"You'll never get the American people to believe that Democrats will defend them until Democrats stand up and defend each other." (source identified below the fold)
Yesterday, I wrote a diary about MTP's Tom Brokaw using Wesley Clark's statement that being shot down didn't qualify McCain to be president out of context, as a supposed example of an Obama negative attack (presumably to "balance" his showing of McCain's attack ad).
I was angered by the manipulation of Clark's statement (which was displayed without showing the specific question), and dismayed that Kerry, the Obama surrogate du jour, not only failed to defend Clark but basically caved and agreed with the false characterization of his comments.
Many commentators responded that Kerry was there to make the case for Obama, not to defend Clark or any other Obama surrogate attacked by the right, and that the media had created a certain narrative, and we should just accept that and move on.
So follow me below the fold if you want to know who made the statement quoted above, and let's see what's at stake when Democrats "cower" to the media narrative.
In fairness, many commentators to yesterday's diary responded that they had felt equally dismayed, but I want to discuss the argument that Kerry was there to make the case for Obama, not to defend Clark, and if it means ignoring attacks on other Democrats, like Clark, then so be it.
For at least 6 or 7 of the last 8 years, the rightwing attack machine, led by Karl Rove and his disciples, have basically destroyed any Democrat who dares to challenge Republicans on national security or military or foreign policy issues. Many Democratic politicians adapted by adopting the same hawkish positions and aggressive posturing as the Republicans, or by ceding such issues altogether.
One reason we Obama supporters were so excited by his candidacy is that, unlike other Democrats, Obama does not cede this area of expertise to the Republicans. One reason the McCain camp was so freaked by Obama's European tour is that they expected him to fall on his face when he met with foreign leaders, and instead they saw a parade of leaders embracing Obama and his policies over the failed neo-con agenda set by this administration and its disciple, John McCain.
The one area where they have successfully attacked Obama and other Democrats is in the area of military service, with the constant harping on McCain's "hero" status and his POW years. That's the "third rail" for Democrats, because the Republicans have set it up as "untouchable."
Why is it so "untouchable'? Because it is all McCain has, and if he becomes vulnerable there he's lost.
And one of the very few Democrats who can rebut the media narrative about McCain is Wesley Clark. And it is because Clark threatens the Republicans that they throw the book at him every time he speaks on behalf of Obama.
And the attack tactics that they use are not random or spontaneous -- they are right out of the Rovian playbook.
Clark himself said it best at this year's Netroots Nation:
http://securingamerica.com/...
And I hate to say this, but I was taken out of context (chuckles) on Meet the Press or on Face the Nation. (laughter) I mean, there's just no other way to say it. But someone came to me last night. They said, "You weren't taken out of context, General Clark." They said, "This was a playbook operation by the right-wing freak machine." It's the great freakshow. And what they do is they take a statement, then they either take it out of context or distort it. Then they blast it. Then they criticize, and then it becomes personal. They're getting so good at it that they did all three steps in less than 12 hours. (laughter) And you fought back and I'm (applause starts) grateful to you from the bottom of my heart.
(applause)
Also at Netroots Nation, Clark told the following story of an encounter with James Carville. Now I agree Carville lost all credibility during the primary wars in his support of Clinton, but this story bears repeating, and should be taken to heart. As Clark describes it
Several years ago, I was at a Washington dinner with James Carville, and we were just having a casual conversation. I said, "James, how are we going to, how are we going to convince the American people that just because we're in a time of war that they don't have to vote Republican? How are we going to get them to understand that Democrats have a pretty good national security record?" He said, "You'll never get the American people to believe that Democrats will defend them until Democrats stand up and defend each other.
And regardless of how you feel about Carville, he is dead-on about this. The Democratic Congress, elected in 2006 to rein in the Bush-Administration-Gone-Wild, is mired in 16% approval rating, lower even than Bush's. Why? Because they have, until very recently, caved on almost every issue that the administration has thrown at them. I don't need to name them here -- we all know what has happened. And the few Senators or Representatives who have stood firm -- the Webbs or Dodds to name a few, have done so with little support from their peers.
The narrative on the Democrats -- media created or deserved -- is that they cave. They have no spine. No backbone. No integrity when it comes to standing firm. No ability to stand together and defend each other from unwarranted attacks on certain issues -- especially those that involve patriotism or military issues.
And I agree with Carville, as quoted by Clark:
"You'll never get the American people to believe that Democrats will defend them until Democrats stand up and defend each other".
When Obama said "I don't do cower," (i remember the quote but don't have the source) I was ecstatic. Finally, a Democrat who steps up and lobs the grenade back over the wall. And by and large, I think Obama has shown an ability to respond to challenges (not always as fast as we would like). He is, by far, the best candidate the Democrats have fielded in years, and though he was not necessarily my first choice in the crowded Democratic primary field, my support for him has grown stronger and stronger as he has grown and responded to challenge after challenge.
But we Democrats -- even in this year of Republican disarray and ruin -- still have a long way to go before we convince the American public to trust our candidate with the White House, and with defending our nation and our security. And so I think every Democrat needs to memorize and repeat this quote:
"You'll never get the American people to believe that Democrats will defend them until Democrats stand up and defend each other"