Posted on 08/18/2010 6:38:02 AM PDT by Mojave
Republicans shouldn't engage in personal attacks against President Obama or other Democrats on the campaign trail, a top House Republican said Wednesday.
Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) pressed his party to attack ideas with which they disagree, but to avoid attacking opponents during an election cycle that has been noted for its heated rhetoric.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
It's not the same thing. The Rats were lying. Pence want the GOP to refrain from exposing the truth.
Sorry, Republicans won Congress in 1994 because they had ideas, not simply by making personal attacks against Democrats.
Attack the person in your OWN party.....IDIOCY!
They did both, just as SP showed in that interview, but I guess you didn't watch it..........
Bob Dole and John McCain campaigned for the presidency on no negatives.
Look at how far they got........
I don’t think he’s playing nice-guy. I think he is saying that the GOP is not going to lower themselves to the same juvenile temper tantrums the Dems have been throwing for years.
Pence is tough and the GOP knows the only reason why Americans are backing them right now is because we are desperate for adult leadership.
If the GOP takes power and refuses to go after the dems for corruption, or does their reach across the aisle crap, the parties leadership knows the base, that has so far agreed to give them one more chance, will simply take them out.
Take a honest look at our House Reps over the last two years, with very few exceptions they have held together and have listened to what Americans have said to them - stop the Dems however you can.
You really think McCain could have won if he had gotten more personal with Obama? You really think Bob Dole could have won if he had made personal attacks against Bill Clinton?
They were the two worst Republican picks in decades.
If the product is bad, there is very little the advertising can do.
Bob Dole and John McCain could not have won if they had done everything right.
What a bizarre and spin doctored description of the video.
I think McCain would have had a much better chance if he had simply gone after Obama’s policies and how disastrous they would be for the US and our economy.
He also should have used Palin as the VP is intended to be used, as the attack dog instead of hamstringing her.
Palin should have been hitting Obama and Biden up for their gaffes, their lies, and brought up how radical those two were and how radically they would change the country.
McCain should have gone after Obama’s policies, how they would have destroyed our economy, went after his for wanting to appease our enemies and the risks doing that would place us. After letting people know in no uncertain terms how horrific the Dems would be, he needed to hammer home his plans and the benefits they would bring.
Instead we got “Obama would make a fine President, you have nothing to worry about” - oh really? Who in the US isn’t worried right now? Obama?
As long as it's incumbents attacking challengers, it's okay.
Yeah, you wouldn't have wanted voters to know about Obama's sordid personal history. That might have tarnished the whole hope and change thingy.
I agree in large part.
This year we have to be careful how we present our message. There is a way to say, “I told you so!” and a way not to say it.
Many Americans are hurting. They are looking for solutions, not scapegoats.
If Republican candidates all began smart-ass personal attacks, we would see a quick drop in the polls.
Up your backside, Pence!!!!
Exactly.
We can’t go to the same level as the Dems. Leave the bashing, the name calling, the overt anger to our talking heads and to us, the public.
Our leaders must be adults. They have got to show Americans that they are the answer and by fiat, that shows Obama is the problem.
They do not have to accept corruption, unethical behavior etc - confronting that is leadership but leave the personal attacks to the children.
It didn’t seem to hurt Hussein when he called regular patriotic Americans “bitter clingers”, or told his worshippers to “get in their faces” , or calls Tea Partiers racists. They know it works, it worked for them, and that’s why they’re condescing to give us-the opposition-advice not to do it. We can still focus on the issues while not letting them play their nasty game with one set of rules for them and another set for us. Look how well taking the “high road” worked for McCain.
I will never vote for a candidate that doesn’t get nasty and mean in the campaign!
I hate nice guys!!!
Telling the truth is/was not a personal attack.
I’m 100% in favor of personal attacks!!!
And negative ads do work. People tell pollsters that they don’t like them, because that’s what they’re supposed to say. But the negative ads get their attention, when tied to actual issues which can be truthfully derided.
And look how well personal attacks worked for people like Pat Buchanan.
The only ones in Congress that can get away with it are incumbents that are VERY safe.
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