Democrats playing on opponents' words-tactic seems to be working

[babylonsister]

Democrats playing on opponents' words
This election season, they are turning Republicans' oddball statements — on topics such as witchcraft and the president's religion — into campaign fodder. And, at least in some races, the tactic seems to be working.

By Kathleen Hennessey, Tribune Washington Bureau

October 2, 2010|6:27 p.m.


Reporting from Washington —
In Kentucky, a candidate is accused of being soft on drug abuse. In Delaware, it appears it was evolution the candidate was soft on. In Florida, a House race is resurrecting debate over a 97-year-old amendment to the Constitution.

This in an election that was supposed to be all about the economy and jobs.

But in contests across the country, Republican candidates — particularly those aligned with the "tea party" movement — are finding themselves knocked off topic as they try to explain and revise a barrage of prior statements.

An odd assortment of issues, including witchcraft and the president's religion, have proved distracting as candidates head into the heated final stretch of the general election campaign.

But it's not merely a case of media nitpicking or YouTube moments. In some cases, the side issues have begun to affect races.

The situation is in large part a result of a Democratic strategy aimed at changing the conversation from voters' frustration with Democratic leaders in Washington to a portrayal of tea party Republicans as extremist. The tactic was one of the few available to Democrats saddled with a national political climate decidedly turned against them and a stubbornly slow economic recovery.

The diversion tactics seem to be working better in some races than others. However, rarely has a set of candidates given opponents so much to work with. :D

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-election-side-issues-20101003,0,4930166.story

[livetohike]

1. We should all judge them on the "content of their character"

The issues don't matter as much as the oddballs who are running,imo. That's what is frightening.

[elleng]

3. Judging them by oddballs' ability re: issues perfectly appropriate,

MANDATORY, in fact, and the content of their 'characters' tells us what we need to know: THEY ARE INCAPABLE.

[livetohike]

4. It is amazing, isn't it that the Democrats aren't crushing

their opponents by double digit margins everywhere. When the best hopes the GOP have for 2012 include Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty, the 2012 races are simply laughable.

[elleng]

5. Yes but there's romney, unfortunately not quite as laughable as today's clowns.

I do suspect that Dems will do some crushing this year, as we're warming up and people are paying attention, as they must.

Long night Nov. 2, eh?

[livetohike]

6. Yes, Romney is the best of the whole lot, but if people called

Al Gore "stiff", then what will be made of Romney? I think his faith is a problem, too and that he will not win the nomination because of it.

I will be working at the polls on Nov. 2 and therefore preoccupied until I get home. Maybe that will help :shrug:. It will be a long night waiting for Nevada and the west coast results.

[elleng]

8. Don't know that romney's stiff,

but do hope that the 'mormon' keeps him out, as I think he's their best bet vs. Dems in '12.

[MadHound]

2. Ooo, and it's easier than actually passing beneficial legislation into law!

It is a crime that Congress has essentially been on the campaign trail for the past few months without doing a damn thing for this country. Sorry, but we're still in an economic crisis here and need these so called leaders to do their job.

[cilla4progress]

7. Rachel called for just this on her show, the other night..

But "diversion" tactics? It's not diversion - it's focusing laserlike on exactly what these crazies are promoting in their platforms and statements!

[elleng]

9. YES!

:thumbsup: