: "And this is how I'm gonna do it..."

...well, wishful thinking, anyway.

Kerry needs to:

1) attack Bush

2) say HE will do it better

3) Say "And this is how I'm gonna do it"

Show the problem, say you'll correct it and then, in VERY plain language, tell the people exactly what you're going to do.


Why is this such a difficult concept?

[seabeyond]

3. turning the other cheek..........isnt that a hoot

the right cry out religion and god and we are the chosen, as the dems practice and behave in christ conscious

totally ironic for me

[JI7]

4. there is no playing nice , people just don't pay attention including on DU

almost nobody responds to bigtree's posts which give responses from the campaign.

[MrBenchley]

5. Terrible idea...

The Republicans need a negative campaign BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO POSITIVES.

[Thrill]

7. So what? No one cares about a positive

message. Hearing someone tear his opponent down negatively is what WINS.Thats what this country loves to hear. Thats why negative ads have a huge impact on elections

[MrBenchley]

17. Says who?

Like I said, if all you want is a negative campaign, there's a doozy going on at the GOP. And they seem to think most Americans are hate-filled spiteful trailer trash too....

I myself don't think people want to hear negative campaigning....

[mbali]

19. Not true

Bush has been campaigning negatively for months and still hasn't convinced swing voters to go with him. That's not going to work.

Voters want to know which candidate will do a better job for them. Bush knows that if the voters actually compare the two candidates, Kerry will win, since he has nothing more to offer than what he's already shown and that hasn't been enough to convince these people to support him. He cannot allow a rational matchup, and that's why he's trying to draw Kerry off of his game by provoking a fight over bullshit that means nothing and will do nothing but keep Kerry from presenting himself and his plans to the voters.

That's why I believe it would be a serious mistake for Kerry to allow himself to be drawn into the trap of devoting his time and resources to defending himself and attacking Bush. That's EXACTLY what Bush/Rove want him to do. Every breath and dime he spends doing that means fewer opportunities for him to focus on why he would be a better president than Bush.

[CWebster]

12. Tell it the way it is

is NOT negative.

[Thrill]

6. Why can't Kerry Simply say

"How is Bush tough on National Security, when 9/11 happened under is watch?"

Why not say this every single day up until election day. They won't because they act like wimps. I bet Dean would say it. Get a backbone for goodness sake

[JI7]

8. and then they would respond with the attacks that happened under Clinton's

watch. it's too simplistic and easy for republicans to attack back with. and then people on du will be complaining about how they are talking about all the terrorists attacks which happened under clinton's watch and how unlike clinton bush has done something about it.

[Thrill]

9. Clinton isn't running for president

.

[JI7]

10. and Kerry who is aligning himself with Clinton IS running for President

[CWebster]

11. He didn't seem to have any problem

attacking Dean.

[rwork]

13. There is so much to use against bush.*

His huge list of bushisms for one thing."Terroists are trying to to destroy America and so are we"."The war on terroism can never be won." "Yes it can be won."Kerry treats him with to much respect.With what the SBV did to Kerry, it should be now any thing goes in regards to attacking bush*. The Ben Barnes story that opened should be gone after.What was bush* doing in 1968 when Kerry was fighting in Vietnam? That parallel should be made.There has never been this much ammunition to use against an opponent.

[mzmolly]

14. The campaign is receptive call them now! See my thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x710628

I just got off the phone with them. Please let them know we cant let Bush run on his biggest failure!

[RobinA]

15. Here's My Question

Why does all this come down to Kerry? Doesn't Bush have people to do dirty work for him while he remains above the fray? Where's everybody else in the Demo party???? Is Kerry the ONLY Viet Vet Demo in Congress? Come to think of it, where were they 4 years ago when Gore was getting smeared? Why is John McCain the only other vet we are hearing from? What is the freakin' PROBLEM? The Repubs have been doing this for so many years now you'd have thought the Dems would have learned something by now.

[MercutioATC]

16. You maybe missed the Cleland visit to Bush????

They ARE doing something. It's just not enough. Kerry is the one who needs to be sticking to the message, which SHOULD be how he's going to make things better.

[John_H]

18. Relax: I just had an intersting convo. w/ an old DC hand

the times they are a'changin'

[unfrigginreal]

20. I hope you're talking about campaign methodology

[mondo joe]

21. I want Kerry to draw more CLEAR DISTINCTIONS between himself / Bush

I swear, Chris Matthews did a better job on REAL TIME of drawing clear and powerful distinctions between the two and in Kerry's favor.

[kentuck]

22. Can Democrats compete with Repubs in a "negative" campaign ?

Those guys are pros.