Officially Over The Top
There are some folks who didn't like my particular take on the MoveOn smear on General David Petraeus. There are some who agree. Oddly enough, those who agree that MoveOn was over the top on this happen to be some big name Democratic politicians. Like John Kerry.
“I don’t like any kind of characterizations in our politics that call into question any active duty, distinguished general,” Kerry told CNN, adding “who I think under any circumstances serves with the best interests of our country.”
Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts. In his 2004 presidential campaign, Kerry was attacked by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who questioned his service in the war.
Kerry called the MoveOn.org ad “over the top” and specifically noted that he did not like the wording in the text.
“I didn’t like the terminology,” he said. “I didn’t like it.”
Congressional Democrats showed an eagerness to distance themselves from the ad.
Asked early Monday if this was the right message for his party to send, a member of the Democratic leadership, speaking on background, curtly answered, "No."
And there will be more. Because this was over the top and there will be a backlash. So while some try to plug the hole in the dike and try to divert attention onto my post, that bit of sleight of hand won't work. The real problem is not how MoveOn's smear plays in the blogosphere, inhabited as it is by political junkies. The real problem is how it will play in Peoria, so to speak. And that is a disaster for the Democrats - Kerry and Reid abandoning ship is only the start here. This one is very damaging.
Blogosphere, Politics | Gaius Monday, 10 September , 2007
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I am done with MoveOn.Org - The Detroit Times — Monday, 10 September , 2007 @ 9:20 pm
By Alice, Monday, 10 September , 2007 @ 9:36 pm
I seriously doubt this will be the disaster you seem to think it will be–though your concern for your Democratic friends is touching. We’ve been seeing Republicans whip molehills into mountains for years in this same mechanical fashion. Let’s hope that a four star general can stand up to being called a silly name in a free and democratic society. You’re, you’re the ones who look weak, fussy, and priggish for pretending to be offended by it–and having watched you do the same thing over and over again for the past 7 years, it’s been pretty damned boring as well.
By Gaius, Monday, 10 September , 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Nice try, Alice. Only I am not a Republican. But Kerry and Reid jumping ship shows how badly this one is going over - someone called it an ad too far. I think that describes it.
By FedUp, Tuesday, 11 September , 2007 @ 7:51 am
Alice… are you off your meds again?