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Style Wars - How a candidate handles smears is often voters' best guide
New York Daily News ^ | August 30, 2004

Posted on 08/30/2004 1:22:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

As the Republicans gather tonight, there's a cry from some quarters: Forget about Vietnam. Get to the real issues. To which I say, get real. More often than not, presidential elections turn not on policy but on personality. That's why the Swift boat debate isn't some sideshow. For the moment, it's the main event.

Why? Because, fair or not, this hit on John Kerry's war record - and how he responds to it - tells us what stuff this Democratic challenger is made of.

It's events like the Swift boat ambush that often make or break campaigns, not debates over health care, education and budget deficits. Think back to the '88 campaign. That contest between George Bush (the father) and then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis may have been decided in a single debate moment. The question to Dukakis: If your wife "were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" "No, I don't ..." Dukakis lamely replied. (The correct answer: Yes, I would, which is why courts, not victims, impose punishments.)

For those few seconds, voters didn't want to know that Dukakis (whose lieutenant governor had at one time been John Kerry) opposed the death penalty. Voters wanted to know what kind of man - and husband - this would-be President was. The answer they got was hardly satisfying. In the crucible of a campaign, personality usually trumps policy.

On the so-called real issues, candidates tend to parse their words, dissemble, unveil plans that will never be funded, make promises they can't possibly keep. All too often, they lie. And the voters know it.

That's why labels like Democrat and Republican are useful shorthand for where the candidates stand on the issues.

After that, what really counts is how the contestants play the game of survivor. We want to gauge their grace and guile. Their street smarts and ruthlessness. Their authenticity. Their heart.

No wonder voters instinctively respond to negative campaigning. It's the political reflex test. How do these guys perform when thrown off script? (And, let's be honest, we enjoy seeing them squirm a bit. It makes them look more human, like us.)

Remember the '92 race? The wheels nearly came off Bill Clinton's choo-choo train just weeks before the New Hampshire primary when a cabaret singer named Gennifer Flowers claimed a 12-year affair with the Arkansas guv. But Clinton, the ultimate survivor, went into instant response mode, appearing on "60 Minutes" with wife Hillary to acknowledge past marital woes.

The public was appeased. Okay, the guy's a cad (like some of us), but he admitted it on TV. For lapping up that humiliation with a smile, he scored points.

As for Kerry's response to the Swift boat imbroglio? No points scored there. His reflexes proved spongy. His responses, while factual, showed no cunning.

But the game is far from over. Bush will get his test, too. And we'll be keeping score.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; 527ads; bush; campaign; election; freespeech; kerry; swiftboat
Let's see here, Kerry called out his lawyers, his attack dogs to smear veterans and called for book banning. George Bush has been taking this nonstop and he's been virtually silent.
1 posted on 08/30/2004 1:22:25 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
As the Republicans gather tonight, there's a cry from some quarters: Forget about Vietnam. Get to the real issues. To which I say, get real

There will be nothing about Kerry's Vietnam antics at this convention, this writer is a moron.

2 posted on 08/30/2004 1:25:41 AM PDT by GeronL ("This is going to be a recordbreaking year for election fraud by the Democrats.")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
As for Kerry's response to the Swift boat imbroglio? No points scored there. His reflexes proved spongy. His responses, while factual, showed no cunning.

Who is he kidding?

3 posted on 08/30/2004 1:32:22 AM PDT by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
The question to Dukakis: If your wife "were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" "No, I don't ..." Dukakis lamely replied. (The correct answer: Yes, I would, which is why courts, not victims, impose punishments.)

Bingo!

I remember watching that debate, and I cringed when he gave that answer. I oppose the death penalty on principle (I'm in a minority on this board, I realize, so let's not argue about it), and I knew Dukakis had given the wrong answer the moment he gave it -- and I also knew what the right answer would have been. This author nailed it.

I'm beginning to think Kerry may have had his "Dukakis moment" -- except it's playing out in slow motion over the course of a couple of weeks. I've been saying for months that the candidates would each have their ups and downs, and that it would be impossible to evaluate the true state of the contest until Sept. 15. I stand by that, but I'm beginning to think I know what the answer will be.

4 posted on 08/30/2004 1:34:29 AM PDT by Brandon
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To: Brandon
I'm beginning to think Kerry may have had his "Dukakis moment" -- except it's playing out in slow motion over the course of a couple of weeks.

Imagine how this man would react to life and death decisions that will be affecting all of us? Oh, I guess we have, his testimony and anti-war activites in the sixties followed by years of voting against use of force.

He avoids conflict and that is not a man who can protect and defend a nation.

5 posted on 08/30/2004 1:50:08 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; All
To read the latest on the Franchurian Candidate's bizzare exploits, click the picture, goto "last," and work backwards:

If you would like to help the Swift Boat Vets ( as I have, and I urge all to do-- even a few dollars will help ) kindly click on this logo:


If, perchance, the top "click the pic" link is not visible, click here:

-John Kerry- some selected, informative links...--


Judge for yourself- see the SwiftVet ads here:

 Swift Boat Ad #3: Kerry's Own Shipmate Calls Kerry on Lie
 The video
The first two ads:
 http://www2.swiftvets.com/index.php?topic=Ads

Take a look at these three short video clips, especially the last one. You will walk away with a heavy heart.

POW'S TELL ABOUT TORTURE

6 posted on 08/30/2004 2:45:31 AM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the TrackBall into the Sunset...)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Kerry: whining puss. W: gentleman. W will prevail just like he did when Ann Richards went on the attack and he kept to his message.


7 posted on 08/30/2004 2:47:59 AM PDT by lawgirl (is RNC bound! W here I come!)
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To: lawgirl

Just like he whined in Vietnam and after Vietnam.


8 posted on 08/30/2004 3:08:37 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: backhoe; All
Bump!

Don't miss this opportunity to BOOKMARK the great Kerry resource thread in Post #6.

9 posted on 08/30/2004 3:10:15 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Right. The idea that "Bush will get his test" is ridiculous. He's been under fire since he took office--with non-stop media smears.


10 posted on 08/30/2004 4:24:49 AM PDT by ultima ratio
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To: Brandon

I've been saying for months that as soon as they finally had to take the blanket off of Kerry and let the voters get a real look at him, he'd start dropping in the polls. He's arrogant and condescending with a gigantic sense of entitlement, plus he's the most boring windbag on Earth. That's why the Democrats had to build that false "war hero" cardboard cutout for him to hide behind. The Swiftees flushed him out into the open, people saw him react to criticism the same way he'd react to a waiter who brought the wrong vintage of wine, and they're deserting him in droves, which was as predictable as the tides.


11 posted on 08/30/2004 4:59:21 AM PDT by HHFi
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
"If your wife "were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"

If asked this question, Kerry's would answer with a question: "What did Bush say?" This is his problem. He disagrees with Bush on everything whether it is right to or not. He has no principles.

I have long contended to my liberal friends that will listen that it was Kerry's reaction to the adversity that the Swifties brought to the debate that moved people to Bush. It wasn't the information. Most reasonable people understand in politics that truth lie somewhere between opposing viewpoints.

I would even go so far as to say that this duplicitous, non-principled reaction is what John O'Neill wanted voters to see. He just egged Kerry on enough to get him to show his true self. A side of Kerry all the Swifties saw every time they faced danger.
12 posted on 08/30/2004 5:13:12 AM PDT by IamConservative (A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Something strange going on. This newspaper is traditionally far left but has suddenly discovered that the truth works too!

Perhaps being so close to Ground Zero has been a wake up call to the more honorable in the media.

13 posted on 08/30/2004 5:16:05 AM PDT by OldFriend (WAR IS THE REMEDY OUR ENEMIES HAVE CHOSEN)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
With Kerry it's more like Dukaka's months, rather than moment!

The list of gaffes and goofs is too long to print here!!!

14 posted on 08/30/2004 5:17:10 AM PDT by OldFriend (WAR IS THE REMEDY OUR ENEMIES HAVE CHOSEN)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
He avoids conflict and that is not a man who can protect and defend a nation.

Bingo.

He would empower our enemies just as he did during Vietnam. When the other side KNOWS you won't fight, they can do whatever they like. Jimmy Carter. Woodrow Wilson.

When I was in private practice as a courtroom lawyer (NOT a plaintiff's PI lawyer!), there was one particular attorney that we all knew was afraid to try a case. Just not a warrior. We would NEVER settle before trial, because we knew we could shoehorn a favorable agreement out of him on the courthouse steps.

15 posted on 08/30/2004 5:23:06 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

bttt


16 posted on 08/30/2004 6:12:44 AM PDT by Talking_Mouse (Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just... Thomas Jefferson)
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