Can We Stop Trashing ALL The Democratic Candidates !

[stewert]

Since I am on a rant today, could we stop trashing all the democratic candidates.

We should not be trashing any democratic candidates, except lieberman of course.

Just kidding..............

We should not be trashing any democratic candidates, let the republicans do it.

I think the moderators should delete any posting that trashes any democratic candidate,
and yes that includes lieberman.

Instead of trashing the guy you don't like, praise the one you do, tell us why we should vote
for him. This negative stuff on democratic candidates has got to stop, got it ?

Our main goal is to elect the guy with the best chance to beat Bush, I like kerry and or dean,
either one would be fine by me. If clark runs, he would be great too. The rest have two chances,
slim and none.

Of course I will vote for whoever wins the democratic primary, yes even if it's lieberman.

Is lieberman still a democrat ?

Just kidding again, lol.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. What I'd like to see

are posts outlining each candidate's positions on important topics, like health care, the deficit, jobs, education, foreign policy, etc. etc. Some of the candidates who are running have articulated their positions well, while others-well, to say it kindly, I don't have a clue where they stand. What with working two jobs I don't have much time, and find that DU can be a good source of information. Couldn't the supporters of each candidate just talk about the issues? It would help the rest of us be better informed. I want to be able and ready to support whoever is nominated, and I can't do that without information.

[jmm]

2. Democrats have been trashing each other since

the days of Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. This type of thing always happens during campaigns. I'm not worried about it.

edited because I can't spell this early in the morning.

[gandalf]

3. In a serious discussion, criticism should be possible,

as long as it is justified by arguments and not (too) polemic.
DU will not be an open place for discussion if it is not possible to voice criticism regarding a certain Democrat (as long as it is clear that the Democratic cause as a whole is supported).
The fear of seeing one's posts deleted would stifle a discussion imho.

[sybylla]

11. Fair criticism and outright bashing are two different animals

I welcome fair criticism. I would like to hear all of what's being said by the media or politicos about every candidate, good and bad. I want to see proof or refutation.

What I don't want to see is pure, emotional over reaction to either. Perhaps if we stick to the actual issues and offer fair criticism of them rather than focus on who supports whom and who doesn't, we could all learn something.

On edit: I'm not criticizing you, Gandalf. Merely trying to refine the point. I fully realize it is my opinion and may not be yours.

[gandalf]

13. Right.

"I'm not criticizing you, Gandalf".
I didn't read it as criticism.

"What I don't want to see is pure, emotional over reaction to either". Right. I always appreciate factual arguments.

[izzie]

4. I am not doing it. All have something interesting to add to the pot.

Let us hear them all

[Bob3]

5. I agree let us only trash GOP candidates.

Like Liberman.

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. ESPECIALLY Lieberman

Lieberman's positions don't whet my whistle, but I'm disturbed by the vitriol he's attracting. Can we attack the positions and not the man? He's an educated, civilized, decent human being, which makes him already a hundred times preferable to Bush. Can you imagine Joe wiping his glasses on David Letterman's assistant's jacket? No? All right, then.

[Changenow]

12. Lieberman is a perfect example.

Just say what he stands for without editorial and let folks make up their own minds.

[kentuck]

7. stewart, I think you are on the right track....

At least as a temporary measure. We all know Lieberman sucks at times. And to listen to some posters, so do all the rest. Our support for our favorite candidate - at this time - should not be black or white. Because we do not know who the nominee will be. They all deserve some degree of respect out of political smarts and to save us from eating a lot of crow later.

I personally support Howard Dean but you do not find me dissing John Kerry or Gephardt or Sharpton or the others. I must admit, I have had unkind words to say about Lieberman in the past, but I have tried to temper that criticism as of late.

But, the basic question is one of free speech. Do we try to temper our remarks on a voluntary basis or do we make that a rule for everyone to abide by? I do think it is a little Repub trick to make a derogatory comment about a candidate or issue in their post heading, then print a "freeper-type" article to show what they are saying, then make their own comment about how silly those "freepers" are...

I think we just need to be more aware and not go along with their little games as much as we have in the past by challenging their viewpoints as if they are some ignorant and wayward Democrat that just yet haven't found their way. We need to hit the "alert" button a little sooner and let the mods keep their eyes on them...

[MarianJack]

8. I Agree!

I still have bad memories of 1972 when the "democrats for nixon" ad campaigns used Hubert Humphrey's words to attack George McGovern.

Contemporary history tells us that when we're united, we usually win. When we're divided, we lose. :hurts:

Any D over any r in '04! (and '03 in CA):bounce:

[UTUSN]

9. Hear, Hear! A Thread After Mine Own Heart! n/t

[Changenow]

10. You are so right.

For me the solution is only to look at threads that have positive things to say about a candidate. If a candidate (even one I like) is slammed I just don’t answer. I also thing the moderators should be more aggressive about this.

What people need to think about when they are attacking candidates that they don’t like is their grandchildren. Will it make that much difference in 50 years which candidate is elected as long as Bush is defeated? Each candidate has positives and we need to keep our eye on the prize.