ACTION ALERT---- Negative or critical comments about Dean.

[xultar]

If you hear anything negative about Dean...you are to do a Media Blast to the media outlet even if the outlet is a 'Liberal' media outlet and let them know that it isn't appropriate to be negative of Dean.

Please post on their blogs, send emails and let them know that they shouldn't say anything negative about Dean or criticize him in any way. We've laid down enough, now we must fight any and everyone who says anything negative or critical of Dean.

So, if you're listening to AAR and they say something you don't like, negative, or critical of Dean BLAST them for it. Make sure they know that they shouldn't say anything negative or critical of Dean.

OK

Now keep this kicked.
X

[AuntiBush]

1. KICK

You got it!

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Action alert!! progressives hunting "liberals" is eroding the party. e.o.

it's about democrats, nothing against Deanocrats.

[KittyWampus]

3. Most Importantly, Be Sure To NOT KNOW WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID

it's best if you just take your cues from an internet discussion forum and not have any idea what was said or the context whatever statement someone says was critical of Dean was made in.

[xultar]

4. .

:P

[crispini]

12. what? you're kidding, right?

or are you just being sarcastic?

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Are you making any distinction

between attacks on Dean, and simple criticism? I have always believed that no politician is perfect, and above legitimate criticism when he or she does something that some may disagree with. This is how a self correcting mechanism works.

I fully intend to evaluate Dean, just like any other Democratic politician, on his actual performance. He's in a tough job right now, and the very worst thing for him at this point is to be surrounded by a bubble of sycophants who won't tell him when they think he is making a mistake. This is the situation that Bush is in, and it would be a disaster for the Democrats to emulate it.

I think that, at the very least, we should distinguish between people who are making legitimate, constructive criticisms, or simply expressting opinions, and those who are simply making unwarranted attacks and repeating RW talking points. I think this is a distinction that can be made.

To reiterate. No one in our party is perfect. No one is above criticism. Constructive criticism is a necessary and important part of the democratic process, and helps to ensure that our representatives (and that includes Dean) remain accountable and stay on the right path.

I would hate to see a situation develop where any criticism of Dean by progressives was met with an avalanche of attacks in a similar manner to what the freepers do.

I supported Dean for this position, but I do not expect to always agree with him, or to keep my mouth shut when I do have a disagreement.

I hope that this post of yours is meant to be tongue in cheek.

[xultar]

6. Now why would I do that? n/t

:P

[bryant69]

7. I agree

ANd like you, I hope this is meant to be humorous.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Criticize when appropriate, Criticize the criticizer when appropriate

It may not be a free country, but we can act like it's one anyway. Dean is a Right Wing target now, he is DNC Chair. Dems should be careful to not echo and reinforce right wing memes used against him, but I always support the right to dissent.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Start with C-SPAN

My home was just invaded by Ann Coulter when I turned on the TV. (Thankfully, it was the end of the segment.) Nothing Coulter says is appropriate.

I need to write them and ask when they're going to have Michael Moore or Mike Malloy. At least they're honest. :)

[xultar]

9. Now that is some helpful action. Pushing for the Fairness Doctrine.

I'll send a note to C-Span also.

[madfloridian]

11. If I hear someone misinformed and critical, I will do that.

Just like I have always. But I take up for anyone who is not fairly represented, not just Dean.

In fact I did this yesterday, showing that some are not as informed on our side as they should be. If a person is on air, they need to research.

I think we should all do that, stand up for our own.. Thanks for the post, and a big :kick:

[xultar]

13. Ditto!

:pals:

[xultar]

14. Hey Guys! Where are ya? This is an Action Alert! n/t

:kick:

[Crunchy Frog]

15. I think we should commit to defending any

Democrat or progressive, as well as the party as a whole, when we think they are doing the right thing and are being attacked unfairly in the media. This includes, but is not limited to the DNC Chair.

I also think we should feel free to criticize Democrats when we feel that they are making mistakes, or acting contrary to the interests of the party or of progressive values. Constructive criticism is essential to maintaining accountability in any system. No one should be considered above it, otherwise, we become just like the Republicans.

I do think it's a good idea to have a system of action alerts that let people know when Dems and progressives are being unfairly attacked in the media, so people can address these instances with email and letter writing campaigns.

Let's just not lose the distinction between legitimate criticism and disagreement, and unfair attacks. We don't need a second party of enforced conformity.

[tishaLA]

16. This is important!

It's sad when people on our side decide to eat our own! They may act like professionals sometimes, but they do terribly unprofessional things by characterizing things inaccurately!


P.S. I don't have any proof that anything I am saying is true about them, but I have a sense for these things. I can just tell.

[Adelante]

17. Hold up, xultar

Let's not go too far the other way.

Part of your frustration, I think, lies in DUers viewing attacks on Dean as attacks on Dean.

This may sound nonsensical at first, but listen.

The story prompting the reaction to the AAR hosts in another DU thread, which is now prompting you to start this tongue in cheek thread, is a much more important story than the radio people are treating it. This is really true. And a much more important story than DUers are treating it.

The problem is precisely that this is being viewed as a "Dean Story" and not a "Democratic Party Story." It's viewed this way apparently on the AAR program in question (which I didn't hear) and by DUers, both those who are outraged for Dean's sake and those who are concerned that it will no longer be possible to discuss Dean in any way here on DU, or in progressive media, unless there is absolutely no criticism.

But none of us is keeping our eye on the ball.

The New York State GOP is out to slaughter Hillary Clinton; their Chair Stephen Minarik has made this abundently clear. They are out to do what they can to destroy the New York State Democrats, and Hillary is their number one target. This is the context. Barbara Boxer is dragged in. Howard Dean is dragged in. Wesley Clark is dragged in. But they are secondary to the main chance, Hillary Clinton, and through her, the New York State Democratic Party.

The progressive media SHOULD be telling this story in a way that shows what's really going on. From what I understand, they did not on this particular show.

We at DU SHOULD be looking at this story this way, but we are not, because half of us is treating it as something Howard Dean owns personally, not necessarily as Chairman of the DNC. The other half of us is reacting to that.

Howard Dean is not the story. The Democrats under concerted attack in New York State is the story. I want Howard Dean fighting this, but it's the party he chairs in the GOP crosshairs and we and the liberal media should be more worried about that than we are about Howard Dean.

[Crunchy Frog]

18. I think this would be a good thing to email

that particular AAR program about. Does anyone happen to have a link to the program since I didn't get a chance to listen to it? I would at least like to know what they actually said before responding, but I think it's a very important issue that we should be encouraging the progressive media to properly address.

[madfloridian]

19. Thank you, there are also some Kos diaries going on this subject.

I just posted an article in the other thread about Minarik's possible motives.

Also the story is that the media that is supposed to be on our side did not assess the story properly.

This is a serious issue, and they simply were uninformed.

I know what this thread is about, but it will not deter me. I appreciate your effort.

[Adelante]

23. That's what I think, too

"This is a serious issue, and they simply were uninformed."

So our job is to keep them informed, I guess, and try to keep ourselves from going off on each other.

[TWiley]

20. About time! The repukes have always done this for bush

[ohkay]

21. Listen to yourself!

"... it isn't appropriate to be negative of Dean."

How is that different from Bush saying you're unpatriotic for not supporting him!

Dean needs his feet held to the fire just like any pol does. If I hear UNFAIR criticism of him, sure.

[Adelante]

22. That's xultar

She's something like a conscience speaking :nuke: when she stirs up shit. She is often misunderstood, but her heart is good. Anyway, she agrees with you.

[xultar]

25. Thank you for your kind words! You have me down to a T. n/t

:pals:

[xultar]

24. We've had some crazy posts here where Dean is concerned. They

heard some 'criticism' of Dean on AAR and went :crazy:. I just want them to see how silly they sound. So I posted what they wanted so they could read it objectively so they could see how silly they sound.

[Capn Sunshine]

26. Add General Clark to this Action alert!

It's unbelievable the way they treat him!
Thank God there are those of us who have access to the truth!
Don't let them defeat our candidate before he even boards the train!
Or does anything

[xultar]

27. I agree!! IF they say anything nasty about WES we need to Blast'em!

Thanks for reminding me.