David All at TechRepublican alerts us to a recent "threat" of sorts by Mr. Daily Kos.
The ever-so-insightful Kos recently blogged:
Every appearance by a top Republican official or candidate should be recorded. Every one of them. All it takes is one "Macaca" incident to transform a race or create one where one didn't exist.
You got that? Is Kos, the number one liberal blogger, suggesting Democrats stick to their "values" or core issues? No. Is he saying "nationalize the campaign, make it about Iraq." No. Is he suggesting that Democrat run on increasing the minimum wage, keeping abortion legal, finally getting universal healthcare? No. He's not even suggesting the recruitment of quality candidates...
Kos is suggesting--no, advocating--that campaigns be reduced to a game of "gotcha politics" where it's not about issues and people, but about scandalizing campaigns, and trying to catch the opposition in an exploitable off-the-cuff moment.
This is what we're dealing with. This is the liberal base of the Democratic Party. As conservative bloggers demand Repulicans return to conservative values and principals, liberal bloggers are pushing for a partisan version of Candid Camera. Is this something to be proud of? Do the Democrats have an issue they can actually run on?
It's no mistake that you don't hear Democrats strongly advocating for unrestricted abortion and higher taxes so we can all pay for them. Can't the Democrats for once tell us why they should be voted in and not why Republicans should be voted out? At least Republicans can run on issues. At least Republicans have an agenda and values.
I know Kos thinks he's on to something big. But his call for widespread recruitment of Macaca-Moment-Hunters shows the desperation that currently exists in the Democratic Party. Republicans need not emulate.
Dean Barnett over at Hugh Hewitt's blog says of the proposed strategy: "this is an excellent idea."
I'm sorry. I just don't agree. We should be above the sick game of gotcha politics. If there's anything we should have learned from 1994 is that Americans respond to an agenda, and Republicans shouldn't need to sink down to Kos's level. I'd much rather see Republicans win on ideas than see Democrats lose because of some video showing an unflattering moment they'd sooner forget.
When you say “If there's anything we should have learned from 1994 is that Americans respond to an agenda, and Republicans shouldn't need to sink down to Kos's level.” I have to disagree because the Republicans throw out each and every person on their side when sleaze, innuendo, slander, and other "gotcha politics" target one of their own. Take a look at Gingrich as a prime example, and many others, if you want to dig at all!
Posted by: Bill at May 24, 2007 12:09 AM
