Dick Morris: Bush's Weapon Against Dean [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

I apologize to the Dean supporters, but this is a real cause of alarm for me. I can't handle no 4 more years.

In a Bush-Dean race, the contest would likely hinge on three semantic differences. The way the electorate defines the gay marriage, tax-cut and Iraq issues will spell victory or defeat for the candidates.

Dean will insist that he does not support gay marriage but only the limited concept of civil unions. Bush will say that if it looks like a duck, acts like a duck and walks like a duck, it's a duck. Bush will characterize the Dean bill as a gay marriage act and will challenge Dean to approve of the Defense of Marriage Bill that prohibits homosexual marriage.

The former Vermont governor has also proposed repealing most if not all of Bush's tax cuts. Again, polls indicate that Americans break about 50-50 on this issue. But Bush will say that Dean wants to raise taxes - a 2-to-1 no-no in public-opinion polls.

Early media is the answer. As soon as the Democratic candidate is chosen, before he has time to reload his depleted coffers, Bush must strike aggressively and characterize the issues in his own light and cast them to his advantage...He could win the election in a spring offensive.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102322,00.html

Honestly, I am surprised that the GOP let Dickie out of the bottle with this one. So far, they've been maintaining radio silence, trying not to spook the Democrats before it's too late.

In any case, here's an article on the anti-gay backlash brewing:

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0332/goldstein.php

Here's an article by Krugman arguing that full repeal of the cuts is a political loser:

http://truthout.org/docs_03/101803I.shtml

And here's a quick preview of what $200 million in ads will look like, only a thousand times nastier, 24-7 throughout 2004:

http://www.gop.org/Newsroom/RNCResearch/TLvideo2.htm

But at least we can trust Dean to keep his cool during the debates...

(PS - Please don't bother telling me this is from Dick Morris. I know. If you disagree, at least try to get past the ad hominem stuff.)