Cahill Flubbed Great Opportunity. Does She Know What She Is Doing?

[Sensitivity]

Mary Beth Cahill totally flubbed an opportunity to set expectation regarding the ferocious counter-attack to come from the Kerry campaign in response to the abominable DNC insult-fest.

The Kerry campaign has to unload a major shit-bomb on Bush and Mary Beth should have been making it clear that this is in reaction to totally out-of-bounds slander and insult against John Kerry’s character and patriotism.

Instead of using apocalyptic language -- “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” and “. .for crime upon crime, I shall grant them no reprieve” -- Ms. Cahill chose to mutter platitudes about avoiding the issues and raising pointless questions about the validity of some bad news poll.

It was a horrible performance, given the gravity of the situation in which the Kerry campaign finds itself.

A VERY BAD SIGN. KERRY SUPPORTERS WORKING THEIR HEARTS OUT SHOULD
NOT HAVE TO SUFFER THIS INCOMPETENCE.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. A totally ridiculous post.

Mary Beth Cahill is the campaign manager, not some fire and brimstone campaigner.


Many are ignorant about what a campaign manager actually does, or what role Mary Beth Cahill has had in the Kerry campaign's succes, as well as her prior track record.

[Sensitivity]

3. If she goes on CNN, her job is to set expectations re. campaign. What else

[mbali]

11. Much

Among other things:

Respond to Bush's speech and the convention
Set a tone (which is different than setting "expectations," which no campaign wishes to do, unless they're trying to lower them)
Repeat message of the day

Mary Beth did all of this. Quite effectively. The fact that you weren't impressed, frankly, doesn't matter, since this was not geared toward you.

[MaineDem]

6. Don't bother

I sense the same doom and gloom here as pre-Iowa.

[Armstead]

8. If she can't do the job on TV then stay off TV

There are many democrats with passion and fire. If she can't do it, Kerry should put on those who have it.

[mbali]

12. There's more to being an effective advocate than "passion and fire"

You seem to think that everyone making an appearance on behalf of Kerry must throw red meat to the already-converted. While there's a place for such a thing, that's not going to attract one single more undecided voter.

Fortunately, the campaign knows this, even if the armchair quarterbacks who continually second-guess their every move do not.

[Armstead]

19. Tell that to the WINNING Republicans

The Democrats put out these lame tepid people who use bland soundbites, while the GOP sends out rentless attack dogs.

This is been a problem for years.

Who's winning?

[mbali]

23. No one's "winning" right now.

YOU may think these are bland soundbites, but they aren't. Every soundbite does not have to involve yelling and spittle.

How many campaigns have you run?

[BillZBubb]

58. I haven't run any campaigns.

But I've witnessed four presidential campaigns where the Democrat's spokespeople did their usual mealy mouthed, nice guy crap and the go for the jugular Repugs cleaned their clocks. Our representatives live up to Lenny Bruce's lament: "A liberal is someone who won't even take his own side in a fight".

So far, this is Dukakis Deja Vu.

[sangh0]

37. "Who's winning?" - It depends on who you listen to

I see you're listening to radio GOP

[TeacherCreature]

74. Closing your eyes and pretending that eveything is going to be FINE

Does not strike me as the way to win a campaign, a war, or any other contest.

This is a FIGHT for the very soul and future of this nation, and it is high time the campaign started behaving like it is.

This is just my opinion--but I note that I am far from alone either here or in the real world, where almost everyone I talk to is either dissatisfied or discouraged about the present state of the campaign.

[HootieMcBoob]

41. I agree

They have to be much more hard hitting when dealing with the cable television audience.

[MrBenchley]

13. And a duplicate of another ridiculous post...

Cahill was adked about the GOP ridiculing Keyy's flip flop and she zinged right back with "All they have is ridicule becaus ethey can't discuss issues." Shut Judy Woodruff up good and proper, too....cause Judy doesn't want to discuss issues either.

[Tomee450]

16. I strongly disagree.

Mary Beth's performance did nothing to help Kerry. She was so lackluster that I doubt if many people other than committed Kerry supporters remember her answers.

[mbali]

18. She may have not convinced you, but she wasn't trying to.

[Tomee450]

32. No need for hostility.

I am a lifelong Democrat and intend to vote for Kerry. I am trying to get other African Americans to get out and vote for him. There are some blacks voting for Kerry only because they perceive Bush to be so bad. They are not at all enthusiastic about the Democratic candidate. I"ve been told that neither candidate is going to do much for minorities. We need forceful Democrats to explain clearly why Kerry is the one to vote for,to explain what might happen if he loses. If this is not done, some people may be inclined to stay home.

[mbali]

59. I'm not being hostile at all - just pointing out that Kerry supporters are

not the only audience the campaign is trying to reach and that what we might want to hear will not necessarily attract any of the voters the campaign is still trying draw in. Thus, the fact that Mary Beth, or anyone else in the campaign, doesn't ring OUR chimes every times she speaks does not mean that she is ineffective.

I definitely agree that the African American community is crucial. The Republicans know this too. If you're being told that the Democrats aren't doing anything for minorities, you're likely talking to people who have been targeted by the Republican minority voter suppression campaign whose mantra is just that. Numerous African Americans - both public and political figures and average folks - are working hard to address this.

[MikeG]

33. What is your particular expertise, if I may ask?

[lagniappe]

2. I agree. The Kerry campaign has missed a few opportunities.

I am confident they will correct the situation. But Karl Rove has out campaigned them so far.

Kerry's speech last night was a change for the better.

[MrBenchley]

22. "Karl Rove has out campaigned them "

What color is the sky in your world?

The slime boat ads have imploded into a REPUBLICAN scandal.

Junior Flyboy's carrier landing is a national laughing stock.

The GOP just came from a convention where they publicly mocked the unemployed and wounded veterans, couldn't come up with any reason to vote for their ticket whatsoever, and had to lock their keynote speaker out of the hall so he couldn't embarass them on TV two nights in a row.

The convention that was supposed to highlight "national security" got disrupted again and again because they weren't careful handing out credentials.

If that's outcampaigning anyone, for christ's sake I hope Rove doubles his efforts.

[brentspeak]

35. And after all is said and done, Bush comes out smelling like roses

That list of black eyes for Bush isn't going to make a single dent in Bush's popularity as long as Kerry himself fails to a) effectively sock Bush on them; and b) win over the public on his OWN merits.

Who cares about things like the carrier landing except those few of us who follow Bush's everyday stupidities? Everybody in the country knows the Iraq War is going badly, but Bush's media campaign manages to convince the general public that It Isn't Bush's Fault.

It's Kerry's responsibility as a candidate not to get put on the defensive by the Bush smear tactics. And just as importantly, it's Kerry's responsibility to put BUSH on the defensive. Everyday. Otherwise, Joe and Jane Average voter will simply shrug and reluctanctly pull that lever for 'Bush/Cheney' because all they know about Kerry is he's the guy who's got all these SwiftVets attacking him.

There are signs that Kerry is finally beginning to do these things. I just hope that it's not too late.

[MrBenchley]

45. Is that what that stench is? Bush's rose??

"Who cares about things like the carrier landing"
Yeah, why WOULD Americans care that the war Chimpy declared over is still going on?

"It's Kerry's responsibility as a candidate not to get put on the defensive "
And yet that's exactly what the attack dogs here want him to do...let's ignore jobs and health care and sit around pissing and maoning about who did what in the last century.....

[Arkana]

52. Yes, I mean...seriously

Whoda thunk that back in the days of "Mission Accomplished" that Iraqnam would become a detriment to *'s campaign?

I posted an article from the AP about a week ago that purposely said that Republicans were afraid the imploding situation in Iraqnam and the cratering economy would tar * for the rest of the campaign, and it made a point that * would exploit 9/11, because that's when his approval ratings were highest.

The media is trying to hide it, but we know better. Bush's buddies are scared.

[lagniappe]

42. Ahh yes. I'll bet you had the same opinion when they did the same

thing to Gore and Dukakis. Let's not respond and let the Republicans self implode back to victory in 2004.

Good grief. We now have the media suggesting that Kerry needs to prove his toughness. This was stated tonight on CBS which is one of the more friendly news organizations to the Democrats.

Most of the points you stated in your post play well here on DU, but the average guy on the street couldn't give a damn. They remember things like flip flopper and weak on defense.

I am confident Kerry will win because I think he will go on the offensive. However, if for some reason they continue the course they've been on during August, Nov. 2nd will be a long night.

[MrBenchley]

46. We now have the media suggesting that Kerry needs to prove his toughness

Here's a tip...tough people don't have to prove it. And if a silver star doesn't convince people, getting into a pissing contest with the nation's town drunk isn't going to do it either.

The Republicans need to have a gutter fight because they can't win on the issues.

[lagniappe]

53. Just take a look at Max Cleland. People can be convinced of

something that is not true. By your logic Max Cleland should still be serving in the Senate.

The GOP has managed to completely redefine Bush. We all know he has lived the life of a coward, yet people believe he is a hero. They will believe anything if you repeat it enough.

And here's a tip for you. The Democrats control nothing. NOTHING. We don't control the house, senate, white house, supreme court, nor the majority of governorships. And it is not because we are on the wrong side of the issues. We lost control of the debate about 20 years ago and have been reacting ever since. We've followed your approach and just assume that people will see the truth. Sorry but I've had enough passivity. You can keep Gore, Liebermann, Daschle, and the rest of the so called Democratic leaders. When we regain control of the debate, then I'll buy your argument. Yes, we won with Clinton, but he was an aberration simply because he was the most skilled politician in a generation.

[WiseMen]

4. Don't Think Cahill has significant national campaign experience.

Anyone know facts here?

[Leilani]

7. I know she ran a campaign for Patrick Leahy

in Vermont. I believe he was behind, & she came in & rescued him.

[Gyre]

78. Huh?

I'd like to see some evidence that he was actually "behind", and I'd like to know what TANGIBLE thing she did to "save" his campaign.

Gyre

[Sensitivity]

5. Don't want to be negative, but I expected her to tee things up on CNN

[mbali]

14. Why?

[Sensitivity]

17. That's what Campaign managers DO, to maximize effect of strategy,

[mbali]

20. Maximizing strategy is not the same as "teeing it up."

How often did Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign manager "tee it up?" Did he have fire and passion?

[Sensitivity]

24. It depends on what the strategy is. If Kerry Campaign is about to do

something DIFFERENT, then the campaign manager should be using
air time to spin it is such a way as to make the roll-out most
effective. Why was she on TV if she has nothing to say?

[mbali]

29. She had plenty to say. She just didn't say what YOU wanted to hear.

But since you're not the only person she was talking to, that's not a problem.

[Sensitivity]

31. What she did say did not give a good impression of the campaign.

[MrBenchley]

47. It gave a great impression of the campaign....

The meme the Republicans are now trying to push is that "both parties are the same....if only our opoinents didn't play so rough, we could discuss issiues" and that's bullshit.

[Dees]

63. No, you are completely wrong.

It gave a wimpish milquetoast impression. I've been reading your vitriolic nonsense all day. Are you associated with the RNC?
"both parties are the same....if only our opoinents (sic) didn't play so rough, we could discuss issiues (sic)" and that's bullshit.
I don't know what Repugs you've been listening to but it simply is not the case at all.

[MrBenchley]

76. Rubbish....

And if you're that worried about "wimpishness" maybe YOU should switch to the candidate who stuffed socks in the crotch of his flightsuit...

"I don't know what Repugs you've been listening to"
Marc Racicot just tried to pull that crap on Face the Nation this morning.

[Doosh]

9. Cahill was not prepared for the Bush's August attacks

and that is inexcusable, considering everybody knew it was coming, even Drudge reported it.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[oasis]

15. That reminds me, I've got to send the Kerry campaign another $50.

:hi:

[bushwakker]

25. I thru sending Mary Beth Cahill my money

when Kerry publicly and repeatedly asks Bush to account for his lost year in the TANG then I'll give to the DNC.

[oasis]

28. "Can we please unite to beat Bush?" Did I read that on your bumpersticker?

[bushwakker]

38. can we please make bush respond to something for once

there's only one thing that will do it

[wiggs]

21. More importantly....

Who's in your avatar?

[CityDem]

26. Cahill missed a great opportunity

Ideology aside, do you think Karl Rove would have looked as inept at Cahill? If she is a good back room strategist, keep her off the major cable news network shows. Her ineptitude creates the impression that the Kerry campaign is in a state of disarray and is inept. Any more stellar performances by Cahill will help reinforce that opinion.

[Lastgasp]

27. I agree, Sensitivity!

Cahill's performance when Judy Woodruff interviewed her was very drab and unresponsive. Cahill had an opportunity to spell out Kerry's grievances but she flubbed it. I seriously doubt if Cahill is up to the demands of her job.

[Old and In the Way]

30. Ohhhhhhhh shit........I'm looking out the window here and

either the sky is dropping or the ground is moving up.....developing.

[WiseMen]

34. Heard she is a great orgnanizer. Kerry needs a master strategist in charge

and I have never heard that MB is that.

Mary Beth and Stephanie Cutter got thier roles a "temps." Too bad
Kerry let things go without putting someone really good in charge.

[sangh0]

36. Of course she has no clue

Don't you know that anyone who doesn't perform flawlessly 100% of the time is just a clueless hack? I mean, it's not like she helped Kerry come from behind to win the primaries, or something else like that.

:crazy:

[WiseMen]

39. Cahill had almost nothing to do with IOWA. That was Whouley in charge in

back room and Kerry running the front campaign.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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

[WiseMen]

43. Your usual ad hominine approach to argument is recognized. Thanks

[sangh0]

55. I still don't believe you

.

[Sensitivity]

44. Either there is a bomb coming and Cahill miss-cued or there is none

and Cahill is just not doing her job.

[Catt03]

48. Reading all the posts today, I have a question

where are the Democrats that should be out there with Kerry or talking for him?

Where is Carville, Begala, other than some appearances on Crossfire.

Where is Hillary? Vilsik? Bob Graham? Obama? Where is Kucinich?
Panetta? Mitchell?

Surely Edwards has some Senate friends that can speak up for the Democrats. Where are they?

These are the people I am miffed at. Get the hell out there!

[Sensitivity]

50. All goes to campaign strategy. Get the impression no driving force.

Mary Beth on CNN did not give me confidence, quite frankly.

[catbert836]

49. Why does it matter?

I don't believe a single american voter would go for Bush based on what Kerry's campaign manager said in early September. If there are, they're not the kind who would watch CNN. Bottom line, no one cares. And hopefully, Kerry's learned his lesson and Mary Beth will be staying off network TV until after the election.

[Sensitivity]

51. Anyone here actually Knows this Cahill person?? What's the story??

[redstateblues]

57. I Think Kerry's great- Can Cahill Attack? Seems Too Nice To Me

[mbali]

60. She doesn't need to attack

A campaign has many different approaches - it can't be all-attack all the time. It also needs to be able to calmly and rationally state its position and explain issues. The campaign manager should not be the attack dog.

[gulfcoastliberal]

54. LINK to CNN TRANSCRIPT:

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0409/03/ip.01.html

It looks better in writing than it did on the air. She said some good things, but lacked confidence. I think the new poll may have distracted her. In any case, look at Racicots interview and compare/contrast wth Cahill. Both were on message (Racicot baldly lied) - but who is more compelling and hitting harder.

It's just like Wisemen posted. Cahill can't expect the * team to get out of the gutter and raise the level of discourse. Not gonna happen and it's a loser idea. See his post here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=738728&mesg_id=739168

[bagnana]

56. yes. We have got to attack and attack and attack

Where are Carville, Begala, and others?

[mbali]

62. That might satisfy the true believers, but won't earn 1 single undecided

vote.

One reason undecideds are on the fence is because they've soured on partisan politics and are sick of the screaming and yelling and name-calling. Ratcheting that kind of behavior up to the point that it's the campaign's ONLY approach is a surefire way to lose.

Haven't you noticed that the Bush campaign is not always in attack mode? Yes, they are mudslingers extraordinaire, but they also know enough to keep their top guys out of the fray. You will not see Bush or Ken Mehlman on the attack.

[gulfcoastliberal]

64. So when Bush* brings up "his opponent",

slamming Kerry on "flip flops", the 87 billion, etc the president is not attacking? According to the polls, the undecideds seem to be attracted to negativity. I think Jane Q Public needs to have it hammered into her head that this president is incompetent, reckless, and a liar. Right now she thinks Bush is strong and Kerry weak. We have to hammer them mercilessly.

[mbali]

68. You mean like this?

Criticizing the Republican convention as bitter and insulting one moment, then calling Mr. Bush dishonest the next, Mr. Kerry attacked against what he called his rivals' distortions and said the president's address Thursday made clear he "will literally say anything and do anything in order to try to get re-elected" - a line stolen from Mr. Bush, who used it regularly against Al Gore.

"Yesterday, I read that speech," Mr. Kerry told a crowd of thousands here in a heavily Republican county outside Columbus that Mr. Bush won by 22 percentage points in 2000. "Every time they open their mouths, they can't tell the truth about the things that we want to do. It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It's time for us to have a president of the United States who can look you in the eye and when he does, you know you're being told the truth about your lives and about this country."

But it was on the economy that Mr. Kerry focused on here in Newark, a rural town of 46,000 where 4,300 people are unemployed and another local factory is set to lay off 784 workers next Thursday.

"All these attacks on me, I've been through worse, believe me - that's not what this is about," he said. "It's their attacks on you, that's what this is all about."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/politics/campaign/04kerry.html?hp

Or, as the local paper, the Columbus Dispatch (which more of the swing state's residents read than the New York Times), told it:

Fired-up Kerry Keeps Up His Counterattack

NEWARK, Ohio — The gloves are off. After being pulverized all week from Republicans at their national convention in New York, Sen. John Kerry yesterday tore into President Bush, ripping his policies, his convention performance and attacks on the Democrat's credibility.

[mbali]

61. Mary Beth Cahill does NOT lack confidence!

She's just calm and unflappable.

Everyone is not a firebreather - nor should they be. We can't run a campaign with nothing but attack dogs.

[Julien Sorel]

66. Yes we can!

We must, because that is what Bush is doing, and what Bush does, we must do. To do anything else is to be just like Mike Dukakis! And if you aren't for running an all attack all the time campaign, not just attacks, mind you, but dirty attacks, and "fire and brimstone" attacks, you aren't for running an offensive campaign at all. I know this is true, because I read it here daily.

[mbali]

69. Bush's campaign is NOT run by only attack dogs!

Those may be the ones you notice, but he's also got plenty of strong, rational, calm strategists and managers.

"An all attack all the time campaign - dirty attacks" will not win elections. Elections are won by stategy, flexibility, message, good timing, quick responses, luck and many other factors, of which attacks are a necessary but by no means sole component.

[Julien Sorel]

70. Nonsense!

Bush speaks his own mind, and isn't dependant on handlers who are slaves to polls and focus groups. Kerry needs to be more like Bush, and go with his gut! I know this is true, because I read it here daily.

[mbali]

71. I'm a little slow, but I catch on eventually

:-)

[WiseMen]

72. Unfortunately, new Newsweek Poll make comments look even more self-servin

[Suzi Creamcheese]

65. Scapegoating already?

There is a long way to go before November. Why not put some of that energy into attacking the other side instead of what is apparently your own?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

67. They want to lose so badly they will grasp at any straw to justify it.

[TeacherCreature]

75. Why do you say things like this? I for one want to WIN.

So much so that I can hardly sleep at night.

Why must you label anyone and everyone who expresses concern about the present state of the campaign as "wanting to lose"?

How is this constructive?

[WiseMen]

73. Hey Lady: You were very sensitive to what was going on.

[oasis]

77. The media hates Cahill because she's not a "genius" like Trippi. There

is no story potential in an every day, hard working,competent and efficient "vanilla" personality.