Suggested all-purpose response: "You're damn straight it was political."

[Armstead]

Coretta King's funeral, Wellstone's funeral, the Alito hearings and vote, investigations of administratioin spying, etc. etc. etc.

What do they have in common? They inevitably evoke charges from the GOP and Media Whores of inappropriate politics and partisanship.

Ironically, the charges are always evoked in unison by Republicans as predictably as the daily rise of the sun. And the Presstitute media also uses iot to trivialize any action or stance by "the Democrats."

Here's a humble suggestion for a universal response to that by Democrats and liberals and progressives, from the grass roots to the very top leadership.

Agree with the GOP, right wingers and Media Whores. They are political and partisan events or actions. "You're damn strainght it was political."

Being political is a good thing. If Democrats embraced their partisanship, it would help recover their power.

Republicans are parttisan and political. Their definition of "bipartisan" or "civil" is "Agree with us." Anything else is called inappropriately political or partisan manuevering.

It should also be hammered to the media, whenever they get on their little soapboxes to decry Democratic partisanship.

[teriyaki jones]

1. Of course it was political

Would our fearful leader have bothered to attend if it wasn't?!

[RazzleDazzle]

30. Whew! That's probably the best point yet.

[Nite Owl]

2. Exactly

people want to see partisanship. They want something different, it's all about the politics and if they want it to be theirs vs ours bring it on! We have to learn to bring the schoolyard bullies to the ground. If a dem is asked about it they should say 'Yes, wasn't it wonderful to hear some truth spoken.'

[EST]

3. I agree, in spirit...

But, in this day, when "political" means nothing more or less than a license to lie and smear opponents with the biggest lie possible, I can't accept the label, when, in fact, the bare truth is being told.

[Armstead]

4. Naw, Politics is about the battle over defining and applying truth

The GOP are masters at it.

We have to stop accepting their labels and laying down like whipped puppies.

Everything is political.

[iconocrastic]

8. We influence people first by how we behave, and

then by what we believe.

[Armstead]

13. Maybe that's why the GOP is slowly headed into the dumpster

There is a growing blowback to their nastiness and hypocricy.

However, in the best spirit, politics is about contests of ideas that are strong but well behaved. Paul Wellstonbe was a great example of that.

[cleveramerican]

35. best point made recently!

the political opportunism shown at Mrs. Kings funeral was a lesson in that behaving badly reflects badly on the transgressors and their (very legitimate) points are obscured because of how creepy it looks.

[Raffi Ella]

37. ...

People speaking at her funeral knew her and loved her.I think they know better than anyone what Coretta would've wanted.
There could be no finer way to honor her lifes work than to continue on with the truth telling in the face of those that are committing the crimes.

Afterall,when Martin was assasinated did Coretta stay home and talk all flowery and sweet about her husband?No.She went to Alabama and she marched-she carried on her husbands legacy;Just as her friends did and are doing for her.

Politicians from the right don't like what they heard,don't like that the President had to sit through it but that's ok.Let them criticize and focus their energy on that.

We honored a great woman and hopefully shone an even brighter light on this administrations crimes and maybe,just maybe may have inspired people to carry on Coretta and Martins legacy by doing so.

I think she and Martin are sittin' up in Heaven smiling down on all of us;Proud of her friends and family for not letting their legacy die after Coretta left this earth.

[LSparkle]

5. They're doing the same to "playing politics" they did to "class warfare"

and we know how THAT one worked out ... "The Democrats don't DARE engage in CLASS WARFARE!" (while the Rethugs did). "The Democrats don't DARE play POLITICS ... " (while that's ALL the Thugs can do).

[Armstead]

6. "Do as we say, not as we do"

[underpants]

11. Good point, they are-it is the new "PC"

You can't criticize W (soon this will be the right in total) or you are being politically incorrect. I don't think that that even makes sense to them but they are going to try to keep the whole discussion on the Dem side of things.

[Armstead]

12. So we should "own" it

Turn the tables on the bastids, and say "What's wrong with that? You are partisan and political mall the time."

[underpants]

14. Um (points at sign on wall) -->

[Strawman]

7. It was class warfare too

motherf*$@ers!

Why do they forcus on the forum? Because they can't refute the message!

[Catchawave]

9. Yep, have been reminding conservative friends

The Kings' lives were one big political rally trying to make this a better world, and Dem leaders were just reminding us of that. Peace (they would have been against the war), prejudice/class (Katrina) and honesty in our government.

Damn straight it was political. The GOP is just embarrassed by the truth and watching their president squirm !

[underpants]

10. Did they talk about religion at the POPE'S funeral?

:shrug:

[Raffi Ella]

15. Yes!!

I could NOT agree with you more.OWN it!!For Gods sake stand up and shout from the rooftops;

"Damn Straight!!"

I wish Democrats would quit falling into explaining and justifying themselves and being led off topic by these people who talk about everything BUT the issues.


Just say Damn Straight!And stay on topic!!

[Armstead]

17. You're damn straight about that

:evilgrin:

[Raffi Ella]

18. HA!

:toast:

[rainy]

16. I said the same thing here yesterday, now that it is an election year

whatever we do is now because of us trying to get election points not--it's the right thing to do.

[Time for change]

19. The media whores are ruining our country

You're right. I see no other course of action than to confront them at every turn. Shame them, embarass them at every chance we get.

Of course, it won't work if it is a taped show.

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. I have been saying this for years.

This morning I had someone tell me the eulogies at King's funeral were all political. Of course it was said in a tone of shock and dismay. I immediately brightened up and said, "Weren't they?! Wasn't it wonderful? Coretta would be so pleased. What a wonderful way to honor her life."

What can you say to that?

It's the same thing as when someone snidely says, "What? Are you some kind of liberal?" I respond cheerfully, "But of course! Aren't you?"

How can they succeed with the insult if you accept it as a compliment?

Totally deflates the other person's attempt at an oppressive power stance.

[Armstead]

21. Love it. We shoiuld all do that.

....especially the "leaders" who have a high profile.

I can just picture Wolfie Blitzer 'confronting' some Democrat.

"But aren't the Democrats just doing this to gain a partisan advantage?"

"Of course we are Wolf. Why wouldn't we, you silly man?"

"But aren't Democrats trying to pander to the liberal left wing of their party?"

"Duh, yeah! Who the hell else do you think we're going to pander to Wolf? We are the liberal party, after all."

[Pacifist Patriot]

22. Thank you! Exactly.

That is what frustrates me. During the election cycle when Kerry was accused of being the most liberal senator in congress I really wish his campaign had laughed it off and said, "Yeah right, if only we could list that as one of his accomplishments. Unfortunately Senator Kerry's voting record doesn't allow us to claim that honor."

[MelissaB]

23. Oh, how I would love to see that.

I just don't think it will happen any time soon though.

Somebody please surprise me.

[Awsi Dooger]

24. Yeah, it's political, and bad politics

The problem is our positive ratings, not the GOP's negative numbers. Just look at any political poll regarding perception of the two parties and that screams as the headline.

It provides zilch benefit to hammer the Republicans rather than try to boost our own ratings. This is what transpires when you're that idiotic: during the fall the Republicans feign moderate on their end and attack us as mere contrarians with little to no vision or specifics. It's effective enough to boost their favorables a small but critical percentage. Meanwhile, if we've done nothing longterm to foundationally uptick our own numbers and reputation, the inevitable GOP attack squad will keep a knee to any last minute desperation/change of pace on our end to propose a positive alternative.

I host debate watching parties among apolotical types every four years. Frankly, I think that gives me a huge edge in regard to handicapping the mood of certain types of voters. I can state poink blank the middleaged women in my living room during those debates are not impressed with negativity at all. Until we realize white women control our fate and they are swayed by visions, not attacks, we are doomed to falter. Again, it's the GOP necessity to inspire anger in young white men. We shouldn't mistake that necessity as a blanket effective strategy, or something we can emulate given the type of voters we need to woo.

[Armstead]

26. There's a difference between gratituous attacks and actual politics

I understand your point, but I think you missed mine.

We should be matter of fact about the truth. It is politics. It is partisan. That's what keeps the wheels of democracy turning.

The problem is that we shrink from "accusations" from the GOP and media stooges of being "too political" or "partisan" or "too liberal" when all we are doing is advancing an agenda or opposing something we believe is wrong or stating our case or making valid criticism.

All the GOP is doing is setting a trap with that accusatory nonsense. But the trap depends on us. What are we supposed to do when Bush does somethinbg like nominate a potentially dangerous Supreme Court Justice? Just get on our knees and say "Yes sir Mr. Bush. We won;t fight your choice, because we don't want to be political"?

[Hello_Kitty]

34. But Dems ended up looking "weak" to women in the last election

We lost our decided edge because of the Security Mom factor. Gore beat Bush by about 8% among women in 2000. In 2004 Kerry only enjoyed a 1% edge. I believe you're right about the negativity. I think they responded to the wolf ads and terra alerts. When we back down to them it only makes us look weaker.

[AtomicKitten]

25. My inclination is to ignore them.

but I feel that way about most stupid people.

Engaging in their reindeer games just sucks the Dems into their psycho vortex.

[Armstead]

27. You can ignore tham, but the leaders can't

Plus, I am arguing for an approach that AVOIDS the psycho vortex. I'm saying we should be matter-of-factly dismissive of these stupid accusations.

[AtomicKitten]

29. agreed.

[0007]

28. Please Help!

https://political.moveon.org/donate/breakingthelaw.html

[tanyev]

31. Yes. And as for "Hillary is angry",

IT'S ABOUT TIME! or NOT ANGRY ENOUGH! or EVERY DEMOCRAT SHOULD BE ANGRY!

[mim]

32. And they're talking about Rudy Giuliani running for president

Sure, he was a fine leader just after 9/11/01. But as a New Yorker I saw more of him than that, and one thing I remember about him was the way he refused to answer questions from reporters. The response was always the same: "That's political."

[Armstead]

33. And now he is courting right wing fundies

But that's not political....Oh no...

[Lone_Wolf]

36. It isn't like the * attends open forums were people are free to criticize

him and his cronies. He only attends functions that have a carefully screened, hand picked Republican flacks for an audience. This was about at close as it gets for Chimp gets to the people. I'm glad Lowery, Carter, and others used it to grill him.