Has the Kerry Campaign OFFICIALLY responded to Cheney & Zell yet?

[jackstraw45]

Or are they going to wait 2 weeks and then refure the LIES from Cheney and Zell last night?

I don't see anything clearly on their website.

THEY ARE TAKING TOO LONG to refute this CRAP.

WHERE is the rapid response? I know there's plenty of time to refute this crap but George Bush isn't HERO of the STUPID for nothing.

They can't let these LIES fester for 24-48 hours like the swift boat CRAP. Otherwise, he'll spend all of September dealing with this new set of lies.

[ClassWarrior]

1. John Edwards was on the Today Show first thing this AM.

Sit down. Breathe.

[michigandem2]

hey I missed that can you kinda tell me what he had to say?

did he get bombarded by katie or matt on how good their speeches were?

[jackstraw45]

4. I'd like a point by point refutation on their website in a press release

Geez, even FRANKEN is quoting McCain saying he voted against the same systems.

I'm glad Edwards appeared on the morning shows. But where's the rapid response press releases? Were the talking points IN PLACE for the 7 AM leads so the anchors could read the Dem response?

Don't worry, I'm breathing...I just don't want Swift Boat II in September.

[mbali]

He was also on CNN

AND issued a statement last night right after the speeches.

AND will join Kerry in a midnight rally in Springfield, Ohio after Bush's speech.

Perhaps folks should pay more attention to what the Kerry folks are doing before complaining that they're not doing anything.

[MrBenchley]

2. Why bother?

Jeeze, even Morton Kondracke and Andrew Sullivan are condemning Zell....

And I think Miller threatening Chris Matthews with the Mark of Zello is attracting more attention than anything the dreary old loony had to say.

Even Jonah Goldberg is trying to make the excuse "He's not a Republican."

[wwbarnes]

30. What Do You Mean, "Why Bother?"

Of course Kerry should respond, and should do it in simple, blunt terms.

[rockymountaindem]

3. I think Zell's crazed speech speaks for itself.

It's not that we should defend it, but rather that we should heap ridicule on it.

[jackstraw45]

7. I wonder if we give "undecided" voters too much credit....

Many bought the swift-boat crap.

And just because the pundits trashed Zell, that often doesn't resonate with the "undecideds" as we've learned in debates.

I hope my concerns about the lack of a quick counter-punch are unwarranted.

[MrBenchley]

9. Here's Zell on CNN right after the klan meeting....

"GREENFIELD: Then why did you say in 2001 that he strengthened the military? You said that three years ago.

MILLER: Because that was the biographical sketch that they gave me."

http://www.prospect.org/weblog/archives/2004/09/index.html#003875

Attacking Miller on his "credibility": would be like kicking a crippled blind dog because he can't get out of the way fast enough....

[wwbarnes]

32. NOTHING "Speaks for Itself"

The general public is not a bunch of politics junkies like us. The Democrats have got to quit assuming that everyone is a political science professor who is following all of this stuff all the time. The Democrats had better lose this aura of disdain for politics that they project, as if talking about what the public cares about will soil the linen. I'm telling you, that attitude will be the death of the Kerry campaign if it continues.

[livinginphotographs]

34. I agree.

I don't have cable at home, I can't afford a subscription to the newspaper (our local rag probably isn't worth it anyway), and only have limited internet access (someone forgot to pay the phone bill, not me), so all I have access to is PBS. And I was watching Zell's speech, and even though I know that the b1 Bomber thing is a load of crap, your average person might not. It's been a real awakening to have such limited access to media lately, because of my lack of cable and internet.

You're average person is going to get their convention coverage from the nightly news. Not exactly an in-depth look at the points made, and definitely not as objective as it should be.

Kerry needs to be on more than cable channels; he needs to make sure that he shows up on the nightly news and other more mainstream outlets.

[rockymountaindem]

36. Maybe the public isn't composed of PoliSci junkies

but a scary guy is a scary guy. We all know a horror movie when we see one.

[wwbarnes]

37. We DON'T Know

The Democrats have to adjust their perspective. They have to point at Zell Miller, et al., and say to the general public: "You just saw a fucking horror show." Give three reasons why, and make sure they're the same three reasons theu used to stomp the Swiftliars. Simple messages. Over and over. Fight back. Hit back. Launch some missiles of your own. Over and over. Simple. Hard. Direct.

Save the lectures for the campus, and fire anyone caught saying that they want to talk about "the real issues."

[rockymountaindem]

39. Hey, mock and ridicule Zell all you want.

I just don't think we need to take him seriously. Making your opponent look like a fool is twice as good as making them look wrong.

[wwbarnes]

41. Making Him Look Like A Fool ...

is taking him seriously. I say take him seriously enough to destroy his sorry ass. Look, Miller committed the very worst sort of political sin you can commit. The Democrat Party should rhetorically stomp all over that guy until there's nothing left but a smudge

[umtalal]

38. Yeah, let us redicule that motherless bastard -Zell that is.

[MidwestTransplant]

5. I don't know if they did

but Bob Kerrey officially responded to the SBVT yesterday. It was very colorful!

[liberalnurse]

6. Let me clue you in.....

He and Edwards will hit hard tonight at the Springfield, Ohio Midnight Rally.....right after *bush makes his spew on terror.....


here///

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=172&topic_id=1744

[jackstraw45]

13. I appreciate that and look forward to it.

Please understand, I'm talking about the campaign STAFF putting our a FACUAL based Press release with SPECIFIC refutation of the LIES.

A point-by-point type thing that the Clinton Campaign did so well in 1992.

The press release posted below could have been written months ago it was so vague and brief.

Well, I look forward to their eventual strong response.

[liberalnurse]

16. They will launch the cannon there......

Anything they say before will be lost in translation........They will have all ears tonight....waiting for a response after *bush.....

[mbali]

20. I guess you missed it when Wolf Blitzer, Chris Matthews, Tim Russert

Andrea Mitchell, Mark Shields, Tad Devine, John McCain, Charlie Rangel, and Lord knows who else, refuted Miller's and Cheney's claims within a half hour after the speeches ended?

For someone so free with criticism of how the Kerry campaign is handling its media strategy, you seem to be quite clueless about how that strategy is actually playing out. Perhaps you should pay a little more attention.

[John_H]

22. LOL! little testy are we? Been a rough few days, eh?

[mbali]

26. Not testy at all and it's been a great few days

I was just offering a suggestion that could keep some folks from making themselves look ridiculous by bitching and moaning about what the campaign isn't doing only to be exposed as being completely ignorant about what really is happening.

[John_H]

28. Wouldn't it be more productive to just tell the poster that

augmented staff and new strategy directives from the top have already resulted in measurable improvements? Isn't this fight over? Was it ever personal?

[jackstraw45]

24. Instead of personal attacks at me, perhaps you could READ what I wrote

I go to Johnkerry.com and there is NO point by point refutation.

I hate to break it to you, but ALL the crappy corporate media cable news networks, without FAUX, get about 3 million viewers. WHEW, guess we don't have to worry about the word getting out. :eyes:

However, for the co-workers, family, friends who heard about the speech today or read the canned coverage in their local papers and went online to see if Kerry's campaign has a STRONG and VISIBLE reponse on the FACTS, there's nothing there except a BRIEF, pre-written PR from John Edwards that was probably written days ago.

But you're right, I guess we SHOULD be counting on CNN's 3 share rating to carry the day. :eyes:

But I bet you feel better getting your frustrations out.

[mbali]

27. Not a personal attack - just a suggestion

I'm not the least bit frustrated - I think the campaign is going quite well. If your co-workers, family and friends didn't see coverage of the Kerry campaign's response in their local paper or on his website (even though there's plenty of information there - start by looking under "Rapid Response" and "Press"), perhaps YOU could try a little harder to help them learn what's going on. And that starts with you first figuring out what's happening before you accuse Kerry of not

[quinnox]

8. Of course - here is Edwards statement

Statement from John Edwards on the Republican Convention
For Immediate Release

Philadelphia, PA - Senator John Edwards released the following statement tonight:

“There was a lot of hate coming from that podium tonight. What John Kerry and I offer to the American people is hope. Hope for more good paying jobs. Hope for better health care. And hope for our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“What the Bush administration just doesn’t get is that a stronger America begins at home. And John Kerry and I have the right plan to lead America in a new direction because we know that we can do better.”


It really is not hard to find on the website if you look for it.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0901d.html

[jackstraw45]

11. I'm not talking about a 4 sentence PR...I'm talking the FACTS on VOTES

They should have already posted a vote by vote explanation in a DETAILED press release.

The release above could have been written MONTHS ago.

JMO.

[mbali]

15. Why don't YOU write it and email it to the campaign.

I'm sure they need your guidance on what to say, when to say it and how to say it.

[Seabiscuit]

21. The Kerry campaign ignores e-mails

or blog posts that contain suggestions and criticisms, that's why. And if you express one ounce of frustration on that blog, you get banned. I'm speaking from personal experience, as a banned Kerry blogger.

You want to talk about rapid response or lack thereof? Kerry STILL hasn't called Bush out on all the lies the administration spewed to induce Kerry to vote for the IWR, and which led to the dismal mess going on in Iraq for over 1.5 years now.

[quinnox]

18. I know this doesn't fit the meme

that some posters love to harp on of "Kerry campaign never responds and doesn't fight back"

But they do respond on the website and in press releases, if one looks for them.

[JI7]

10. hahahah as if those on DU who complain the most will care

[liberalnurse]

14. Exactly......

:yourock:

[Catfight]

12. God, I hope not, let the meanness permeate through their ugly contorted

faces, they are only spouting a message of hate? I haven't heard a plan for America yet?

[DaveinMD]

17. Tad Devine

did an excellent job on CNN last night as well.

[Alexande4Kerry]

19. They replied immediatly

Not surprisingly it was not covered by anyone but CNN but Tad Devine slaughtered their rhetoric juxtaposing the two campaigns one of hope and one of fear. He ripped them hard and got it all right. Too bad the media won't report what he said isn't it. You would think the Democratic response would get some air time wouldnt you.

[Seabiscuit]

23. The Dems

need to put their response out on Associated Press. Once it flies through all the newspapers, the TV bobbleheads tend to feel they have to address it.

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Alexande4Kerry!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Walt Starr]

25. Why are people insisting on rolling out a marketing campaign

before Labor Day?

:shrug:

The only people paying attention right now are political junkies.

Sheesh, the campaign doesn't really begin until Tuesday and nothing will REALLY matter until October.

Relax already. We've got two months to go. Shooting our wad right now is a sure recipe for disaster!

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Meshuga]

35. Agreed! Let Bush shoot his wad prematurely...

i.e., swift boat vets.

Just because Bush is acting desperate with all these attacks and lies Kerry doesn't have to get down to his level. We have two months to go and we can use some real hardcore attack from the Kerry campaign in the last month before the election.

Kerry has Bush's record as president and a very comprehensive plan to run on for now. Bush only has distortions and lies about Kerry to run on.

People here need to relax. After the holidays Kerry will start his climb to victory and will never go down. Bush doesn't have any weapons to use against Kerry since he "shot his wad" way to soon with the SBVT.

[goclark]

40. They are just getting started

In their minds the smears and lies work.

Why would they change just because it is after Labor Day?

They have nothing to run on but Lies and Smears and in their minds they have come closer to being in the lead.

So, our Rapid Response team will need to be ready, willing and able to slap down the next round of Lies. They love a fight. We want to be Politicaly Correct and Honest.

Rapid Response Alert, where are you!

[sangh0]

31. The sky is falling!!!

Again