It is easy to attack Kerry when Dean's records are safely stashed away

[Tweed]

I think it is only fair that Howard Dean should stop his constant attacks on Kerry's past when Dean continues to lock up his own. Until Dean's records are open, I think it is only fair that Dean should not attack the other candidates.
I find it especially appalling that many of the people who are continue to spread around the intern rumors about Kerry are Dean supporters for this very reason. If Dean were truly the big and bad candidate he claims to be, he would open up his records or have the decency to dull his attacks. It just takes a couple of comments for one person to write off Kerry. Some people did not look past Gore saying "I invented the Internet".

[w13rd0]

1. If the nomination is already decided...

...why are you people so damned concerned with what Dean says and does? According to the DLC and the Kerry supporters, Dean is "marginal" at best (despite his being in 2nd place and all). So why do you care? And why didn't you care when the same was being done to Dean, not by just one candidate, but by several in a coalition? Pffft...

[MR. ELECTABLE]

2. Because you can see which bills Dean supported and where he got his money.

Kerry isn't being attacked for some personal letters he received from constituents, things he sent to other members of congress or anything you equivalent to the non-issues the state of Vermont has sealed.

Kerry is being attacked because he's a special interests whore. Dean's tax records are available for all to see, and you can see just who he accepted money from. He accepted some money that he used to buy computers for the states poorest schools and start girls' hockey teams, he did not accept illegal $30,000 contributions from defense contractors like Kerry did.

Kerry is being attacked because his votes run counter to the ideals that at least 75% of democrats voting in the primary hold dear-- he voted for an illegal, pre-emptive war, he voted for tax cuts that have sent this country spiraling into debt, and he has voted for unfunded mandates which crush the backs of the middle class in the form of increased property taxes and tuition payments. You can analyze Dean's 11 years as governor to see exactly what kinds of bills he supported, and which ones he vetoed, but I guarantee you that he never expressed these sorts of ridiculous measures.

Why don't you show me exactly WHERE in Kerry's records (which are presumably open) that you can find any mention of his supposed mistress. Why don't you show me ONE SINGLE INSTANCE where Kerry's personal records have been used to attack him....

[Dookus]

3. but the issue isn't Dean's personal letters...

it's his public records. SOME of those records consist of constituent correspondence, but by no means all of it. Furthermore, such correspondence could EASILY have names and identifying information redacted.

It is a canard that Dean is only protecting the privacy of constituents, AND it is a canard that "he is letting a judge decide". That's like saying like Kobe Bryant is "letting a judge decide" his fate. Dean is being SUED for the records. He has the power to release them tomorrow, but he won't. In fact, the lawyer on the case says he will appeal if he loses, ensuring that the records will be hidden until well after the election.

I agree with the original poster that Dean is on very thin ice attacking other candidates when he's gone so far out of his way to hide his own history.

[Padraig18]

4. This is flame bait. n/t

[Dookus]

5. Why?

it raises a good point, IMO.

[Padraig18]

6. This part:

"...I find it especially appalling that many of the people who are continue to spread around the intern rumors about Kerry are Dean supporters for this very reason. If Dean were truly the big and bad candidate he claims to be,...."

If that's not an open, red-meat invitation to a flame war, I've never seen one.