Trippi sets the record straight on media coverage of Dean "attack ads"

[hedda_foil]

Mods: This is a press release from the Dean blog, not subject to copyright protection.

http://www.blog.deanforamerica.com

Thursday, October 23, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Setting the Record Straight
Campaign Manager Joe Trippi issued the following statement today:

BURLINGTON--"Governor Dean's opponents have been attacking him and distorting his positions for months. I suspect this is because they would rather attack than talk about why, with a combined three-quarters of a century in Washington, D.C., they have delivered few real results. When you look at the field of candidates there is a clear contrast between a record of results and a record of rhetoric. As both a doctor and a Governor, Howard Dean's record speaks for itself. He delivered healthcare to thousands with his own hands, provided a prescription drug benefit for seniors and healthcare for children, he increased environmental protections and balanced the budget.

"We know the American people understand the difference between results and rhetoric, and when other candidates distort Governor Dean's record of results--as they have for months--we're going to set the record straight."

As you can see by the headlines below, the other campaigns made a strategic decision to attack Governor Dean after he surged ahead of them in the polls. Below are three pages of headlines on these attacks. Also, click on links to Governor Dean's ads below and see them for yourself.

New Hampshire Ad - "Iraq"


Windows Media Player

QuickTime

Iowa Ad - "Did It"


Windows Media Player

QuickTime

ATTACKS BY FELLOW DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON GOVERNOR DEAN

STARTING SEPTEMBER 1

Democrat hopefuls rip chief rival Dean; Kerry, Lieberman turn up heat on front-runner - AP, 9/1

Kerry slams Dean - Boston Globe, 9/1

Democratic White House Hopefuls Focus Attacks On Dean - The Bulletin's Frontrunner, 9/2

Kerry launches campaign, takes aim at Bush, Dean - Seattle Times, 9/3

Kerry Changes Stance, Takes On Dean New Campaign Tactic Highlights Differences Between Candidates - Boston Globe, 9/4

Rivals rip surging Dean - on paper; Democrats blast him in debate handouts - Dallas Morning News, 9/5

Lieberman Leads Attacks On Dean In First Debate - WSJ, 9/5

Dean's Quick Rise Makes Him Target Of His Own Party - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/7

Lieberman Criticizes Dean About His Remarks on Israel - NY Sun, 9/8

Taking a risk, Lieberman takes on front-running Dean - AP, 9/9

Edwards Critical of Dean Over Race Remark - AP, 9/10

Lieberman, Kerry rip Dean; Dems turn feisty in 2nd debate - Boston Globe, 9/10

Gephardt rips into Dean on health care - AP, 9/12

Presidential Candidate Congressman Gephardt Unleashed A Stinging Attack On Rival Howard Dean - FOX News, 9/12

Gephardt Attacks Dean on 2 Social Programs - NYT, 9/13

Gephardt accuses Dean of backing GOP policies - Baltimore Sun, 9/13

Gephardt criticizes Dean for past positions - Des Moines Register, 9/13

Gephardt plays hardball with front-runner Dean - Manchester Union Leader, 9/13

Gephardt Shifts Attacks to Dean - WP, 9/13

After Climbing To The Top, Dean Discovers He's A Target Rivals Set Sights On Front-Runner - Boston Globe, 9/14

In A Shift Of Strategy, Kerry Takes On Dean - Boston Globe, 9/14

Gephardt is latest to attack Dean - Chicago Tribune, 9/14

Gephardt Aims At Dean, Linking Him To Gingrich - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/14

Kerry rips Bush but adds Dean hit - AP, 9/15

Gephardt Steps Up Criticism Of Dean, Says He Agreed With 'Gingrich Republicans' - Frontrunner, 9/15

Gephardt: An Attack A Day Keeps The Doctor At Bay? - Hotline, 9/15

Dean becomes a target - Newsday, 9/15

Gephardt Uses Web Site to Criticize Dean - AP, 9/16

Gephardt: Moredeanbashing.com - Hotline, 9/16

Kerry Openly Criticizes Dean's Stance On Tax Cuts For Middle Class Families - Frontrunner, 9/16

Still under attack, Dean goes easy on his rivals - AP, 9/17

Kerry Steps Up Attacks On Dean Over Trade - Frontrunner, 9/23

Kerry Attacks Rival Dean Over Protectionism - NYT, 9/23

Despite interest in Clark, Dean is still top target of other candidates - Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/25

Among the 10, Two Are Tested the Most; Newcomer Clark Avoids Serious Gaffes; Dean Withstands Sharper Challenges - WP, 9/26

10 Democratic rivals debate national woes, attack well-financed Dean and ignore newcomer Clark - Knight-Ridder, 9/26

Democrats spare Clark in his first debate and go after Dean - AP, 9/26

Democratic Candidates Focus Attacks On Dean In Primary Debate - Frontrunner, 9/26

Clark survives debate, as hopefuls target Dean; Candidates' attacks include a comparison to Gingrich - Dallas Morning News, 9/26

Debate Rivals Target Dean - Hartford Courant, 9/26

Debate: All Eyes On The General, All Attacks Aimed At Dean - Hotline, 9/26

Gephardt, Kerry attack Dean over prior views - Washington Times, 9/26

Dean Is Targeted by Rivals - LA Times, 9/26

Bush, Dean under attack in 10-way Democratic debate - Myrtle Beach Sun-News, 9/26

Fellow Dems Diss Dean As Sparks Fly In Debate - NY Post, 9/26

Attacking the Leader; Debate barbs aimed at front-runner Dean - NY Newsday, 9/26

Party unity? The candidates were united, in going after Howard Dean - Phila. Inquirer, 9/26

Dean Takes The Heat From Rivals - Baltimore Sun, 9/26

Clark Debut Doesn't Change Democrats' Focus on Dean - NY Times, 9/27

Democratic rivals target Bush -- and Dean - Salon.com, 9/27

Gephardt attacks Dean Medicare record - AP, 9/29

Democrats: Candidates Criticize Dean's Record On Medicare - American HealthLine, 9/29

Gephardt Compares Dean's Record On Medicare To Gingrich's - Frontrunner, 9/29

Gephardt: Takes His Sparring With Dean To The Sunday Shows - Hotline, 9/29

Attacks on Dean may leave voters dizzy - St. Petersburg Times, 9/29

Dean Rivals Try To Turn His Comments On Key Issues Against Him - Frontrunner, 10/2

Kerry Attacks Dean For Bush Pact - NYT, 10/2

Rivals Target Dean's Blunt Comments - WP, 10/2

Kerry Attacks Dean Over '93 Nuclear Waste Accord - Frontrunner, 10/6

Kerry maintains attacks on Dean over Medicare - DMR, 10/7

Kerry: Still Hammering Away At Dean On Medicare - Hotline, 10/7

Clark, Dean Are Targeted in Debate - LA Times, 10/10

Gephardt roasts Dean on past political moves - Myrtle Beach Sun-News, 10/12

Mutual Threat Unites 2 Rivals Opposing Dean - NYT, 10/12

Gephardt and Kerry unite against Dean - IHT, 10/13

Dean Continues To Draw Fire From Rivals At Des Moines AARP Forum - Frontrunner, 10/16

Other Candidates Again Target Dean; At Iowa Seniors Forum, He Is Chided for Views on Medicare, Bush Tax Cuts - WP, 10/16

'Divers' Dedicated to Dig Dirt on Dean - AP, 10/21

Edwards raps Dean on health plan - Manchester Union Leader, 10/21

Kerry Criticizes Dean Oversight of Vermont Egg Farm - AP, 10/22

Posted by Joe Rospars at 03:45 PM

[DoveTurnedHawk]

1. So What's Dean's Excuse for Slamming Clark?

You'll note that there isn't one headline in there about Clark slamming Dean.

DTH

[unfrigginreal]

2. What slam is that?

Are you talking about the "Clark was a Republican" remark?

[Pastiche423]

3. Do you not understand

the difference in results and rhetoric?

[ShimokitaJer]

9. Maybe you should change your sig line

It doesn't seem to work with the thrust of your post.

[mot78]

4. Dean gives out shit but he can't take shit

'nuff said.

[Renew Deal]

5. That's the truth.

Don't call me Gingrich :cry:

This person and that person is Bush-lite, republican-lite. :grr:

Dean is a hypocritical cry-baby.

[Hep]

6. sour grapes

because Dean has actual evidence to back up his claims and everyone else has to rely on distortions.

[Cha]

10. Dean can take any Shit you can hand him or

anyone else! Dean's a Fighter! Bring it on, sport.

[denverbill]

7. Good strategy.

I bet Trippi had that list compiled LONG before they started running the ads. It's pretty hard to accuse Dean of being the first to attack when you can throw out a 2 page list of newspaper headlines where the other candidates attacked Dean.

[Bandit]

14. If you look at the dates on the list it is current in fact one is yesterda

"I bet Trippi had that list compiled LONG before they started running the ads."
It is good strategy but most of the dates are very current so the list wasn't created to long ago.

[dajabr]

8. I am really happy to see this!

His new ads bode well for how he we react to fire from the Bush camp (i.e. fight back).

Glad Dean is not sitting around for months taking body blows like Kerry.

[w13rd0]

11. Exactly...

...once again, the Dean campaign is demonstrating that it will handily deal with attacks by presenting a strong counter. This mornings "Dean first to attack with new ads" BS was hysterical. Again and again, we see some attempting to use the same kinds of attacks, the same methodologies of distortion, as were used against Gore. But the Dean team knows how to run a good counter and will do so just as effectively against Bush.

[MGKrebs]

12. Actually, I don't like the strategy.

(disclaimer: I'm a Dean volunteer).

Dean is leading everywhere he is campaigning. He is gaining in national polls. Whatever attacks he is suffering from do not seem, to me, to be hurting him that much. This explanation by Trippi just throws more fuel on the fire.

I'd like to see a little more finesse here.

Unless they know something I don't, which is likely.

[quaker bill]

13. Turnabout is fair play.

The problem for Kerry and Gep is that they picked a fight with the wrong guy. Dean will only get stronger through this. He wants the limelight and this gives it to him. He wants the image of being tough on the Washington insiders, this gives it to him. Kerry and Gep are dancing to Dean's lead.

Dean also has no problem standing toe to toe swapping blows with these guys. He wants the image of a fighter and this plays into his hands.

It's a shame really, had Kerry and Gep only been fighting Bush* for a living and ignoring Dean, they would be much better off today.

[Cha]

15. Precisely!

"It's a shame really, had Kerry and Gep only been fighting Bush* for a living and ignoring Dean, they would be much better off today"

Dean wouldn't have had the pull if they had been doing their jobs to begin with. We were starved for someone like Dean! At least I was and it turns out to my Delight that a Few other People were, too!