Rusted Sky

The Dems have given way too much face time to the more, um, radical in their party. Unfortunately, whether it's really appreciated or not, what the visible folks in the party say is going to be taken by the vast majority of the electorate as the Democratic party line - especially if the media takes it and runs with it. And, because the pronouncements by Kerry and Dean were newsworthy in a way that the successes in Iraq aren't - they grabbed it and ran like a shoplifter out of a diamond store.

Now the spin is that neither Dean or Kerry meant what they actually said, and their remarks have been taken out of context. (Hi, Rawb!) Unfortunately, the framework of their remarks is readily available on the web - their complete remarks are up for everyone to see.

This is a real problem when you depend on being able to, if necessary, say you didn't say something you actually said, and this problem's rapidly approaching FUBAR status. The method chosen for dealing with this tactical (um, maybe strategic in its implications) mistake, the typical "My remarks are being taken out of context! I didn't say that!" has a severe drawback in this case - the record shows that, indeed, they DID say the things they're saying in the context as presented. They can't say they didn't, and retain credibility.

The biggest problem with the Democratic party (and to a much lesser extent the Republican party) is that they're not really appreciative of the power of the communications network that's sprung up since they lost power. Dean made some movement in that regard, with his grass-roots organization, but has apparently forgotten that there's too many people all too willing to report on his EVERY word - and the cooperative editing that the news broadcasts are all too willing to provide as a smokescreen can be quickly shown to be less than complete or accurate by a simple check of on-line transcripts or recordings.

Having a very accessable record of your statements is a good thing, when you want your statements on record to be accessable... but not so good if you have to back and fill and try to parse what you said in its' entirety into something completely different.

Because once you say it, you can't take it back.

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005?

The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from a top GOP operative that the Republican National Committee will provide state parties with a web video prior to release tomorrow afternoon that shows a white flag waving over images of Democrat leaders making anti-war remarks.

The ad is in response to the controversial comments Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry made earlier in the week.

A Democratic strategist who had the web ad described to her said, “This is way over the top but we have no one to blame but Dean, Kerry and others who continue to pander to the anti-war activists within our party.”

The web video advances the Republican contention that the Democrats only have a “retreat and defeat” message on the war in Iraq.

The video highlights the effect Democrats can have on the morale of U.S. soldiers.

One Republican strategist familiar with the ad said, “The Democrats, especially Howard Dean have a way of trying to turn the tables and say ‘that’s not what I meant’ – its just those ‘evil Republicans’ This video will make them crazy – it reinforces what they really believe with what they actually said – and that is devastating for the Democratic Party.”

Developing...

Yeah, I'll bet it's developing. This is a severe self-inflicted wound for the DNC. It does no good to try to explain that these guys don't really speak for the Democratic party - because if Dean doesn't then why is he still DNC chair? And if Kerry doesn't, why was he picked as the Presidential candidate? (I know what Rawb posted here, but the vast unwashed majority's not going to be so up on the nuances ) These two are, like it or not, figureheads for the Democratic Party. They have stature, they have credibility, they have veritas. They speak (like it or not) and the country sees them as the leadership of the Democrats.

And they can't get away with saying they didn't say something... when the record is crystal clear that they did.

This is a serious, serious mistake.

J.