Pro-Kerry or Anti-Bush? What difference...

[tomfodw]

...does it make?

Look, does anyone honestly think that people supported Bob Dole in 1996 because they were wildly enthusiastic about him? Pretty obviously not. Most people who bothered voting for him did so because they couldn't stand Bill Clinton.

If it was okay for Republicans in 1996, why isn't it okay for Democrats in 2004 to vote for Kerry because they can't stand George W. Bush?

That's really all that needs to be said on this subject.

[goodhue]

1. Its a difference between positive and negative thinking.

And its effect on turnout.

And it didn't work for Republicans in 1996 if I recall correctly.

[tomfodw]

3. It didn't work in 1996...

...because Bill Clinton was very popular in the country (rightfully so, of course) and Bob Dole was seen in much of the country as a tired old negative hatchet-man hack (rightfully so, of couse).

Kerry may not be perfect, but Bill Clinton wasn't in 1996, and nobody else is this year, either (Jed Bartlett's not available).

It's far easier to be genuinely positive about John Kerry in 2004 than it was to be genuinely positive about Bob Dole in 1996.

(I also think it's far easier to be genuinely negative about Dubya this year than it was to be genuinely negative about Bubba in '96. We were at peace in '96, the economy was on an upswing, we were fairly popular around the world, crony capitalism was not quite as triumphant, media consolidation not quite as oppressive, the press not quite as spineless...)

[pocket]

2. I don't like Kerry

but I FUCKING HATE *, therefore Kerry gets my vote.

[DaveinMD]

4. I like Kerry

alot. I think he will make a great President. And I hate Shrub.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. I don't have any problem with

people voting for Kerry because they hate Bush and not because they like Kerry. It's nice when voters actually like Kerry and I think many of them do, and many more will as they become more familiar with him. But you can't force people to feel a certain way, and if they're voting for Kerry then I'm glad about that no matter what their motivations are. I don't think beating them over the head about it is going to help matters any either.

I myself have never really been crazy about anyone I've voted for in a Presidential election. I've usually just voted for them because they were the Democrat. Individual motives don't matter, votes do.