Do you feel betrayed?

[grisvador]

Having given money to Dean (my wife wanted to - I said lets wait until after the convention - I lost that and many other arguments - I freely admit to being a Clark supporter). Dean has been a great champion for many issues that are now popular with all the candidates - but what does it mean that he has spent all this money, that so many, worked so hard for, to give to him?

[Mass_Liberal]

1. he is putting it to good use

he tried very hard to win Iowa and NH. He didn't. It doesn't mean he was careless with it. He just lost. But trust me, your contributions are valued. We are far from done. At least, tell your wife that :-)

[prolesunited]

2. Only one candidate is going to emerge out of the primaries

Should everyone who didn't pick the winning horse feel betrayed? If Clark doesn't get the nod, will you feel betrayed?

The candidates all need the money to get their message out. It's politics. You take a gamble.

[EstimatedProphet]

3. It means he was successful

He was effective in getting the issues out...not bad considering he turned down campaign financing!

[MAlibdem]

6. It is bad he turned down campaign financing

Bad of Kerry too.

Makes Bush's fund raising/buying votes a non-issue

[ShaneGR]

4. After I had time to think about it

My first reaction was "Those morons wasted all that money, started spending way too early, and the media advisors bilked all the supporters."

But after I thought on it, if Dean had won Iowa and New Hampshire no one would have cared and he'd be raising a million a day.

[MercutioATC]

7. Not an attack, but I'm confused...

You're anti-Dean...you're pro-Dean....


Who are you supporting in this race?

[MercutioATC]

5. Well, he hasn't..That's what we call "spin".

Dean has more cash on hand than Kerry and Edwards. Kerry placed first in the first two contests, but Edwards placed 2nd and 4th....behind Dean, actually.

Trust in your principles. Dean is still outraising the other candidates and, while this race has been costly, we're in this to win. Just a few more months.....

[Southsideirish]

8. Don't regret a single cent - all went to good use. We rode a bus to

a big dinner in Iowa so HD could have a significant presence there - no meal - other than the ride, we had to fend for ourselves.
In fact, having driven almost 200 miles to Iowa many weekends ourselves, we thought it was sort of a "tightwad" campaign. Except for the orange caps and free bottles of water ("for volunteers only.") we spent all our own money on everything. Definitely not big spenders - I don't know what the heck the media is prattling on about.

[slinkerwink]

9. Dean isn't broke---he's raised 3 million since IA and NH

and is doing much better than some of the candidates when it comes to money.

[dansolo]

10. Why do you feel betrayed?

You openly admit that Dean "has been a great champion for many issues that are now popular with all the candidates". Doesn't that make your contribution worth it? BTW, I have donated to Dean, including an additional $100 this past week, and I don't feel betrayed. What I feel betrayed by is the biased coverage. Kerry's campaign is still in debt, while Dean has several million dollars available to him (he has not spent all his money).

[DebJ]

11. take your own advice = wait until after the convention then decide!

(Go Dean!)

[salin]

12. What does it mean?

If Dean were to leave the race tomorrow, he would have already had an impact on this race that all candidates ought to recognize. He changed the tone of the campaign conversation to be head-on challenges to the administration rather than stately responses offering an alternative view (which is NEEDED, don't get me wrong, but in these times some head on fight is also needed to force the press and the public to start questioning what the heck the admin is doing.) He demonstrated the power of tapping into the people - and showed its potential - think about it - he was one of the most marginal and not talked about potential candidates a year ago - and he has gone from marginal (howard who?) to phenom (due to internet support) to front runner to 'what happened?' all in less than ten months. The end may not be what he, nor his biggest supporters desired - but the reality is on paper he should have still been "howard who?". While his detractors here are probably wont to say anything nice - other observers who are or are not fans - generally acknowledge that he changed the debate. He made it safe to attack Bush in a way that few congressional democrats (or other leaders) have dared in the post 9-11 national atmosphere. This opened the door for more voices to become more challenging. Even if he were to bow out tomorrow - he has had a huge impact and all who donated/supported have played a major role in doing so.

[DebJ]

16. great answer! Thanks

[stopbush]

13. In many years, I didn't or couldn't contribute $ to the Dem nominee.

A few times, I sent $ to the Dem nominee for pres.

This is the first time I've ever donated in the primary season, and I sent my unemployed-for-2.5 years-raided-my-savings-account-to-do-it-money to Howard Dean.

Even if Dean doesn't win the nomination, he DEFINED this campaign for each and every other Democratic candidate, and for the country.

Money well spent. An investment in my kids' futures.

No regrets.

[Straight Shooter]

14. No, I don't feel betrayed. It's an investment, not a lottery ticket.

I give money to Dean because I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. If Clark wins the nomination, I'll give money to his campaign because I also support him, although admittedly not as strongly.

If Kerry wins the nomination, I'll put my money into a savings account. I think that will give me the best return on my investment.

[codegreen]

15. not feeling betrayed, but sad

Dean screwed up. his campaign screwed up.
they made crappy ads, were overly negative (and are now again),
had a dismal PR campaign, handled press much worse than they should have,
blew way too much money on early states,
i could go on, but yeah i'm dissapointed that they blew it so thoroughly.

i wish that whole movement had coelesced around Kucinich, the true antiwar, progressive candidate. i should have given my money to him.

what a dissapointment this has been for so many of us.

[MODemocrat]

24. The only thing that made me sad was the media's treatment of Dean

He didn't spend all his fund on just Iowa and New Hampshire; because,
he had to set up headquarters and offices and pay his staff, and has been campaigning for about a year. All of that combined is what took a lot of it. It has not discouraged me enough to turn on him, and I will continue to support his campaign until he says to stop. If there's anything in this world I can't stand, it's a fair-weather friend. I was taught that you shouldn't kick someone when they're down. So the STOP DEAN MOVEMENT worked, and to think it was some of our very own top democrats. Money will get you everything, except the votes from the Dean loyals.


:dem:

[Ramsey]

17. Not at all

I have given Dean my hard earned money freely and willingly and happily, and I am not betrayed by the fact that his campaign used it develop and extraordinary new campaign approach that has been innovative, inspiring and now widely emulated. Dean's strategy may not have panned out as planned, but it has been bold and inclusive. When you gave him money, what did you expect him to do with, open a savings account? The money people donated was meant to be used for campaigning, and that's what they've done with it. Where's the betrayal?

[Skip Intro]

18. Not at all

For several reasons.

First, Dean's message is still getting out. He still commands media attention, and that in part is due to his campaigns spending.

Second, and this is a biggie, his campaign made a mistake (thanks in no small way to a savage media) and he TOOK RESPONSIBILITY for the mistake, ADMITTED the mistake, and MADE CHANGES to correct the mistake. He didn't stubbornly continue with the original plan. He didn't quit.

MY GOD, we have a Presidential candidate who can ADMIT HE MADE A MISTAKE! How f***ing cool is that! Especially when we have a frontrunner (a current frontrunner) who still can't say invading Iraq was right or wrong.

Betrayed, hell no. More of a supporter than ever.

:D

[waldenx]

19. you didn't give money to Dean

nice try.

[patricia92243]

20. It costs LOTS of money to run for President

[grisvador]

21. Thanks for all your answers

I think Dean has done some amazing things - there were mistakes and I certainly don't want to list them - and make this seem like negative Dean bashing...I will borrow from many of you when I am comforting and encouraging any candidates supporters in moments of doubt.

[lapauvre]

22. You were not betrayed by Dean!

We have two people in this group of significant others. Political fiends, both.

I, a female, am for Dean.

The male is for Clark.

Have you listened to Dean speak? Did you watch while he put the look of utter astonishment on the face of Wolf Blitzer? Did you hear, that "crazy" scream yesterday, for the first time, on an omni directional microphone? If you did, you will know that the infamous "scream," was barely audible to the crowd of screaming people. You will know that the media's replaying, and replaying of the scream on the uni-directional microphone played it all out of proportion.

Have you listened to Clark speak? Do you listen to him stumble, to try to be dignified (he has the BEST, absolutely the BEST, tv ads.)?
I want Clark (being the above described female) as VP. He does not have the people skills of Dean. And Clark doesn't not have the quick thinking ability to debate GWB. After four years of Washington training as VP, then Clark will be better able to deal with the hostility of Washington DC.

To debate GW, someone is going to have to be a heck of a lot quicker with thinking and responding than Clark has exhibited. To debate GW one is going to have to say, pleasantly, with a slight smile, that GWB is full of it. To debate GWB, one is going to have to be able to take the heat and not be shocked because someone is insubordinate to him. To debate GWB one cannot come out of years of military experience and be comfortable with wiping off the spittle of the commander in chief and spitting back. Clark, hasn't made it yet, to prime time player, although he will with four years of insider ojt.

I don't feel betrayed by Dean or Clark or any other democrat. I feel enlightened by the absolute willingness to distort reality by the opposition party. I feel outraged.

I could go on for hours about what has happened today in the State of South Carolina. You will probably learn that, at some point, with a republican spin, twist, distortion, whatever, in the future.

I like Clark, but, to my mind, he hasn't yet reached the ability to possibly debate GWB. I think either Dean, or Edwards can. I see Clark as a definite choice for VP and President in the future. I simply do not believe he has the psychological ability to confront, debate, and refute the power of the opposition. The debates are going to be crucial.

Clark is just too darned militarily stand and report at the moment. He is not politically savvy enough to come off a winner in a debate with the commander in chief.

That is my opinion, and only my opinion.

Betrayed by Dean, never. Dean has been betrayed. He has been abandoned by the shallow minded who swallowed what was presented to them on tv, by a media we know to be controlled by whom?

Clark will not betray, but he is just too darned respectful to ever win over the filth that will be dished out to him.

My thoughts at the moment.

Best wishes, whatever you do. Don't regret the money sent to Dean.
If it were not for Dean, the democrats would be still laying as dead roots in dry soil in a desert of hopelessness.

For that, I thank Dean. I hope we do not let those he has managed to raise from the dead, dying and hopeless, to retreat back into the cowardice of accepting only the dirt.

[Tim_in_HK]

23. I don't know if betrayed is the right word

Dean followed a strategy that, if it had been successful, would have put him in Kerry's place right now, IMO.

I don't think you can feel betrayed on strategy . . . unless the strategy was to fleece his supporters, which it was not.