Matt Dowd and the De-Propagandizing of the War?

self | 4/1/07 | LS

[LS]

It's April Fool's Day, but this ain't funny.

The New York Times is all a-twitter about President Bush's former pollster coming out against the Iraq war and saying John Kerry was right. To the drive-by media, this is just one more way to gig Bush.

And, of course, unable (for many years now) to conduct serious political analysis, they miss the whole point, which is:

how long did Dowd oppose the war and did that opposition shape the "analysis" and polling information he gave the President?

Since 2002, at least, many of us here have been arguing that the War on Terror, then later, the "war" in Iraq were not properly propagandized or "sold." Western nations, by their very nature, are not warlike. It sounds dirty to say this, but it is a fact that westerners usually need propaganda to stir them up to sufficient levels of violence to protect themselves before it is too late. Consider only Hitler's aggression in the 1930s until Britain and France could no longer look the other way, or America's toleration of Japanese barbarities until Pearl Harbor. Iraq was never, ever a "war." It was a "theater" in the war on the terrorists. But the media immediately defined it otherwise, and we have been stuck with it.

Whether Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, or the Haditha Marines, the administration has consistently been behind the curve in properly explaining these as necessary and, yes, desirable episodes in a real war where real soldiers are fighting suicidal enemies. Put more simply, the administration has failed miserably at the domestic propaganda effort.

Now we have the revelations about Mr. Dowd.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/washington/01adviser.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=washington&adxnnlx=1175431873-sJxFZSjG7niCNXqlqcxsLw)

Is this the explanation? Has Dowd been "shaping" the President's message for several years away from the words and phrases that really would translate to the public? Has he been telling President Bush that certain approaches "won't resonate?" Has he been selecting, or even altering, his own polling data so as to make certain approaches look ineffective or misguided?

Let's get this straight: George Bush is not now, nor has he ever been, guided by polls on WHAT he believes. But like any politician, he is quite flexible when it comes to the phrases he uses, and the approaches he takes to achieving his goals.

Take Abu Ghraib, for example: what if Matt Dowd had been telling President Bush early on that this was a "disaster" in the polling that he was conducting, and that the President had to condemn it and punish those responsible? What if, in fact, the American people weren't the slightest bit worked up about terrorists with panties on their heads, and in fact, favored such treatment? Or what if Dowd's analysis and numbers continued to show that the "new tone" was popular . . . when it really wasn't?

A president's pollster and his political analyst are the intelligence agents in his political army, an if one is a Quisling, it can spell disaster.

Mr. Dowd, what did you know, when did you know it, and how much did your disloyalty damage the administration---not now, but then?

[longtermmemmory]

IOW he has been out of the loop and desperate for employment.

This is why we need to purge leftists from the political culture.

[xcamel]

Kind of like Gen. Patton's dentist complaining about his war record, don't you think?

[MNJohnnie]

Former Democrat pollster Matthew Dowd. It is a crucial bit of the story being overlooked is Dowd is a Democrat who jump shipped for Bush in 2004. Looks like he is angling for a job in the next Democrat Administration

[johnny7]

It's been all over the leftist websites... only a matter of time til the DBM puts it on page one.

[LS]

The leftists will miss the point of whether Dowd's numbers were deliberately undercutting the war effort, because they are more interested in the "gotcha" element of a Bushie "jumping ship."

[veronica]

My personal belief is that as administrations wind down, certain elements within it start angling for the next job. Maybe that is Dowd's agenda here and he thinks it's in his personal interest to move left. The interview with the Times is laughable. He sounds like Murtha. I think he's an Austin Democrat who rode the Bush bus as long as it was serving his interests. He says Bush isn't inclusive enough. I suppose it's just this sort of disloyalty that could make a President close ranks.

[Hardastarboard]

Iraq was never, ever a "war." It was a "theater" in the war on the terrorists.

An excellent, subtle distinction that I had not heard until now. Kudos to you for making this point.

[LS]

If that's all it is, then it's no big deal. But if it's what I fear, this was a serious "mole" to have had working against us for some time.

[siunevada]

John Kerry was right.

I'm pretty sure he is wrong about that, Kerry was/is Left.

[neodad]

Misread the title. Jumped in looking for CZJ pics. Oh well.

[AnnGora]

I believe this guy is Mo Dowd's brother. No surprise here.

[nuconvert]

Interesting.

[clintonh8r]

This must be part of his re-education and rehabilitation. Next he'll have to spend a weekend with Sid Blumenthal and Arianna Huffington in an S/M dungeon....

[Earthdweller]

Matt Dowd Political Chameleon...his kind are an abomination and should be outlawed. :)

[Enterprise]

"That's understandable Mr. neodad, I don't like things with Dowd in them either."

[Enterprise]

Shaking my head here. Just how many people have been allowed to hang around President Bush who have deliberately and continually undercut him?

[kabar]

Prior to the 2004 presidential campaign, Dowd served as Senior Advisor to the Republican National Committee, and as Director of Polling and Media Planning for the 2000 Bush for President Campaign. During the 2000 campaign, he managed all public-opinion efforts, and spearheaded the strategic targeting and execution of the campaign's almost $150-million advertising budget.

Previously, Matthew Dowd was President and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc., an international public-affairs firm based in Austin. During his tenure there, Matthew helped former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock win election and re-election, acting as Bullock's chief campaign consultant. He was also a member of U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen's (D-Texas) senate and campaign staffs.

[kabar]

Dowd has helped to found a new group, Via Novo along with Blaine Bull, Tucker Eskew and James Taylor. Bull worked for Bentsen, Eskew appears to be a Rep, and Taylor also worked for Bentsen. It sounds like Dowd is trying to disassociate himself from the Reps to drum up future business. Interesting to note that Dowd served as the Chief Strategist for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.

[phillyfanatic]

We know guys like Dowd are just modern day David Gergens. They weak kneed always jump ship to make themselves loved by the elites. FDR had his Al Smith. Gergen had his Bush Sr. and other Pubs in his betrayal to support the Clintonistas. When a public cannot withstand 3,200 deaths in a 5 yr. war, then we know that the nation is in a sickness of surrender. Dowd is just another Dem who thinks that Gore or Kerry could have finagled this war to a conclusion whereby the Islamofascists would be free to take over the EU nations completely if they would only leave us alone. Fat chance.