Top Dem Rips Kerry Campaign (too many chefs fighting over $$$)

[private_ryan]

Clinton vs the Shrum people. Which ones have produced results? John Kerry should fire or sideline the rest of them. We only have six weeks to go and we're losing if changes aren't made.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/14/politics/main643438.shtml
“There is nobody in charge and you have these two teams that are generally not talking to each other,” says Coehlo, who ran Al Gore's campaign early in the 2000 presidential race. As Coelho and other detractors see it, there is a civil war within the Kerry campaign.

Sen. Ted Kennedy’s former staff members, Mary Beth Cahill, the Kerry campaign manager, and veteran Democratic strategist Bob Shrum are at odds with recent additions who served under President Clinton.

“Here are two groups that have never gotten along and have fought, and it is a lot over money,” says Coehlo. "Because in the Democratic Party the consultants get paid for the creation and the placement of . Republicans only pay you for the creation.”

Coelho, a former congressman who served as House majority whip for the Democrats from 1987 to 1989, does not question any of the Kerry staff's sincerity in wanting to unseat President Bush. But his comments highlight a longstanding battle within the Democratic Party for national campaign control.

“In 1988, Dukakis: Shrum is involved. In 1992, Clinton: nothing to do with Shrum. They don’t want Shrum in any way,” Coelho says. “In 1996, they do not want Shrum in any way. In 2000, Gore doesn’t want Clinton people. We go forward, 2004, all of a sudden it’s the Shrum/Kennedy people.”

And Coelho adds that the Kerry campaign staffers “are in serious trouble now, so they want to bring in the Clinton people.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/14/politics/main643438.shtml

[David Dunham]

1. Coehlo is a f-cking a--hole. He was Gore's failed campaign head.

[private_ryan]

2. better track record than Shrum. Gore at least got more votes

why keep someone who manages to lose 7 out of his 7 national campaigns?

[David Dunham]

10. Gore fired Coehlo as his campaign manager in spring 2000

[ibegurpard]

3. Thanks, dickhead!

air the dirty laundry in public. hope he never gets another job.

[xray s]

4. Is it just me, or...

...does it seem like some Democrats are trying to sabotage Kerry's campaign by going public with all this bullshit?

I see a Kerry campaign that is gelling around a message and catching its second wind, building up to the debates.

But some keep pushing the notion in public that he can't run his campaign, it's in shambles etc.

Motive?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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

[lancdem]

7. You have a point

Coehlo is entitled to his opinion, but he shouldn't blab it all over creation. First he goes after Shrum, which I agree with, but then he says adding the Clinton people means chaos. Would he prefer they not come on board? I'm not sure he knows what the hell is going on. The article also mentions "other detractors" but only Coehlo is quoted.

McCurry's comments in the article I like.

[private_ryan]

9. chaos

because he has both sides (Clinton & Shrum people) talking to and advising him. That's chaos. Fire one side, especially if they don't get along.

[lancdem]

15. But who brought these new people on?

It had to be Kerry because he was upset with his old crew. I'm not sure he should fire them because that will just be more bad press. Quietly demote them. That has likely already happened. Shrum used to accompany Kerry on the trail. Now Sasso does (as will McCurry).

[KoKo]

12. I agree. Why air their dirty laundry in the media. The cables keep

saying a "democratic spokes person says this and that about shake ups in Kerry campaign...blah..blah..blah. It's been going on for over a month and it doesn't look good.

Why can't they shut their mouths lie Bush's folks do. I have no doubt that there are some moles in there though. Someone waiting to do a Stephanopolis...:-(

[Pirate Smile]

5. SHUT UP! This election isn't about Shrum of Coelho so for the sake of

the country shut the fu@# up! Stop talking to the press.

[ItsMyParty]

8. I was afraid this shit was going to start and every time it does

we lose. It's all about the pretty boys wanting to be 'the man' and not serving the candidate. Kerry better goddamn stand up before them and take charge NOW....I've heard before that he basically runs the operations in his campaigns. He needs to lay down the law and boot anyone with loose lips.

[lancdem]

13. But Coehlo's not with the campaign

I don't think Kerry can keep him under control.

[AlCzervik]

11. How nice of Coelho to go to the press and air it out

asswipe! Is he pissed that he not on the campaign?

[lancdem]

14. Probably

This outburst certainly is no help to Kerry.

[AlCzervik]

16. This is where the GOP is far more disciplined than the democrats

of course GOP campaign folk probably get hauled off to gitmo if they dare speak.

[Donna Zen]

18. A pisser for sure:

I've wondered about the "dirty laundry" myself; it's not just Coelho. It would seem that he should be able to voice his opinion to the "inside." Maybe the problem is he can't nor can the other voices.

[AlCzervik]

19. I'm sure there must be some hotline for him to call

"once prominent politicos that have fallen off the radar" or something like that. Bitch away Tony but please, for God's sake tell your shrink or take out a full page ad after Kerry wins.

[Bread and Circus]

17. I was just reading that article thinking I would post it here...

The Kerry campaign has several problems.

1.) All the shit in the article.
2.) No central emotional message.
3.) No chorus of Dem Talking Heads conveying the message, backing the man.

I still think Kerry is a favorite to win, just on the grounds that Bush is so bad, I can't imagine Americans electing him twice. Hell, they didn't even elect him once! However, if Kerry doesn't win, there needs to be a big house cleaning in order.

[Julien Sorel]

22. Number 3 trumps all others.

Having passionate, articulate, thoughtful spokespeople on TV softens the ground for your candidates' ideas. The reason you don't think Kerry has a central message is because the Dem talking heads suck shit through straws. They consistently go out underprepared, have no idea hyow to keep pounding a message out, and as a result, get rolled over again and again, which reflects poorly on everyone. They seem to be more interested in gettintg their faces on TV than they do in advancing any candidate, cause or principle.

Whatever happens in this election, the Democratic party has got to find a way to get these worthless hacks to give a shit about something besides themselves. If someone goes out and consistently embarrasses themselves, the DNC should start challenging their fitness with the shows: "So and so representes him/her self as a Democrat, but the truth is they haven't been involved with Dem business since (insert time period). They do not represent the thinking of the Democratic Party." Humiliate them. Harrass the talking head shows to get better spokespeople on.

[John_H]

37. Truer words have never been spoken.

The Dem surrogate operation is shit from top to bottom. In fairness, I bet a lot of the problem is caused by shows booking their own guests, blowing off the campaign and DNC bookers. But I'd also bet that there is no cost for going on a show without the campaign's approval and spouting your own gee-am-I-smart message.

If a Rethug gets a call from a show's producer you bet your ass they're on the phone making sure they know what the message is, that the message is given to them clearly, and that they know if the deviate from it there will be hell to pay.

A The lame excuse from the Dem "insiders" around here is that somehow a lack of bureaucracy and money is to blame--but any intern in a state senate race can tell you it's lack of organization, clarity, and authority pure and simple. They are dropping the ball.

[Teaser]

20. Shut yer hole Coelho.

Message discipline Coelho. You know what that means? It means that hole in the middle of your face, where all the sound comes out...

yeah, that hole.

Well, close it.

[Bush was AWOL]

21. I'm very close to starting to believe the Limbaughs of the world

about the Clinton's not wanting Kerry to win. I've never seen anything like this before. These guys need to realize whose team they're on.

[private_ryan]

23. or Kerry not wanting to win

look at what a chickenhawk and liar has done to his reputation as Kerry plays nice.

[Bush was AWOL]

27. Bush's people are always on message

This election is far to critical and far to late in the game for people who are supposedly on his team to start openly criticizing the way his campaign is being run on practically a weekly basis. Especially

[shivaji]

32. You may be right.....unfortunately....cuz

a Kerry win in 2004 means Hillary can not run for 12 to 16 years.
The Clintons love neing in the center of power...the white house.

[Bush was AWOL]

33. If I find that out to be true

and that they are actively trying to keep Bush in the white house, I'll do everything I can to see that Hillary is defeated. It is one thing to want someone to lose, but to actively destroy their campaign, allowing Bush to stay in the WH, is another in my book.

[seabeyond]

24. of course some dem has to rip up fellow dems

we just wouldnt have it any other way. so this will be the medias line for the next two weeks. this story. all we will hear.

[bigtree]

25. Nothin' to do with nothin'

More noise from folks who wish they were in the campaign's inner circle.

It's a shame that Coelho doesn't have the same diagnosis of Bush's campaign which has also recently shed advisors and taken on old republican hacks (Noonan).

And has blown a 11 point :eyes: lead.

[robbedvoter]

26. Cohelo was badmothing Gore days after the election

Always on the Spin Room....

[ibegurpard]

29. What I find appalling

is that anyone would still be willing to hire this man for a campaign. He would be persona non grata if I had any say in the matter.

[Guaranteed]

28. Forget ALL of them!!! NONE of them know what they're doing.

Tell ya what, Dems: put Howard Dean in a room and grill him for a week or so, and maybe you'll figure out exactly what it is that needs to be changed in the party.

[Just Me]

30. Blah, blah, blah, ahem, bullshit, blah, blah, blah,...

,...all we really need is more divisive contributions to a nation and world that has been torn apart by a greedy, gutless despotic American regime.

If you have no unifying vision to offer,...get off the damned boat.

I am sick of loser-advocates and support only those who are flexible progressive advocates for humanity.

[knight_of_the_star]

31. WHY did he hire them?

Why didn't Kerry go after James Carville? The man only won TWO persidential elections, one right on the heels of the supposed glory days of Reagen/Bush I and another in spite of the shit that was flying against Clinton.

I don't like that Cohellhole is doing this, but Kerry needs some people on his staff who have no problem with rolling up their sleeves or putting a rock in their fist just before they punch. Mary Beth Cahill is just not properly suited for the kind of politics that are going on right now, she isn't rough enough.

[WiseMen]

34. Coelho is just giving a little exposure to a MAJOR DISASTER. Campaign

was floating from primaries to general without bringing in any
real strategic brain prepared to go against Bush/Rove.

Cahill was a coordinator and Kerry basically ran his own campaign
during the primaries as he did during his senate races.

It may be too late to change that MO now -- Kerry listens to various
advisors and tries to make a decision or go with majority opinion.

[brentspeak]

38. So much for the "everything is peachy" crowd

Coehlo isn't doing any good by airing this in public, but it confirms what most of us have already suspected -- that the Kerry campaign is is in haphazard condition. The "everything is peachy" crowd has been trolling these boards trying to make people fall in line behind Cahill/Shrum, when it's been evident for months that they were the worst people imaginable for this most important of presidential campaigns.

Stick with the Carville folks, the people who know how to win. And get rid of the deadwood. Now.

[Leilani]

35. This story is just filling in more details

of stories we have already read.

I am really appalled that we have 7 weeks till election, & things are still in chaos.

Shrum seems to be the source of all the problems. I have read he is in charge of ads. Well, the ads are terrible. And by making money on placement of ads, he is getting rich on another campaign, & he still does not have 1 winner.

It is ironic, that we keep saying this looks like Gore again, or Kerry is getting gored. Well, guess who is responsible...it does not take a rocket scientist.

And as far as blaming Clinton, it seems Kerry is reaching out to them, not the other way around. Kerry is smart enough to realize things are not going well.

Hopefully, the new additions will improve things.

[John_H]

36. I hate to say I told you so, but as I posted a couple of days ago

The Judo Chess people are clinging to thier power and money like freepers holding on to their AK-47's. They need to read the writing on the wall or go away. They lost this inside baseball game, as well they should have given their record in 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Kerry brought in the people who know how to beat Republicans (and have actually beaten republicans) but this will all be for naught if there is a bunch of people fighting over money and power.

Sure Coelho is settling some scored form 2000. But take it from a fellow loyal DUer: Factually, what he's saying is absolutely true. Not debatable. It's what's going on.

It's be a shame if these people force Kerry to make a call, bust some heads, and/or get out the pink slips. Right now this is all inside baseball and not a single voter gives a shit about it. But if Kerry has to get rid of people ,the media whores would have a field day and it would play right into their "it's all over for kerry meme."

[ayane-chan]

39. Going outside Kerry loyalists: danger

I was very worried when I saw this latest development. I couldn't help but think it was a knee-jerk reaction to the *minor* RNC bounce that * got.

But putting people into the upper echelons of your organization, who are not devout loyalists is VERY dangerous, IMHO. James Carville and Clinton people do not necessarily have the same amount riding on a Kerry victory. They have backup plans, and can basically escape any blame of failure because "hey, they called us in at the 11th hour".

Forget the money. The fact that these groups don't talk speaks volumes. I say, get rid of the Clintons, its too late, and they can only serve to drain resources away from the other members of the organization who desperately need them.