Is it just me or does anyone else notice increased rancor toward Edwards?

[Edwards4President]

Until a couple of weeks ago, DUers seemed to show a great deal of respect for Edwards. Are these stepped up attacks on him, his record, his morals, his qualifications, his looks and even his wife related to his success in the primaries?

[Democrats unite]

1. Some of his supporters said bring it on & we did.

[Rooktoven]

64. I think it's a fallacy

to say Edwards supporters have been more hostile on the whole than any other candidate's. Every candidate has their zealots who will try to tear down perceived threats.

But sure, bring on the fire. Our guy is going to be the nominee.

[ShaneGR]

67. He became the #2 guy and is trying to challenge Kerry

So everyone decided to tear him down so they could maybe be #2. In the end, Kerry gets the nomination by default.

[Democrats unite]

75. Edwards just like Bush?

Bring it on? Oh yea Edwards did vote for that. To bad there are 500 + soldiers that won't get to vote in this election!

[quinnox]

2. Yup

I have noticed a lot of tension between Clark and Edwards people in threads. It makes sense, their horses are both competing to be the main alternative to Kerry.

[BurtWorm]

3. Speaking for myself, I've never been impressed by Edwards.

He's too much of the same old same old for my taste. But that's just me. I know a lot of other Dean supporters like him a lot more than I do.

[uconnyc]

4. There is a lot of jealousy towards JRE.

Some people can't understand why he is doing so well.

[Hoppin_Mad]

5. His staunch defense of IWR at the last debate brought much of it on -nt-

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Democrats unite]

14. Let's not forget the bitter Edwards Supporters

Cough Cough

[xultar]

16. Why here's one right here, why would Dean supporters be angry?

11. you could see this coming a mile away

Edited on Thu Feb-05-04 08:25 AM by jenk
Edwards is going to start airing ads in Wisconsin tomorrow, and he'll be in Milwaukee saturday. Plus he got a pretty big (steelworkers) union endorsement a few weeks ago.

it's over for dean

[Clark4Prez]

18. Non-bitter Clark supporter here

I would respectfully disagree, Edwards has always been a strong second for me. Well not always, he was my first, until Clark came into the race.

I like Edwards and wish him well, he is articulate, knowledgeable, passionate, and positive. What's not to like?

Trashing another candidates supporters, OTOH, won't win you many friends that you might need in a two horse race.

[spooky3]

22. Those statistics in your sig are great!

[Clark4Prez]

34. Thanks, I really liked them too n/t

[xultar]

19. And another

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 08:40 PM
Response to Original message

6. Give credit to Edwards for not begging for money


like the rest of them, he asks for donations but never resorts to silly gimmicks like the get me out of debt bat or the crazy train who seems to change tracks daily

[xultar]

23. Who could forget this one, my personal favorite

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #6

9. and who can forget this gem?


"We were really helped when President Ronald Reagan came in. ... He was truly a great American leader. And those of us in the Armed forces loved him, respected him and tremendously admired him."

-Wesley Clark, Democrat???

I think not

[xultar]

42. Questioning whether a Dem Candidate is a Dem, against the rules

[xultar]

26. Antother Gem...

jenk (1000+ posts) Wed Feb-04-04 11:21 PM
Response to Original message

4. it's amazing


Edwards rise in the polls. Recently some Clark supporters are bragging about it being 26-20 Clark in Tennessee, but they don't realize that just a few weeks ago it was 26-6 Clark!!!

They sure have alot of confidence in a guy who had to be talked out of dropping out last night.

[xultar]

27. A top 40 hit!

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 12:57 AM
Response to Reply #3

6. Since when have facts gotten in the way for Wes?


These crazy allegations are his trademark

[xultar]

28. Sweet as a rose

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 12:03 AM
Response to Reply #4

12. 1 thing he does have going for him, more Delegates than Clark


and last I heard, he didn't need to be talked out of dropping out.

[xultar]

30. A Platinum CD release

16. did you notice that


Edwards climbed up from single digits in Oklahoma to 30% with no Switzer endorsement? Do you feel confident about Clark blowing a huge lead and nearly quitting the campaign?

[xultar]

31. And they just keep a comin...

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 12:32 AM
Response to Reply #19

22. people at the clark campaign actually think?


jeez, Wes didn't get the memo. Doesn't sound like he thinks before opening his mouth. I can't wait for the next conspiracy theory!

[xultar]

32. Example of a bitter Clark supporter, Wife of a Wes Freak is really bitter

Wife_of_a_Wes_Freak (1000+ posts) Wed Feb-04-04 11:11 PM
Response to Original message

24. This is so refreshing to see!


I have to say, that while I'm a die-hard Clark supporter, and I do admire Dean for sticking it out, I'm very much in favor of an Edwards win. I cannot think of one single thing to say that is negative about Edwards. I was a bit chagrined to find a few Edwards supporters on DU joining in on the Clark-bashing. I'm really happy to see this post, and I appreciate your candidate and all his hard work.

I'd have a hard time working for a Kerry run, but I would be honored to work for Edwards.

[xultar]

33. Gold Star award here, another Fav...

jenk (1000+ posts) Wed Feb-04-04 08:30 PM
Original message
well, they're in desperation mode now


with the pay cuts and all, and the dumb attacks on Edwards in Tennessee, things look grim for Clark if he considered dropping out AFTER a razor thin victory.

who is going to be the first to blame the media on this?

[Edwards4President]

37. Thanks for reposting all of these messages

but, frankly, these don't seem to be all that bad to me. Yes, they are critical of Clark, but with a couple of exceptions, they are not particularly nasty or petty. I've seen just as many posts attacking Edwards and even going after his wife. Edwards supporters haven't cornered the market on criticizing other candidates.

[jenk]

39. I think just posting this

just shows how angry and annoyed they are. it's the media's fault, it's edwards fault, conspiracies. You're not getting any traction with this.

[xultar]

41. The one about Edwards wife was posted by a Dean supporter

why Call Clark supporters bitter? That is against the rules

The post about Clark's mental instability, rude, an attack and against the rules

[Edwards4President]

45. I never suggested that the attacks were only coming from Clark supporters

Calm down.

[xultar]

46. So, I shouldn't get angry when someone calls us BITTER?

I'm not a saint. I don't take kindly to being called BITTER

[Edwards4President]

49. You really need to calm down

You're reading all sorts of things into my posts that I never said or even implied.

[xultar]

53. Not you, I'm talking about whomever called us BITTER. n/t

[Edwards4President]

59. Based upon your responses in this thread, you DO sound pretty bitter

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xultar]

55. So calling Clark supporters BITTER isn't out of line?

I just need to know.

[jenk]

61. well

that's the impression I get.

[Clark Can WIN]

54. I don't think that the bitterness, pettiness or crassness of some

Edwards posters can be blamed on the media, Edwards or any conspiracies. I blame it on them. Thank heavens they are an almost insignificant, disputatious minority.

[jenk]

58. yes, on this message board

but nationally they outnumber the clark supporters, and that's what matters most.

[Clark Can WIN]

78. Oh really?

Top Topics in Politics & Activism
Dean in 2004 (>189,100 members)
Clark in 2004 (>66,900)
Kerry in 2004 (>38,800)
Kucinich in 2004 (>23,600)
Townhall (>22,200)
Democratic Party (>21,500)
March for Women (>9,300)
Edwards in 2004 (>8,900)

You say potato, I say potato
You say tomato, I say tomato
Let's call the whole thing off.......

[xultar]

44. I'm trying to show that no one is CLEAN and no one has the corner

on victimhood around here.

Please, just remember people feed off of the environment. If Edwards supporters quit attacking no one will hit back. IT IS SIMPLE.

[Julien Sorel]

50. Apparently we have different concepts of nasty.

I suspect if I began posting things like that, you would quickly find them objectionable. Maybe I will start -- haven't seen a candidate I wanted to bash since Dean started lying and circus clowning, but I worry that I'll get out of practice.

[xultar]

35. Clark supporters are Bitter and Whiners ahe?

jenk (1000+ posts) Thu Feb-05-04 12:55 AM
Response to Reply #14

16. there was a thread here


about staffers deferring paychecks, plus he's put the train up again. seems very dean-like.

it seems to me a lot of people in the Clark campaign are whining.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xultar]

38. Clark is mentally unstable and has an itchy trigger finger...WOW

enk (1000+ posts) Wed Feb-04-04 08:22 PM
Response to Original message

3. I have concerns about Clarks mental stability and itchy trigger finger

Edited on Wed Feb-04-04 08:23 PM by jenk
there is the integrity question, then there was the incident when he tried to bomb the Russians. He's too much of a hot head to handle the presidency.

I've seen him go nuts on reporters (asman on fox) and make some crazy allegations and predictions. This guy just doesn't have what it takes.

[MidwestMomma]

43. The response says it all

:eyes:

[xultar]

51. Clark supporters have been called, Bitter, Whiners, and Edwards

supporters have called our candiate mentally unstable, and we shouldn't get a bit angry? :shrug:

[Edwards4President]

56. You're really taking all of this quite personally, aren't you?

Even your candidate isn't getting this worked up - and he's bearing the brunt of the criticism against him.

Take a breath.

[xultar]

62. I am a Clark supporter, when someone calls Clark supporters Bitter

that includes me.

I just want you to see that there is a cause and effect. I used to really like Edwards until the last few days. The constant attacks by a few Edwards supporters have started a chain reaction of incivility here.

I don't think it is fair to say that there is a Rise in negativity against Edwards without examining the entire situation.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

7. Yes because he is doing well and is not Dean.

The media is brainwashing us.

[Edwards4President]

11. Oh. Ok.

[xultar]

12. *crickets chirping*

[GodHelpUsAll2]

65. Huh

Geez there is some heat in here tonight. All this bitterness. Clark and Edwards and Dean bashing. Flaunting of a train with a dollar amount, this is just like being back on the grammer school playround! To all who may be furious with other candidates/candidate supporters this evening. Consider the fact that your preference as nominee may very well not make it and if that happens, will you be bitter and fade away or will you remember what the end goal is and unite with who ever it is that gets the nomination no matter how bitter of a pill it may be personally to swallow so we can get back on the road to the real America?

[xultar]

8. I posted yesterday that I saw an increase of attacks by Edwards supporters

also mentioned that you'd see us defending our candiates and that it was in direct response to the attacks by some Edwards supporters.

The threads don't lie. After NH, things began to get ugly.

[Rooktoven]

63. I've noticed a lot more hostility or perceived slights

from the Clark side. I think most of Jenk's comments were responses, not first shots. I for one have nothing against Clark OR his supporters, but I think there has been a tendency to make a big deal out of a 13% to 12.5% 3-4 finish in New Hampshire and a 30% to 30% 1000 vote difference in OK, as if those were the ONLY contests.

It seems to me that some are trying to make it a Clark/Edwards thing, and I don't think that's the big picture.

[arewethereyet]

9. the last resort of unhappy campers, means nothing

they all assumed he would stay around single digits and was just running for Veep while their guys battled for the top spot.

didn't work out that way and it's rocked their belief system.

its a normal reaction.

[Jerseycoa]

10. Since you ask

It's because several Edwards supporters have become insufferable, beginning with Iowa. Before then, I can honestly say, I never had or saw a disagreement with Edwards supporters. At this point, though, it's all out of hand and everybody's in fight mode and things are turning uglier and uglier. I especially did not appreciate the revolting attack on Elizabeth Edwards, who is obviously a worthy and admirable woman.

I hope it passes soon. :)

[Julien Sorel]

13. From what I can tell, the 'rancor' started when a certain

Edwards supporter whined like a spoiled little girl that Clark should drop out to make way for Edwards. Things have been ugly since then. :shrug:

[Democrats unite]

17. Lets not also forget the Edwards supporter that said

Clark was mentally unstable.

[Leilani]

29. Let's not forget it was said repeatedly

That was when it crossed my line, because it's Rovian.

[uconnyc]

24. That supporter was wrong...

if he/she wined and felt that Clark should drop out.

I think what many Edwards supporters feel is that Clark's momentum is going down, while the Edwards is going up, so we've got the best shot to derail Kerry. We're not the only ones, Clark's own advisors have hinted to him about dropping out.

[HoosierClarkie]

40. Actually Clarks numbers have been going up in TN and

there was no advisor who said that or even hinted. You must of heard it from the MEDIA's unnamed source.

[Edwards4President]

25. it seems that much of the antagonism is directed at Edwards and his

supporters rather than the other way around. But I was not on the board for several days, so perhaps something triggered this reaction and I missed it.

It just seems like suddenly Edwards is being attacked in ways that he wasn't before and, in my opinion, he doesn't deserve. Most of these attacks seem to be based upon information that is not new and has been common knowledge for some time. The impression I get is that his success in the primaries is prompting some people to take shots at him about things that wouldn't have bothered them if he were still in double digits.

[Julien Sorel]

36. One way or another, Edwards had been my number two, and

now he ranks just above Dean because of the activities of some of his supporters. I've never said a harsh word about Edwards, and in fact, remember several times telling his discouraged supporters that he wasn't out of it and to hang in there, but this needlessly childish stuff has led me to see that Kerry isn't so bad, after all. By the way, some of that 'old stuff' was new to me, and I haven't seen any of it challenged -- it didn't help Edwards for me. I generally support southern politicians for reasons of pragmatism rather than ideology, but some of Edwards' votes and positions encroach too far on the ideological front for my tastes. Had the bashing/counterbashing not started, I probably would never have seen that old info and changed my mind.

[lastknowngood]

15. Some but not a lot

he is working under the radar mostly. I think he will be a strong canidate for V.P.

[Straight Shooter]

20. Not to worry, it's just a little parasite that jumps around on DU

Degree of infestation is measured by amount of rancor. It will pass.

:shrug:

[9119495]

21. Some of his supporters have really turned people off here. I still like

him quite a bit. I've been trying to separate the candidate from the supporters for a while.

This should work out well for me because I plan to be really happy of we win in November, but if we lose, I'll hunt down those nasty people with "I told you so"s all next year. I know it's immature, but considering the particular audience...

[DrFunkenstein]

48. From Kerry People? All The Kerry People I Know Love Edwards

Personally, Edwards has always held a slight edge over Clark as my #2 man. I'd be thrilled to have him as the nominee (although Kerry is a major preference).

If there are Kerry people going down that road, I urge them to stop. But I think we've been generally pretty civil.

[Leilani]

57. Did we answer your question?

Just control a few of your less than gracious supporters, & it will probably end.

[Edwards4President]

60. Since it's not my job to control anyone on this board, I won't take you up

on your offer.

Now, if you believe that it's within your power to control the more over-the-top supporters of your candidate, please go at it.

[HoosierClarkie]

66. Why not use your energy to work for your candidate instead of asking

pointless questions? Clark,Dean,Kerry, et al have been debated fairly and unfairly in this primary season. So, I really see nothing to your question other than a sympathy plea. Well it is just not likely. This is primary season.

edit: grammar

[Edwards4President]

68. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my pointless question

[RafterMan]

69. Wellll

I think when Edwards wasn´t polling well, he kind of just flew beneath everybodyś radar, leaving the generally favorable impression of a nice guy. When he started to pick up, people took a closer look and some didn´t like what they saw.

[Edwards4President]

70. That's interesting

I see it just the opposite way.

Edwards wasn't polling well UNTIL people started taking a closer look at him and, upon a second look, more people liked what they saw and voted for him, as evidenced in his success in the early primaries.

[Julien Sorel]

71. Gee, didn't he say

'some didn't like what they saw?' (My emphasis). You just tried to spin an honest answer to your original question.

[Edwards4President]

73. I didn't try to spin anything. It's called a DISCUSSION

I see it differently and rationally offered my perspective.

Do you really believe that presenting a different point of view is "spin?"

Jeez.

[RafterMan]

72. Sigh

But that wasn´t your question, was it?

After his good performance in Iowa, people in the rest of the country took a closer look at him. The ones who have voted for him are those who like what they learned. The ones who have made negative posts are a subset of those who did not like what they learned. The two are not opposite or contradictory in any way.

[Edwards4President]

74. Sigh indeed

I wasn't arguing with you. I simply pointed out that I saw it differently.

Every discussion here is not an argument or a debate.

[MidwestMomma]

76. No one can hate Edwards, he's too dreamy!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:
:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

Sigh, if only my candidate had those dreamy good looks, that sweet-come-hither-and-give-me-your vote look, he'd be a lock! :P

[PassingFair]

77. It's just you

n/t

[beaconess]

79. :-)

That's what I thought.

Never mind...