There is a common theme used against Democrats who speak out...

[madfloridian]

not just by the Republicans but by our own Democrats in some cases. I have noticed it especially in the cases recently of Russ Feingold and Paul Hackett. Believe it or not, it is still happening in the case of Howard Dean.

They are said to be "making it about themselves," or words to that effect. It is said or implied they are calling attention to themselves, and making themselves the issue. Alan Colmes asked Howard Dean that on Fox the other day. He asked if he should be talking out so much, making himself the issue. Dean said yes, he needed to talk out even more.

Some are using the same tactics against Feingold and Hackett.

My question is this: How do you make a difference without calling attention to yourself? How can you say true things that the party leaders don't want said...without getting attention?

It is sort of slyly done at times, others quite openly. But it is wrong to do that to people who are speaking the truth.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Little that can be done about it as long as the media has a firm grip on

how we receive our information.

BTW, Clark was called the ambitious Perfurmed Prince.....

They all get a name, sooner or later.

[madfloridian]

4. I was referring not only to the media.....

but to many in the congressional leadership.

[FrenchieCat]

5. I understand.....

it starts out as whispers from one's own and the opposition......but it is when the media massages it and uses it over and over again that it starts to stick.

Howard Dean could attest to that!

[napi21]

2. I'm glad these guys are speaking out, and if they get attention,

I say GREAT! I don't think iit's about them at all, but is drawing attention to the things most of us want to make the issue! If the media doesn't like it, TS!

[madfloridian]

And wasn't there some of that tactic used against Murtha as well?

I don't remember exactly, but I think so. Sort of like he spoke out before the others did, should have waited...that kind of thing. Kind of an attitude that since everyone else is being silent, others should as well. A vicious circle of silence.

[karynnj]

12. Actually Murtha was defended by virtually every mainstream

Democrat. He was attacked by the Republicans because he questioned the war. (Kerry alone defended him on the floor of the Senate, via a large email call for people to defend him, and he defended him 3 times in interviewsin the first week.) Dean was out there early too (I can't provide detail because I don't know it.)

Few Democrats agreed totally with his plan - but they did agree that it was his right to put a plan on the table and not have his patriotism questioned. Many had plans they thought better - which is their right too.

[NativeTexan]

3. Dems argue and disagree, so ....HACKETT GOT SLIMED!!!

And it pisses me off! He could have won that race, and now no one will ever be able to realize what it would've meant. And it was non-sectarian, so to speak. It was liberals, moderates, conservatives...ALL turning their backs on the guy. They should be ashamed of themselves. And I don't care what any of them think about people speaking out.

Like I have said before. I don't belong to an organized political party....I AM A DEMOCRAT!!

[Eric J in MN]

6. I thought you were going to say that

Democrats who speak out are treated as irrationally angry, and/or crazy.

[madfloridian]

7. I could have said that.

Actually. ;-)

[cindyw]

8. Be fair, don't leave out Kerry. People always say he does everyhting for 8

2008 that is. The man spends every waking hour doing as many good things as he can and all anyone can say here is how he is doing it to run again in 08. As if somehow that is relevant. I'll take good actions for whatever reason.

[Raksha]

9. I just agree with whoever says something like that and get it over with!

Basically, I throw it right back in their faces. I say something like, "YES, it's a political move and it's succeeding brilliantly. Feingold's name recognition and popularity just doubled overnight."

After all, why are we so frustrated with the Beltway Dems right now? Here they are in a position where they can take a principled stand AND get all the political credit for it they could ever want, and all they do is stand around with their heads up their asses. You just have to wonder what's really going on.

[madfloridian]

10. Kick for the ones who speak out.

:kick:

[blm]

11. That's a classic tactic of GOp operatives - to distract from the real news

of IranContra and BCCI they said Kerry was showboating and trying to make a name for himself so he dreamed up these "conspiracy theories" to attack Reagan and Bush administrations.

We all know who was telling the truth there.

Unfortunately many of these same operatives are still at work and now their allies bought up control of most broadcast media. That's why ANY Dem who sticks their neck out will get redefined by these bastards until we work to expose the GOP control of the media.

Funny, but the ones who have done the most and DO the most are always targeted - year in, year out.