Salon/Conason: Branding Kerry with the L-word

[kskiska]

The Bush team and the pliant media are already hitting him as a Massachusetts liberal. Can Kerry counterpunch?

"Are you a liberal?… Are you a liberal?"

The toiling trolls in the Republican National Committee’s opposition research dungeon must have been thrilled to hear the New York Times' Elizabeth Bumiller bark the L-word at John Kerry.

What could be more uplifting to the spirits of nervous conservatives than a Times reporter confronting their most likely presidential opponent over his Senate voting record? Her insistent, shark-jumping debate performance went considerably further than they probably dared to imagine. Citing an article in the National Journal that rates Kerry the "most liberal senator in the Senate," as she put it, Bumiller demanded: "How can you hope to win with this kind of characterization in this climate?"

(snip)

Although the Republicans will find adequate evidence in the record to call Kerry a liberal -- including his career ratings by environmental, feminist, labor and sundry other advocacy groups -- the nasty subliminal image may not be so easy to hang on him. That is why they have been testing other approaches -- have you heard the one about the rich elitist special-interest hypocrite? -- ever since he regained front-runner status in Iowa and New Hampshire.

For the Republicans, the problem with all of the alternative labels is that they can be turned back so effectively on the president. Rich elitist? Despite Bush’s folksy style, his blatant coddling of the wealthiest bracket of taxpayers makes that a dangerous epithet. Special interest? The services rendered by the Bush administration to the energy industry and nearly every other corporate sector, while collecting millions from their lobbyists and executives, makes that cliché sound hollow, too. Projecting a candidate’s own sins onto his opponent can be a perilous strategy.

So "liberal" will undoubtedly serve as the Republican default attack. Slapping Kerry with the traditional label offers the added value of motivating the Republican base, from which party strategists hear scary grumbling about Bush spending and immigration policies. Having changed the subject in recent days by endorsing a constitutional amendment against gay marriage, the president and his supporters can be expected to emphasize Kerry’s votes on abortion, gay rights, taxes and the death penalty, the culture war issues that help Republicans fire up the GOP hardcore.

more…
http://salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/03/02/kerry/index.html

[SheilaT]

1. I just hope all Kerry supporters proudly embrace

the word Liberal.

I am not a fan of John Kerry, but to try to make him seem evil and scary because he's -- gasp! -- liberal, makes me laugh.

[phantom power]

2. If only...

I was watching "The American President" a few weeks ago, and at the climax of the movie there was this great moment when the President confronts his oponent for reelection (paraphrased):

"My oponent accuses me of being a card-carrying member of the ACLU. My question to you, Senator is: why aren't *you* a member?"

And the rest of the speech goes on in that cathartic vein. Although movies aren't generally a good model for real life, it seems to me that the time is ripe for that kind of campaign.

Any Democrat ought to be able to challenge the GOP: Why don't *you* support equal rights for gays? Why don't *you* care about the environment? Why don't *you* care about balancing the budget, and health care for all people, and good jobs?

Why aren't *you* a liberal?

[jbfam4]

3. Where have you been E J E?

Welcome.....you have lots to offer to this forum. I am tired of the GOP talking like liberal is a dirty word.

[donhakman]

4. The other L word

is Liar.

The most authentic thing about W is his being a real tall TEXAN !


born in Conneticut 5 lbs. 10oz

Now:
5 ft. 10 inches.

[phantom power]

6. could we convince Kerry?

It makes me wonder if we could convince Kerry to run such a campaign. I think he's got it in him. Watching him so far, it seems almost as if part of him wants to cut loose, but he hasn't made the leap. Maybe he's getting pressured by over-cautious campaign advisors?

I'm sure it's harder than it looks, but I'm constantly surprised at candidates' inability to craft a compelling position statement on any issue. These people all have access to speech writers. What's holding them back?

[Beetwasher]

5. Yup, EXACTLY!

Welcome friend! You definitely get it...

Be a PROUD liberal and throw it back into the bastard's faces...