To all the Mary Beth bashers-

[Goldom]

I don't seem to remember hearing "she's not strong enough" back when this came out a few months ago.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0713b.html

Stop being so fickle. One clearly rigged poll comes out, and everyone's running around with their heads cut off.

[JI7]

1. rather than criticizing Bush lies it's all about attacking Cahill

[mbali]

15. By people who don't even have a fraction of a clue what she does or

what she's done.

I don't remember this kind of personal trashing of anyone else's campaign manager during the primaries. In fact, I doubt that most people even knew who anyone's campaign manager was (with the exception of Joe Trippi, who made himself front and center).

[Ducks In A Row]

2. I think the freepers want us mad at her, so kerry will...

get rid of a strong asset.

so I call bullshit on any anti-maryann threads.

[topanga]

3. WOmen are not Johns whipping boys!

John does not play that game, he is a kind and caring man and will not go there.

[Catfight]

9. HURRAY! We're on to those anti-Mary Ann people....I think the more

hate threads we see the more we know they are scared shitless.

I call Bullshit on all hate-threads, DU threads are based in fact and truth, not 'feelings' and 'speculation' therefore, all threads are Bullshit.

[topanga]

13. Agreed!

I feel you hit it right on the head. Mary is one of the few unshakeable assets we have, no doubt about it.

Any talk of replacing her is mysogenistic and probalby a repub blant!

[topanga]

17. Agreed!

I feel you hit it right on the head. Mary is one of the few unshakeable assets we have, no doubt about it.

Any talk of replacing her is mysogenistic and probalby a repub blant!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. What's funny is, they all seem to think

she should be replaced by James Carville, because they are under the mistaken impression Carville was Clinton's campaign manager in 92 (David Wilhelm) or 96 (Peter Knight).

[oregonjen]

5. Weren't Carville and Begala Clinton's campaign managers?

[PopSixSquish]

8. Well Technically Carville, Begala and Steffy

were strategists and part of the campaign war room. I don't remember off the top of my head who Clinton's actual campaign manager was. Bruce ????

But the reason, these 3 get the credit is because of the war room and the rapid response team plus the documentary film which was produced.

But remember once Steffy was in the White House, he was Director of Communications at first (I think) and was terrible at the daily press briefings. Press secretary Dee-Dee Myers who had been the press secretary to the campaign took those over. (where the character of CJ on West Wing comes from) and Steffy was kicked upstairs to advisor to the President.

Just because you're good at one aspect of campaign strategy doesn't mean you're good at something else.

(edited for clarity)

[mbali]

18. Fear's right - David Wilhelm (92) and Peter Knight (96)

were Clinton's campaign managers.

And you're exactly right - Carville and Begala are the best at what they do. But they're not national campaign managers and probably would never want to be - and they'd probably last about half a day in that job.

[dsc]

6. that is flat out false

Carville managed not one, not two, not three, but at least four campaigns in Pennsylvania (three for Casey and one for Wofford).

[JI7]

11. he is talking about Clinton

[dsc]

7. The problem in August wasn't her

There isn't much that Matalin gets right, but that much she did get right this morning. If a candidate's campaign is in the crapper, the candidate is who to look at. Getting rid of her would do nothing unless it also showed a change in Kerry's attitude. Since his attitude has apparently changed with her still in charge, then she clearly isn't the problem.

[delhurgo]

10. Why would you agree with Mary Matalin; she's politically motivated -

for the other side. She's just trying to make Kerry look bad and score political points and cause doubts among democrats about their candidate. Don't be so gullible.

The truth is that this campaign has not been responding to attacks.I noticed this months ago when watching their spokespeople appear on talk shows and in interviews. They don't seem to be equipped to respond to attacks on Kerry's record, or his proposals. One guy, Steve Elmendorf, is the worst, he just sort of sits there and smiles - I call him Smiley. He's pathetic. And I've seen Mary Beth herself on Hannity and Colmes one time where she made a complete ass of herself. The other guests made a fool out of her; she was clearly in over her head.

The 'Cahill strategy' seems to have been to not go tit-for-tat with the Bush campaign. In fact, Ive read that they specifically stated that. They/she sees to think that they can just stall and sort of run out the clock. Thats a recipe for failure. I think they have something confused. You don't respond to all the personal smears, and you don't necessarily sling mud, but you have to rebut attacks and set the record straight - and they're not even doing that.

[JI7]

12. it worked with the intern, jane fonda, assassination and other lies

about kerry that were being spread.

[oasis]

14. Mary Beth gets my vote of confidence.

:thumbsup:

[DaveinMD]

16. Carville

was not the campaing manager for Clinton. He and Begala were senior strategists. David Wilhelm was the campaign manager.

[Moderator]

19. Consolidating threads.....

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x750650


Thank you.


DU Moderator