I promoted this from a comment to an earlier Diary post...
I think it is important. And it may be a reason why the aura of civility reigns in Kossackistan.
Disclaimer: I am an early Dr. Dean backer and contributor. I am still interested in Wes Clark. I have pretty much started ignoring all the others.
Disclaimer Disclaimer: I am going to quit saying this unless I think is germane to my post.
Dem-bashing by Dems is bad strategy. Even if Dean does it.
I don't think Dem candidate bashing is good political strategy this year. All the candidates who have engaged in Dem-bashing have 'fallen on hard times'. Most of us activists and 'warthogs' are interested in bashing WhistleAss. Most of us feel to some degree that doing things that divide Dems is an unaffordable luxury.
Sometimes the population has to lead the 'leaders'!
There is an old saying, 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer!'. I think it is true in the Dem Nom race today, and Dem-bashing is hurting everybody who does it this year.
If I were Clark, or Dean, I'd just say:
'But I always have the nicest things to say about [the basher]!' (This is especially pungent if you have avoiding be a basher!)
'You know, s/he as a policy [name something you agree on] that sounds like good Democratic principles to me! S/he and I actually agree on that! I am trying to run a 'principle-based' campaign so if you want a negative soundbite, [the basher] has given you one. It sounds like 'sour grapes' to me, but these little squabbles can happen.'
'Now here is where I stand on [your message of the day]. And what is the Bush RECORD on this... [well, let me tell you, brothers and sisters!]'
Nice, neat, All-American, positive, quotable, and it makes the basher look bad and you look good. You are the 'big player'... you are trying to be a party builder... pointing out the good even in a critic.
A little muddy water (nothing really important) has rolled off the duck's back... and you have cleared the decks to bring up another issue with Bush RECORD!
The smart Dem message is: The BUSH RECORD on ... just about everything!
The Bush HYPOCRISY! I am telling you the TRUTH about the Bush RECORD! I don't know why the people are talking about 'sweaters' and 'What Gore wore'... What about this item in the Bush RECORD!
Some smart Dem campaigner is going to take this advice! Others won't... and they will self-select out of the race.
Don't you wonder who it is going to be?
Do you think I should submit this to the campaigns of my two favorite candidates?