I would appreciate clarification on a deleted thread

[primavera]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4922082&mesg_id=4923115

I'm troubled by what appears to be excessive zeal on the part of moderators deleting posts deemed critical of the administration. It is clear that personal attacks, such as calling others "Obamabots" or whatever, constitutes a violation of DU rules. But my general (and perhaps mistaken) impression is that posts containing no personal attacks, yet questioning the administration's adherence to Democratic principles in various areas, have been speedily deleted, while personal attacks on administration critics are tolerated. In the deleted thread above, I contested a poster's contention that DU rules prohibited criticism of the administration and offered a quotation by Teddy Roosevelt in which he observed that the president should be praised or criticized exactly as much as his performance warranted. My post was deleted while the original poster's equation of "far left" Democrats with right wing propagandists was left undisturbed. Looking over the posting rules, which have not been modified since November 2005, I can find little guidance on this topic. If it is DU's intention to quash criticisms of the administration, perhaps a revision to the rules articulating that policy would be appropriate. If that is not DU'S policy, then perhaps it might be appropriate to offer some guidance to moderators who appear to be a bit quick on the draw.

[Skinner]

1. No personal attacks?

"mindless, zombie apologists"

[primavera]

2. As I recall...

... my comment was that I found it hard to believe that DU rules would require DUers to be mindless, zombie apologists. Reductio ad absurdum - if a proposition results in an absurd conclusion, it is invalid. At which person is that a personal attack?

Regardless, if my post was deleted owing to a perceived personal attack, okay, I have no problem with that. But my original question remains unanswered: is there some policy that DUers are supposed to refrain from making comments critical of the administration? Again, it may be just my imagination, but it certainly seems like posts critical of Obama are deleted swiftly and frequently, while extremely personal attacks against critics made by Obama supporters remain untouched. The rules, as far as I have been able to ascertain from my searches here, shed little light on this contentious area between fellow Dems. It might be beneficial to update the Rules section to provide some guidance.

[Skinner]

3. Members are permitted to criticize the administration.

As for your post, it was removed for the mindless zombie apologists comment. You could have made your point without the namecalling.