Shooting Themselves in the Foot

[realFedUp]

http://gadflyer.com/flytrap/index.php?Week=200433#624

Shooting Themselves in the Foot
David Lublin
8/13/04

The people running the vaunted Republican political machine appear to have taken complete leave of their senses. The organization of “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” has to be one of the politically stupidest attempts at a smear in our time.

What on earth do the Republicans hope to gain from these smears? Do they really want to make the election a referendum on the Vietnam War records of Kerry and Bush? While President Bush served in the National Guard, John Kerry actually saw combat in Vietnam. President Bush—to put it diplomatically—has been unable to put to rest questions as to whether he really fulfilled his commitment. John Kerry received three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and the Silver Star.

snip

If I did not know better, I would swear that the Republicans behind “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” are Democratic plants. Shifting the focus of the presidential campaign to the military records of Kerry and Bush can only possibly benefit the Kerry campaign. It can only highlight that Kerry has proved under fire that he is ready to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. At the same time, Bush’s record makes him look hopelessly out of his depth in fighting terrorism.

Another few weeks of attacks by “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” ought to seal the election for Kerry. Let’s just hope that the Republicans are actually arrogant and dumb enough to keep it up.

continued...

[ithacan]

1. it just shows that bush has NOTHING at all to run on!!

and all they're left with are these pathetic attempts to disparage Kerry.

But Lublin is right, especially if Kerry and the Dems are smart enough to turn this whole episode to their advantage so that it backfires seriously against Bush...

[realFedUp]

2. amen brother

or sister!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. or sister!

Reminded of that wonderful line in Meet Joe Black

Brad Pitt emulating an island woman, speaking to the Jamaican lady in the hospital.... "Don't worry seeeestah, ayerteeng gone b ayereee" Classic impersonation.... well done.

[Nite Owl]

4. The only convoluted way I can think of

to explain why they would attack Kerry's record like this is to try and make it seem that 'look the other guy is no better'. They really have nothing to lose. *'s record is a mockery so attack and smear is a win win for them. Just keep the other guy down and the voters that may have been swayed because of his military record may just say might as well keep what we got. They got nothing positive to say about anything they have done, there is no record to run on so make try and make the other guy have none either. I don't think it will work because people are hurting and * had his chance and blew it.

[Fovea]

5. Smear is 50% of the Rove MO

Learned at the knee of Lee Attwater.
When all you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.

[realFedUp]

6. of course, if you remove the hammer head....

then all you have is a stick....

[Jackpine Radical]

7. The dumbest thing Kerry could do would be to take up a lot of

airspace with a big-deal refutation of this crap. The battle is being fought in many places. For one thing, all the Kerry vets got emailed the Kerry talking points on the Smear Boat boys. What would you rather have--a big TV ad or 100,000 knowledgeable, low-profile agents wandering through the populace, ready to inject themselves into slimeboat discussions wherever they may occur--at the barber shop, in the grocery store, in the coffe shop...

[kskiska]

8. Even Dick Morris said

"You never attack an opponent on his strengths." It's a loser. And unbecoming besides. Here's another really good article on this:

more…
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/08/15/opinion/o...