MSNBC--there's been damage done to Kerry by Swiftboat ads

[ItsMyParty]

I just visited the MSNBC website to participate in a poll that is mentioned here in this forum. I clicked on the headline story about the Bush family ties to the group that are now being investigated and whether there is a direct violation of election law with ties to Rove, etc. Good piece. But it also gave an inside look at what went on in the Kerry campaign the last few days.

Apparently "politicians" had to contact Kerry and tell him these ads were taking a toll and he had to strike back. It pointed out that coming out of the convention Kerry was tied like 46-46 with Bush on vet's votes and that has now plummeted to 30-something to Bush's 55. The politicians say he waited too long. When approached, his "staff" didn't want to do anything because they thought it would just blow over (sorry, but this staff totally screwed this up--how did the guy with the great record get killed and the AWOL is doing just fine---he needs to seriously look at this staff--he fired staffs before and he may just have to do it again). Apparently it was Kerry himself who got mad and refused to have his record attacked this way.

The article says these ads appeared just at a great time---an August lull. It says that future ads will be cut by these guys (one today) and they are getting some good money coming in. Suggestion: next time we have an issue that we should solely own and make mince meat out of Bush, go on the attack FIRST----when you don't and wait to be attacked, you come off so much more weakened. It's a terrible shame that this is having an effect. I just went to MoveOn and saw the ad that is now being run comparing Kerry and Bush's record. It's great and they have to push it constantly. Kerry needs ads getting nasty, in Bush's face and accusatory. The American people buy what's advertised and we didn't do well with this one.

[Dickie Flatt]

1. Recent news means we may be able to turn this

on Bush. And its breaking into the mainstream - MSNBC.com's front page says "Swift Boat vets linked to Bush"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. It certainly does...

[sampsonblk]

10. CNN said "Republican-funded"

when referring to the Swift Vets. Maybe the tide is turning in terms of the media. All except Fox of course.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

2. Kerry is ahead in every poll. That's EVERY poll.

eom.

[ima_sinnic]

3. personally I think the "loss of support" from vets is pure BS

...I don't believe it. The SBV liars are more & more being exposed as liars and perjurers + having ties to Bush

[neuvocat]

4. You mean like in this poll on MSNBC?

Swift Boat Politics: Do you believe Sen. Kerry or the veterans behind the ad? * 112681 responses


Sen. Kerry 62% Veterans 38%


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5772722

[liberalnurse]

5. I don't buy your assertion; even if it is on a "media whore"site.....

Since you posted with apparent pride.

[ItsMyParty]

8. Its the MSNBC Polll YOU ALL WANT US TO GO OVER AND VOTE

ON!!! It's part of the Headline News Story where you are citing all the other stuff. It's in the story about the Bush ties to these guys. It is a long piece.....maybe that's why no one got past paragraph one!!!! I didn't make up what happened in the Kerry camp. In fact, the evening news lead last night saying that the campaign argued until 3 in the morning before Kerry's attack before the FireFighers. They didn't stay up until 3 a.m. fighting over what pizza to buy. They are not going to this extent 'cause this is all a lie that they didn't respond quick enough. It's the reality of the situation and they are trying to turn it around. It's a good thing John finally got mad because his advisors were doing nothing until other politicians intervened. Try to read the whole article.

[liberalnurse]

16. I just got in from a 12 hour shift....

Yes, it is the real thing.......Thanks for the post.....I was in denial that it could really happen...:think:

[RamboLiberal]

6. Kerry Advisers need to be given DVD "Bush's Brain" (Rove)

and forced to watch it. Get them the book. Fly the authors up to talk to them!

http://www.bushsbrain.com/rev_APRESS.htm

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- "Bush's Brain" has been cracked open and exposed for the world to see.

The documentary, based on the book of the same name about presidential adviser Karl Rove, had been kept tightly under wraps before making its world premiere to a packed theater at the South by Southwest film festival.

Both the book and the film depict Rove as the true brains behind the Bush administration, and practically a co-president. The film, which screened Saturday night, begins with the image of Bush confidently descending the stairs of Air Force One with "Hail to the Chief" signaling his arrival.

Then comes the punch line. On a black screen with simple white lettering, the question is posed: How did this happen?

[amber dog democrat]

9. I don't see this having an impact

The voters who are swayed by this are voting for Bush anyway.
Its going to backfire on the Chimp anyway.

[KittyWampus]

11. You Believe This Crap?

You actually believe the staff thought this would just blow over and wanted to do nothing?

The only polite word I can think for believing this tripe is niave.

[ItsMyParty]

13. well then I guess there are journalists covering the Kerry

campaign who are also niave!! And it's funny that this is not only a NBC story but was a CBS story as well. Perhaps one can address the reason why an issue that should have been ours to own and shove down Bush's throat got this far out of control??----perhaps, a "niave" campaign stafff...perhaps????

[KittyWampus]

15. Journalists Or Mediawhores?

You decide.

[progressivebydesign]

12. A note about "independents".

I notice that polls show that people who see themselves as "independents" supposedly think less of Kerry, now that the M.F. Liars For Nixon's Ghost ran their ads against Kerry. The way I've always seen independents, or people who claim to be independents, they are usually Republicans. Every time I've come across someone who calls themself an indenpendent, is actually a conservative who thinks they are worldly, and beyond labels. Ross Perot.. the independent's hero. All republican.

I'm so glad that Kerry is kicking these liar's asses back to Texas. Fuck them.. fuck their lies. This is serious stuff... hope they're wearing asbestos underwear this weekend on the news shows. They've pissed off even the journalists.

[Julien Sorel]

14. Alex Polier.

Remember her? No? She was the woman alleged to have had an affair with Kerry. The allegations surfaced during the primaries, and some people were sure it would derail Kerry. The rumors were flying: Kerry had asked her to leave the country so the press couldn't find her; a "friend" was quoted as saying "This is much nastier than is being reported;" her father was alleged to have called Kerry a "sleazeball;" she was even an intern for him at one point, which begged for comparisons to Monica Lewinsky to be made.

Did the Kerry campaign go into overdrive defence mode? No, they didn't. Knowing the truth of the matter, Kerry himself made a denial, I think the campaign may have put out a single press release, and ...What happened? The media looked in to it, it was obviously nonsense, and the non-issue went away. No one would touch it.

There is no perfect way to handle this sleaze; that's why people do it. Sometimes the media will ignore it; sometimes they will bite. This time, with a relatively boring August on their plates, they bit -- hard. Much harder than they should have. Had the Kerry people immediately gone into panic mode, what could and should have turned into another non-issue might have mushroomed when it would otherwise have gone away. It's impossible to predict beforehand, but one thing they did know: the campaign was getting some traction, and to be distracted by something like this might have derailed that traction.


One way or another it's almost over, and the media owe the Kerry campaign a make-good now, because this whole thing was their creation as much as the not-so-Swift Boat peoples'. I'm going to keep an eye on that, and I'm going to look for opportunities, when I write an e-mail to complain about some particularly lazy or sloppy bit of reporting, find ways to reference this whole mess, and remind them of what a raw deal they gave Kerry, of the way they cheapened the electoral process, all to sell a few more newspapers, to get a tenth of a point in their ratings. Because for the media that's what this was about in the end: some bit of excitement in a slow month, a little cinnamon in the vanilla of August.