Value Judgment: Raise Your Goddamn Hands, Dems!

Value Judgment is a daily weblog written by two independent voters on the eastern seaboard of the United States. VJ will focus on the 2004 U.S. Presidential campaigns, including strategy, tactics, and substance. The authors supported Howard Dean in the Democratic primary. Accordingly, his activities will be a prominent topic on this site.

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June 14, 2004

Raise Your Goddamn Hands, Dems!

Hissssssssssssss spitt! Democrats take out the knives and stab ... John Kerry!

Podesta: "You can't just be against something. [Voters] want a positive vision of where the country is going, and he has to provide that."

Bart Gordon: "Kerry has to convince the public he's an acceptable alternative. He has not passed that threshold."

Democrats are concerned that Kerry will have a harder time than previous candidates detailing his positions in a way voters can readily understand.

A senior Kerry adviser, who requested anonymity, said [Kerry's caution] has left many on the staff wanting, both in terms of strong leadership and inspiration.

Sigh. Remember that debate where Dean asked all of the candidates to promise to vigorously support whoever won the nomination? Yeah, well, Democratic "leaders" "aides" and "staffers" all need to take a lesson. Vigorously support your nominee. Do not whinge about him to the Post, for god's sake!

From now until November 2nd, as far as the press is concerned: you believe that Kerry is the greatest thing since sliced bread, the second coming of FDR & JFK combined, the be-all and end-all of Democratic leadership.

The Constitution and the Republic are at stake, given the war criminals in charge now, so, in the words of Bill Clinton, fall in line.

If the Democratic "leadership" won't do it? Why should independents like myself?

Posted by J at June 14, 2004 08:10 AM

Comments

Democrats form their firing squads in circles.

Posted by: carla at June 14, 2004 12:43 PM

I can fall in line "for ABB" but I can't "for Kerry". This doesn't exactly relate to your post, but then again maybe "ABB" v.s. "Kerry" explains a lot of what is going on.

Posted by: Todd at June 14, 2004 12:57 PM

Yeah, I'm not talking about us.

I'm talking about Democratic "leaders" and "staffers" and "aides."

In short, I think they should demonstrate some resolve and party discipline of their own; save the squabbling for behind closed doors and after the election. At the very least, don't blab to the press.

As usual, Howard Dean is one of the classiest in this regard. He's been promoting Kerry vigorously all over the place, even to his own supporters who are pissed at him about it. He doesn't lie, but he doesn't waffle around either. He points out what he believes Kerry's strengths are and why Kerry is the best option for the country in this election. Other Democratic "leaders" (I think I'm going to have start scare-quoting "Democratic leaders" constantly) should take a lesson. Or maybe heed the following poster:

Posted by: J at June 14, 2004 01:11 PM

I agree. But my thought is that this sort of thing wouldn't happen if these "leaders" would just think of their candidate as "ABB" not "Kerry".

But I'm probably just being nutty. My opinion is that a campaign focused on ABB v.s. Bush would have a better chaqnce than Kerry v.s. Bush. Don't focus on Kerry!

Posted by: Todd at June 14, 2004 01:33 PM