Desperation

[lily]

When your back is up against the wall and you're feeling scared, instead of running on your own record........sling mud.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/09/AR2006090901079.html?referrer=email

In a Pivotal Year, GOP Plans to Get Personal
Millions to Go to Digging Up Dirt on Democrats

By Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, September 10, 2006; Page A01

Republicans are planning to spend the vast majority of their sizable
financial war chest over the final 60 days of the campaign attacking
Democratic House and Senate candidates over personal issues and local
controversies, GOP officials said.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched
a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking
for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than
90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials
described as negative ads.


The hope is that a vigorous effort to "define" opponents, in the parlance of
GOP operatives, can help Republicans shift the midterm debate away from Iraq
and limit losses this fall. The first round of attacks includes an ad that
labeled a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin "Dr. Millionaire" and noted that
he has sued 80 patients.

"Opposition research is power," said Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (N.Y.), the
NRCC chairman. "Opposition research is the key to defining untested
opponents."

The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has enlisted veteran party
strategist Terry Nelson to run a campaign that will coordinate with Senate
Republicans on ads that similarly will rely on the best of the worst that
researchers have dug up on Democrats. The first ad run by the new RNC effort
criticizes Ohio Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) for voting against proposals designed
to toughen border protection and deport illegal immigrants.

Because challengers tend to be little-known compared with incumbents, they
are more vulnerable to having their public image framed by the opposition
through attacks and unflattering personal revelations.

And with polls showing the Republicans' House and Senate majorities in
jeopardy, party strategists said they have concluded that their best chance
to prevent big Democratic gains is a television and direct-mail blitz over
the next eight weeks aimed at raising enough questions about Democratic
candidates that voters decide they are unacceptable choices.

[dsanthony]

Welcome to politics. Too bad the Repubs didn't do that in 1960. JFK's womanizing, security risks (dating foreign agents), drug use and pro-Hitler statements would have been exposed and the country saved a lot of grief.

[BoogyMan]

When your back is up against the wall and you're feeling scared, instead of running on your own record........sling mud.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/09/AR2006090901079.html?referrer=email

In a Pivotal Year, GOP Plans to Get Personal
Millions to Go to Digging Up Dirt on Democrats

By Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, September 10, 2006; Page A01

Republicans are planning to spend the vast majority of their sizable
financial war chest over the final 60 days of the campaign attacking
Democratic House and Senate candidates over personal issues and local
controversies, GOP officials said.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched
a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking
for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than
90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials
described as negative ads.


The hope is that a vigorous effort to "define" opponents, in the parlance of
GOP operatives, can help Republicans shift the midterm debate away from Iraq
and limit losses this fall. The first round of attacks includes an ad that
labeled a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin "Dr. Millionaire" and noted that
he has sued 80 patients.

"Opposition research is power," said Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (N.Y.), the
NRCC chairman. "Opposition research is the key to defining untested
opponents."

The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has enlisted veteran party
strategist Terry Nelson to run a campaign that will coordinate with Senate
Republicans on ads that similarly will rely on the best of the worst that
researchers have dug up on Democrats. The first ad run by the new RNC effort
criticizes Ohio Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) for voting against proposals designed
to toughen border protection and deport illegal immigrants.

Because challengers tend to be little-known compared with incumbents, they
are more vulnerable to having their public image framed by the opposition
through attacks and unflattering personal revelations.

And with polls showing the Republicans' House and Senate majorities in
jeopardy, party strategists said they have concluded that their best chance
to prevent big Democratic gains is a television and direct-mail blitz over
the next eight weeks aimed at raising enough questions about Democratic
candidates that voters decide they are unacceptable choices.



Lily, you cannot be so naive as to think this is new? Both parties have done this in every election since the system began. What is truly entertaining about this now is that the left of center folk want to pretend to be shocked that they are going to get the same treatment they give the conservatives every time an election is held.

This is not news, the news is the feigned shock and horror of the left over the reciprocation of what they have done for decades.

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But it doesn't take much digging to find dirt on the Democrats.
2. Seems the Democrats are experts at inventing dirt, case in point,(Plame/Wilson Case).
3. A sham wrapped around a farce, sealed with multiple lies.
4. This is the *Democratic Way*
5. And no we Republicans won't stoop that low.
6. Don't need to. LOL!!!!!!

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[lily]

BoogyMan

Lily, you cannot be so naive as to think this is new? Both parties have done this in every election since the system began. What is truly entertaining about this now is that the left of center folk want to pretend to be shocked that they are going to get the same treatment they give the conservatives every time an election is held.

This is not news, the news is the feigned shock and horror of the left over the reciprocation of what they have done for decades.
No I am not that naive. What I am is shocked, that the Republicans are going to spend %90 of their campaign budget on smear, instead of issues.

[BoogyMan]

BoogyMan

Lily, you cannot be so naive as to think this is new?Â*Â*Both parties have done this in every election since the system began.Â*Â*What is truly entertaining about this now is that the left of center folk want to pretend to be shocked that they are going to get the same treatment they give the conservatives every time an election is held.

This is not news, the news is the feigned shock and horror of the left over the reciprocation of what they have done for decades.
No I am not that naive. What I am is shocked, that the Republicans are going to spend %90 of their campaign budget on smear, instead of issues.


So you arent surprised that the left-wingers are doing it? LOL

Me neither!

[Rider]

Does anybody remember that smarmy little bastard Larry Flint? Do you remember how he hired a small army of detectives and vowed to ruin anyone who went against Clinton? There's nothing new about any of this. How about George Soros? Move on dot org. ?

[BoogyMan]

Does anybody remember that smarmy little bastard Larry Flint? Do you remember how he hired a small army of detectives and vowed to ruin anyone who went against Clinton? There's nothing new about any of this. How about George Soros? Move on dot org. ?


Rider you have hit the nail on the head. Speaking in terms of politics and the democrats and republicans is a bit like the old axim "In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king."

There are no innocent hands in politics, just different levels of capacity for sleaze.

[lily]

BoogyMan



So you arent surprised that the left-wingers are doing it? LOL

Me neither!

No, I'm not surprised at all.........but can you link me to an article, where it says that the Democrats are spending %90 of their campaign budget to find, and smear dirt?

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but come on!

[BoogyMan]

BoogyMan



So you arent surprised that the left-wingers are doing it?Â*Â*LOL

Me neither!

No, I'm not surprised at all.........but can you link me to an article, where it says that the Democrats are spending %90 of their campaign budget to find, and smear dirt?

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but come on!


Oh, yes you are, cmon.Â*Â*Admit it.Â*Â*By your commentary you are holding one up over the other.Â*Â*It would be my line of argumentation that 100% of democrat spending is to scam the electorate and slam the opposition with tar.

But per your example, I am not saying one is better than the other. :)

[lily]

BoogyMan


Oh, yes you are, cmon. Admit it. By your commentary you are holding one up over the other. It would be my line of argumentation that 100% of democrat spending is to scam the electorate and slam the opposition with tar.

But per your example, I am not saying one is better than the other. :)

I think I've been pretty consistant in my shock over the %.......but I'm willing to say I'm wrong, if you can show me where I said anything different.

[Rider]

Lily,
The article says that 90% of the money will go to negative ads. That doesn't mean mudslinging, it just means that the Republicans are going to concentrate on the shortcomings (real or imagined) of their opponents rather than the positives of theirs. Elections after election it is proven that negative ads work better. Also, negative does not mean false.
Besides, how much money could you spend on six people digging for dirt?

[lily]

Wow Rider, I have to admit, I've never heard it put that way before!

[Rider]

Goes to show ya, even a blind hog will root up an acorn now and then.

[lily]

You know what, Rider.......I can count on you at least once a day to make me laugh! :D


Thanks, I needed that!