Finally someone faces down the brownshirts attacking Daily Kos

[rumguy]

Notice how they were posing as Daily Kos "readers" - in fact, they were morons from two right wing hate sites - the Fried Man blog and Little Green Footballs.

"Minnesota's House Democrats are fighting George W. Bush, stopping the Bush/Rove plan to capture Minnesota's 10 electoral votes. Now, apparently, we're fighting Bush in cyberspace.

Over the past several days, we've been contacted by a handful of presumed Daily Kos readers, expressing outrage with Friday's posting. They're demanding that we immediately stop advertising on this site. Michael Friedman of the FriedMan blog, is aggressively targeting all Daily Kos advertisers, including us, stating that "this post isn't about scum like "Daily Kos". It's about those who keep company with him."

This intimidation isn't going to work. And, yes, that's exactly what it is: intimidation, standard-issue Republican fare. In his blog, Mr. Friedman identifies himself as a Republican pursuing a pointedly anti-Kos agenda.

Rather than discuss the real issues facing Minnesota and America -financially gutted, mediocre public schools; creating jobs; genuine economic development; affordable healthcare; declining public safety- the Bush Campaign wants to hide its failings.

Here in Minnesota, we're fighting an insidious Bush plan to replace Florida's 37 electoral votes with Minnesota's, Iowa's and Wisconsin's combined 37. We don't agree with Kos' mercenary death comments but we respect and support his right to express himself, just as we respect and support Mr. Friedman's right to disagree. We do, however, recognize the attack on the advertisers for what it is: another Republican intimidation tactic.

If you share our sentiments, check out our website and engage the debate for America's future."

www.dailykos.com

[madfloridian]

1. Whoopee! Good for them. Good for Jeff.

Good for the ones who won't take it!

[madfloridian]

3. Here is a link to their website.

Democrats with backbone!

http://www.mn-house-dem-victory.com/

[rumguy]

4. excellent - they DESERVE our support

[mzmolly]

14. Daaaam. MN is making me proud lately folks!

YEAH!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. How badly damaged is DailyKos and how do we fix the damage?

[madfloridian]

5. Here is a website to send the ones who remain.

We have been letting the people on the list know they were targeted.
http://michael-friedman.com/archives/000311.html

[ant]

8. questions from a blog scene outsider

I read a few blogs from time to time - Daily Kos being one of them - but I don't really understand what it is that might be "damaged" here. Is it the loss of ads, is there a chance he might not be able to keep the site running if he loses too many? Is it the credibility? Is it a fundraising tool that's been compromised?

To be honest this strikes me as no big deal. While I personally can understand where his comments were coming from and didn't have the negative reaction others did, it's pretty much irrelevant at this point. It's just another mini-uproar that's lost sight of the original point and morphed into an opportunity for people who oppose each other to take swipes at each other. It seems like it'll fade in time and things will go back to normal, whatever that is, until the next mini-uproar.

Am I being naive? Is there some sort of blog-dynamic I'm overlooking?

[madfloridian]

13. Ok, my take on this.

You need to read what Atrios wrote about it, too.

Bloggers are a new part of the political scene. Kos, especially, has collected hundreds of thousands for the Democrats through the bloggers who post at his site.

To me this is an example of the right wing taking an issue, attacking us with it, and the Democrats backing down big time.

They should have stood up just like the MN site did. You defend their right to have differing views. You do not distance yourself.

Democrats should say just what the MN site says. They did not. Kerry unlinked Kos, and the 4 candidates withdrew their ad. That was a shame.

[Robbien]

6. Jeff is in the middle of a fund raising drive when this happened

Kos and Atrios readers helped him reach his bottom line goal. Jeff needs money for support of staff workers to go to different districts and spread the word of his campaign. By the way, Jeff's opponent is Regula who wrote the overtime bill to take away overtime from millions of workers. Then Regula used strong armed tactics to get people on board to get the bill passed. It would be a big loss for the Repubs if Jeff wins.

[eleny]

10. Just donated to Jeff again

So the right wing goose steppers can go f themselves.

[rumguy]

11. excellent!

good job

[madfloridian]

12. Good for you. He got over 7,000 during the night.

Not sure of the latest update.

I am going to donate at the MN site. Florida is hopeless, so we will do what we can.

Dean has asked us to help Leahy as well, so I will get out the credit card.

[Joanne98]

7. I'd make a comment but it's unclear how to do that

Do you have to register? I agree about the mercenary comments. It's shocking how far this country has fallen when we have to argue about whether Mafia contact killers are evil or not. It if makes you feel any better there's a pattern to this lately. We say something obvious then the RW is outraged and then we're suppose to go away with our ashamed tail between our legs. Think Howard Dean. He said (gasp) that we were not safer because Saddam had been captured. Then he said (gasp gasp) we were actually LESS SAFE. Now everyone knows that's a fact but SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT FIRST and the first one takes the hit. Kos will survive just like Dean and everyone else who steps out front. Every time we bust thru a (gasp) barrier we don't have to go back. Mercenaries are evil. It's normal to think this. This is how far they've warped our minds. Break on thru to the other side. Live to fight another day.

[jean]

9. Thanks for posting this. Kerry is 12 pts up in MN and this article prompts

me to donate again and help insure and increase that lead. We have had enough Republican intimidation and manipulation in this state.

Here is the link from the article above - the "check out our website" link:

MN House Democrats

[Walt Starr]

15. Jeff has my support

Kerry has lost my vote, at least until he evolves a spine again.

[madfloridian]

16. Walt, Kos is forgiving, guess we can be.

He is on Janeane's show, saying he understands. I disagree, but I think some of Dean rubbed off on Kos before he walked away to Edwards. He is very forgiving. Says they will keep going after him, bloggers are a threat to them.