Will Kerry Resort to Attack Ads? Will He Have To?

[heidiho]

I have admired the use of positive ads by the Kerry/Edwards campaign to date. As you know, the Bushes have no record to run on so they have resorted to distorted ads criticizing Kerry for his voting records, etc.

Will it become necessary to bring out the big guns to attack Bush before the election? Several people have stated that they believe the American people are sick of attack ads, but I'm not so sure.

People believe everything they hear on TV . . .it worked in 2000 tearing down Al Gore.

What do you think? Can we stick to the high road?

[Parche]

1. ads

Lets hope not, all of his have been positive
compared to smirks attack ads, because he doesnt have anything to
run on but attack mode.

[LittleApple81]

2. I just wish people would read.. i.e., Lacy Peterson Law: WTF?

That is one mentioned on one of Bush*'s ads against Kerry. I wish if Kerry put it on an ad where to find info on the stupid law, people would go a read what it was about.
I don't know if he can undo the damage caused by the lies in Bush*'s ads but I think he has to do something.

[JI7]

3. AFL-CIO said they will probably run some ads

[bossfish]

4. I hope so...

...and I'd like to write some.

Kick these fuckers in the teeth.

[SidDithers]

5. betcha the 527's do it for him...

so he won't have to.

Sid

[elperromagico]

6. He may not have to.

His surrogates, such as MoveOn, may do a lot of the dirty work for him. But I can't imagine Kerry not doing any negative ads. I suspect he's been holding his punches.

[WindRavenX]

7. Yes, the ads will remain positive

But during the debates, Kerry will go all-out against W and his thugs.
The interesting thing, W has ran almost a majority of his ads (I believe) not toting his accomplishments (because there are few), but attacking JFK.
People will pick that up, and that is going to hurt W.

[Lerkfish]

13. I think NOT having attack ads is helping, not hurting Kerry.

people are sick of them, and bushmonkey arrogantly or naively is pushing against people's sensibilities on the issue.

[ozymandius]

8. One of Napoleon's maxims comes to mind.

"Never interfere with the enemy when they are in the process of destroying themselves."

I believe Kerry knows this. A basic observation of the Bush campaign is that they went negative at the get-go. None of the commercials promote Bush's accomplishments (because he has none) and they prey on fear (of Arabs). How does one counter this negativity? Be positive. As long as Bush's approval rating remains in the danger zone around 44% and less, Kerry does not have to do anything but channel positive FDR-style charm and reach out to populist causes. It's hard to lose with this tactic when there are too many smart people suffering, losing financial ground over the past three years.

Bush will fail through his own efforts.

[LTR]

11. Or, 'Give them enough rope to hang themselves'

Seems like what Bushco is doing.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Agreed.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. I wish Kerry could run some ads like Ross Perot's during his run

in that they would be extended paid spots where he could provide intricate details on why Bush must go, with plenty of facts. Maybe with so many cable channels now and higher costs, this might be impractical. But I would like to see a 30 minute spot in prime time on CBS or NBC where he could really sock it to the Shrub, without letting the questions or pace be dictated by a network moderator such as in a debate (although I also want the debates as well). In other words, I would like to see poised, intelligent, well-reasoned, fact-filled attack ads that appeal to the common sense of the American voter.

[tom_paine]

10. We should have already STARTED. F911 shows that all people

have to do is SEE Uncensored Bunnypants*, which is NOT POSSIBLE in today's Sovietized environment. to understand what kind of a human being he is...they are.

Since there is NO FREE PRESS IN AMERIKA, Kerry ads would have to do it. And God, they have failed miserably to hit back in the least.

Christ, one lousy ad buy showing the "Elites...my base" comment and Kerry would gain 2-5 points INSTANTLY!

[scottxyz]

12. It's hard to stick to the high road when your opponent is in the gutter

The normal meaning of "attack ads", in this age of disinformation and dirty tricks, has come to be "projection" or "the pot calling the kettle black" - ads which MAKE UP phoney negative points about your opponent.

Like calling veterans such as Kerry soft on defense and talking about "personal responsibility" and "restoring dignity and honor" - when Bush was an AWOL cokehead transporting his girlfriend across state lines to have an illegal abortion.

But what if your opponent has lots of REAL negative qualities? I would think "going negative" in this case would be a requirement. I would even go so far in an ad as to say "Hey, this isn't a 'typical' attack ad making up stuff about a candidate. GEORGE BUSH REALLY *IS* THIS BAD."

Go negative - and clarify that you're doing it because Bush leaves you with no other choice - he really IS that negative.