MyDD :: Lessons learned, perhaps painfully, from our primary?

Lessons learned, perhaps painfully, from our primary?

by ihaveseenenough, Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:32:32 PM EST

This is more of a discussion thread than a full on diary, because I want to hear from both Clinton and Obama supporters (as well as Kucinich, Biden, Dodd, Edwards, Richardson, Gravel, and anyone else's supporters- hell, our new Republican members are welcome to chime in).

But I'm curious- now that the furor from the primary is dying down, what does everything think? Did it help? Did it hurt? Did the attacks get so nasty as to hurt our chances, or were we just vetting our candidate?

I was looking through old Kos diaries today, and found something that sent me dumbstruck that I wanted to share from June 27, 2007- nearly one year ago:

People have pointed out the value in vetting our own and I don't have a problem with honst questions.

What I do have a problem with are the diaries that get posted that are nothing more than hit-pieces full of hearsay, innuendo and outright lies.

The purpose of this diary is to urge people to post information about their candidate without attacking the others.

Take a look at my diaries from last week (linked above). Not once do I mention the other candidates.

Not once.

And here's some food for thought...

Geekesque notes below that it was one of our own who hung the pair of flip-flops around Kerry's neck in the primaries. I hope people remember that lurking goopers read these diaries and if we keep this shit up, we're only giving them ammo to use against our nominee (whoever s/he may turn out to be) in the general election.

Wise words- but what surprised me is that they came from none other than Alegre, who quickly changed her tune as most know. What do you think- was she right?

Tags: primaries (all tags)

Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment

my two cents (none / 0)

We all know that alegre is a partisan Clinton supporter instead of a partisan Democrat like many of us here. So it's no surprise that when it looked like Clinton was the inevitable nominee, she wanted anything BUT a long primary.

When it became clear that Clinton was behind, alegre responded with "hit-pieces full of hearsay, innuendo and outright lies."

The ends justify the means thinking.

New Mexico politics from the local perspective.

by fbihop on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:37:53 PM EST

Personally (none / 0)

I think that in the end it's a plus, though there were some things that went a little far. I'm glad the Reverend Wright stuff was dealt with during a primary, rather than having it pop up in October. I'm glad that we got MONTHS of two great candidates on primetime TV trying to explain how THEY were the best ones to bring universal health care to this country and how the GOP wouldn't.

But I'm not glad that Clinton went on TV and essentially said McCain would be a better president than Obama, that he wasn't experienced, or going the whole "pretty speeches won't bring change" route, because that kind of stuff is going to be GOP fodder.

In the end, I think it's a plus. You?

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq.

by ihaveseenenough on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:40:06 PM EST

Our behavior (none / 0)

probably hasn't helped. But I'm not really worried about what Republicans saw on our blogs. They're already fantastic smear artists. I'm sure the GOP would have come up with the flip-flopping thing on their own.

In the end, I don't think much of the damage is irreparable. If you go back and read the furious diary I wrote in March about how I'd never vote for Obama, you can see how possible it is for someone to do a complete 180. I've dropped the negative attitude (to say the least). I also (unintentionally) dredged up a comment thread last night, and was surprised to find a certain Clinton supporter claiming he wouldn't vote for Obama to save his life. The awesome thing is, this person has since become a vocal defender of both Barack and Michelle. He has set a wonderful example and been a great sport.

Most (not all) people will come around in their own time. They'll remember what's at stake. And there are always defections, anyway -- that's not new. So have we hurt our chances? Maybe a little. I'm still confident we'll win, though.

Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.

by sricki on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:50:30 PM EST

Re: Our behavior (none / 0)

Agreed. And it should be mentioned- here on progressive blogs, we're in a bit of bubble. Everything resonates more, people are more aware and informed, and therefore it's easy to forget that most people around the US don't think/feel like we do re: politics.

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq.

by ihaveseenenough on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 03:57:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nastiness, racism and sexism (2.00 / 3)

I think the incredibly vile rhetoric coming out of "progressives" was very dissappointing. Not so much here at MYDD, but KOS is unbearable.

Goes to show--and SHOULD PROMPT SOME SOUL-SEARCHING-how so-called progressives can fall into "the politics of personal destruction," not to mention racism and sexism.

Very sad object less, to me.

by borlov on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 05:24:48 PM EST

Re: Nastiness, racism and sexism (none / 0)

What do you think is the best example of this that you saw?

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq.

by ihaveseenenough on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 05:28:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

can i get an amen! (2.00 / 1)

"Me Fail English? That's Unpossible." Ralph Wiggum

by canadian gal on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 09:43:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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