Oops! The secret's out on plan to slam Bush, GOP

U.S. News: Washington Whispers ^ | 4/29/02 | By Paul Bedard

[FFIGHTER]

Oops! The secret's out on plan to slam Bush, GOP

Top Democrats, liberal interest groups, and two CNN cohosts are quietly promoting a new network to thwart President Bush's agenda with orchestrated protests, critical stories planted in friendly media, and rapid-reaction teams. The job of the "Progressive Donor Network" is to fight the "right-wing infrastructure." The lefties held an inaugural meeting this month, featuring talks by House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, CNN Crossfire hosts and party operatives James Carville and Paul Begala, and former top Clinton-Gore aides. The war plan included a detailed call to develop strategies to fight Bush and win local elections. One technique displayed in splendor: how an associated group, American Family Voices, has ginned up Enron protests to disrupt White House events. It's the brainchild of Michael Lux, a former Clinton aide and progressive PR strategist. His goal: get Democrats to react "with more quickness and agility" to the GOP. Lux hoped to keep his handiwork secret, but "I always assume if I hand out anything to any group that it will be in a reporter's hands within . . . days."

[X-USAF]

Crossfire is a situation you want the enemy to be in and not yourself; someone is shooting at their own men. I wonder if the producers thought about this when they gave this horrible program it's name.

[Wurlitzer]

I love the "Progressive" term. They just don't have the balls to say they are communists.

[ken5050]

Wait till the first rating for the new crossfire come out. The show is unwatchable...I saw it thew first night for 10 minutes..haven't been back since....it's a platform for Begala and Carville, nothing more..Bob Novak should walk....preserve his dignity..

[AmericaUnited]

Poor Novak! He must have to take a shower after each taping.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Grassroots fighters are available for the GOP'ers for the same effort - but we need leaders! Where are you, GOP????

[aardvark1]

The best thing the libs can do for conservatives is to put Carville on the tube. His vitriolic temperment combined with is appearance is enough to scare anyone out of his camp.

[jmaroneps37]

Using a mic hidden in the furthest stall on the left at evil donkey HQ this conversation was secretly recorded. I can't name the speakers but maybe you can guess who they are. "Hey Paul this will be great!" "Yeah, you bet James!" "Just think, all this time all we had to do is put a Progressive on the air and bye bye Rush! Oh! think of all the time we've wasted. Who should we get?" "Hmmm how about Mario?' 'No that's been tried.' 'How about Bubba?'' No our personal liability insurance would be too high if we did that. Well not to worry, all we have to do is put the show on and BAM we're back in fat city. Yeah it'll be great!!'

[crazyj]

I feel bad for novak as well. Eevryone whose interest is not being told on show should walk. Leave them to argue amongst themselves. This article is precisely the reason why I stick to my fair and balanced news station. It may not have what everyone wants all the time but it does so most of the time.

[chillinvillain]

I agree this is the typical agenda that you will find in other news channels. Although claiming that people got together in a plot to slam bush is a little far fetched. If true however then I would not be surprised if gop decided to make a policy for all gop to stop going on left wing programs such as crossfire.

[PRND21]

His goal: get Democrats to react "with more quickness and agility" to the GOP.

Impossible. Back-slapping and ecstasy munching take time.

[GlesenerL]

How "official" is the word that the GOP will boycott Crossfire?

[MattMa]

Bump

[reformed_democrat]

Lux hoped to keep his handiwork secret, but "I always assume if I hand out anything to any group that it will be in a reporter's hands within . . . days."

Let's see . . . FReepers have been publicly protesting against all things Clintonian for over 5 years, but I can't remember one of them being singled out by name in the esteemed NewsWeak.

Kristinn has successfully organized any number of DC protests, as have Angelwood, Dr. Raoul (NY), and a score of others whose names escape me at the moment. I only know their screen names, but I have been following their adventures for years.

These stories have been given to reporters time and time again. FReepers have been interviewed by TV, radio, and print journalists, but their quotes barely make a blip on the radar.

Frankly, I find the FReeper stories much more entertaining and informative than anything I've read from the opposition. I suppose it's true -- a genius is never appreciated during his lifetime.

[CyberAnt]

My problem with this program is CFR - what if the Supremes don't deep six it?? This kind of program could run during election times as a "news" program and stick it to the GOP. And ... the GOP would not be allowed to run ads within 60 days of election to counteract their stupidness.

This is the kind of stuff Rush talked about a lot. This is a dynamite program idea - I wonder if they will be able to pull it off.