Would you support the Dems producing an ad re: AWOL?

[WI_DEM]

Poll question: Would you support the Dems producing an ad re: AWOL?

Given that there is a offensive and untruthful ad regarding Kerry's service (The Swift Boat Ad) perhaps democrats should counter and counter fast with a factual and truthful ad questioning what Bush was doing when he was supposed to have been in the National Guard. "While John Kerry was in Vietnam serving his country--where was George W. Bush?..."

I think since the Republicans have decided to open this cans with this unwarranted attack on Kerry--they must now pay the consequences by more scrutiny given to W and his military service or non-service.

What do you think?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Paul Lukasiak...

Has real documentary evidence that is very factual and compelling. It shows, clearly, that all is not well in the military career of Our Dear Leader. This is real news. It needs it's time in the light.

[Virginian]

11. Two results, neither good.

Countering Lies with Truth results in one of the following:
1. It makes the Lies seem like Truth or
2. It makes the Truth seem like Lies.

The only way to counter an ad of Lies is with another ad with Lies and we don't want to do that. We are the side of Truth, Justice and the American way.

added on edit:

We need to continue doing just as we have. Tell the truth, be above board, keep the 527's going. People don't like bullies and mean people in charge. The bad are exposing themselves for what they are.

The White House wants to stop the Moveon.org ads that are exposing Bush. They are allowing (encouraging) these lying 527's in hopes that the Dems will agree to a truce and stop the exposure of their fearful leader.

[Claire Beth]

25. I agree...

if we start playing DIRTY like the gopers, we wouldn't be any better than them. Pretty soon people will get fed up the negative ads like the repukes are running. We don't want to be on the same level as the neo-cons. :kick:

[noahmijo]

2. ABSOLUTELY Here's why

Because unlike the attacks on Kerry, these attacks on Bush would be FACTUAL We could actually prove them. Bush has no back-up on this.

Rove would probably pay off some vets to stand up with Bush, but then a little investigation would prove them as frauds (showing a lie to cover up a lie)

[trumad]

4. The Slime Boat ad's are backfiring

so we must be careful... I like the ad that had Kerry in action but asked where Dubya was during Nam... Subtle but effective.

[WI_DEM]

6. are they backfiring?

I hope so.

[trumad]

7. When O'Liely knocks them, they're backfiring.

[kstewart33]

3. Come on, why sink to their level?

Let the Repubs sink themselves. Don't wallow in the gutter with them.

[noahmijo]

5. Uh when it's the truth you're not sinking to their level

When you're lying you're sinking to their level. When you're telling the truth (as you would be by displaying how * went AWOL) then you're giving the public the facts.

[Sporadicus]

8. Produce That Ad!

Just have irrefutable proof of validity all around. I'm sick and tired of repugs thinking they can produce sacks of horseshit and pass it off as truth - all without repercussion. Maybe they will think twice about promulgating falsehoods if the possibility of exposure and retaliation exist.

[EST]

9. Yes!!

Absolutely, we should bring the disreputable record of this incompetent pretender into the public forum because it would call into question and expose his amoral defenders and would show that they have absolutely no commitment to integrity or truth and could shift several races in our direction. Also this could bring more scrutiny and attention to such evil critters as Tom DeLay and Bill Frist, not to mention our favorite toady Dennis Hastert.

[DaveinMD]

10. there are enough

criticisms of the current administration to not go to this extreme. We should criticize the administration for misleading the public, for not fighting the real war on terror, for underfunding homeland defense, for having the wrong priorities, for trying to cut combat pay for our soldiers, for record job loss and other current issues. There is no need for character assassination for something that happened 30 years ago.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

12. Lets Hunt Some Chickenhawks

I think this is a more of party ad than a Kerry Ad. I say we hit the entire crew of GOP Chickenhawks

W: THE DEMOCRATS WILL NOT DEFEND AMERICA.

VOICEOVER: IN 1970 GEORGE BUSH WAS INDUCTED INTO THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD..HE RARELY SHOWED UP FOR DUTY.

VOICEOVER: DICK CHENEY? DEFERRED DONALD RUMSFIELD? DEFFERED JOHN ASHCROFT? DEFERRED

VOICEOVER: AND WHILE THESE MEN DEFERRED...WHERE WAS JOHN KERRY? HE WAS IN VIETNAM...FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND HIS COUNTRY

VOICEOVER: IT'S MAKES YOU WONDER WHO WILL REALLY DEFEND AMERICA..A MESSAGE FOR YOU FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

We have to have our fact straight and we have to be smooth about it, but I don't think we should let them off this one. For too long the Grand Old Perpetrators have been calling us pinko-commie, anti-american sissies for too long while they've been so damn brave with other men and womens bodies. I'm time to call these bird of a feather who flock together out for what they are.

[EST]

14. I have to respectfully disagree with you...

Bush's patterns of deceit and obfuscation as well as fatal character flaws are not just some incident 30 years ago, they are are constant, running litany from as far back as we can search right through the present moment. This should be documented for many reasons, not the least of which is to point out that the searchlight of any real journalism could have easily spared the world the horrors of this corruption.

[liberalmike27]

13. Well

Clean campaigns in this sooty world always lose. Kerry and his group are loaded for Bear. He needs to pull all the weapons out, and get down and dirty. I'm very dissatisfied with this lame campaign he's running. He must take the initiative and send some folks down the low-road or we'll be overrun by insurgents who crawl up his but from that route.

Of course then we'll have to deal with the media. They will attack him with a new kind of ferocity when he does, and he needs to then list to them the full roster of Bush negative ads they have left uncommented. Part of every democratic campaign needs to be pointing out the bias of the media, who seems to hold the Democrats to a higher standard than the Republicans. Like all else, the media bias makes things nearly impossible for Democrats, and just like the Republicans did for years, they need to start pointing it out each chance they get.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. No. Be more aggressive yes, but on Bush's record in office.

The unfavorable contrast about how Bush ads try to slur the past of his opponents and Kerry's ads don't is useful for Kerry. It allows him to go strongly negative against Bush on the things he has actually done in office, while still overall taking the high road. The AWOL stuff is already widely out there, has gotten a lot of main stream press. Kerry doesn't have to raise that. Bush had to bring up this Viet Nam crap because it ISN'T out there because IT IS FICTION.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. I Wouldn't Mind If The 527s Ran Bush AWOL Ads

as long as the DNC doesn't have it's fingerprints on it...


Plausible deniability baby.....

[defoliant]

17. Not Kerry or the Democratic party

but a 527. The data is there to prove the story -- he WAS AWOL. Reagan's Assistant Sec. of Defense confirms it.

This is a job for MoveOn, or another like them. And I for one will absolutely write a big check to the folks who put this story out there.

[CaTeacher]

18. much as I would like to see this--

Vietnam is ancient history for most voters. This is not the thing that either Bush or Kerry should be talking about. I think the ads should be more current--or they are not going to be really relevant to the voters.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Agreed.

That's why I didn't vote.

[ibegurpard]

20. Only if its irrefutable.

If not it looks like same old-same old political tit-for-tat and will be discounted as such. Even if it IS irrefutable, a very careful line has to be walked. The media has shown itself to be hostile towards anything openly anti-Republican while giving consideration to both sides when its anti-Democrat.

[graywarrior]

22. I'd rather have Kerry ask whistleass about it at a debate

[ButterflyBlood]

21. no

the general public doesn't care what happened 40 years ago, but where the candidates stand today. let them do their stupid smear campaigns and let it backfire, let Kerry bash * on somewhere we know he sucks: THE ISSUES

[ibegurpard]

23. You can't IGNORE this kind of stuff.

It doesn't have to be countered with the same kind of trash but it DOES need to be answered calmy, rationally and FIRMLY and the motives of the people behind it need to be made VERY clear. It would be wonderful if campaigns were civil and stuck to the issues but negative advertising is used for a purpose... it works.

[Polemonium]

24. NO

Things have changed, with the net, and an energized base, the dirt has all kinds of ways to get out. Sure an add might get it out to more folks, but you gain more by playing the good guy. Going negative openly is a risk that we don't need to take.

Bush has practically zero accomplishments. Across the board in many areas * has the worst record any of us have seen in our lifetimes. AWOL is already out there, just let it fester AWOL.

[genius]

26. The real question is do we have the courage to tell the truth and win

It's always easier to complain that, though we lost, we were nice guys.

[genius]

27. Absolutely. Though the freepers might not like it.