The New Anti-Dean Ad: I Now Think GEPHARDT Is Responsible

[DoveTurnedHawk]

My kneejerk reaction was that the DLC was responsible for this despicable ad comparing -- however subtly or indirectly -- Howard Dean and OBL. Upon closer analysis, however, I now think it's Gephardt.

Two of the three lead guys on the anonymous "Democratic" group are associated with the Gephardt campaign. The third is Robert Gibbs, former Kerry staffer. So maybe it's Kerry too, right?

Here's the thing, though. Gibbs left Kerry's campaign for what appears, on its surface, to be a legitimate reason: to protest the surprise firing of Kerry's former campaign manager. And this protest was logged almost immediately, it's not like there was a lot of time to plot and plan a scheme like this.

So now Gibbs needs a job, just like so many of the rest of Americans. My theory is that Gephardt's guys glommed onto him to try to throw people off the track. It's kind of amateurish, but it's better than nothing.

Additionally, Gephardt is in a death match with Dean in the first major contest of the election. Gephardt's backers have admitted that if Gephardt can't win Iowa, he's probably out. Iowa's caucuses happen prior to February 1, the date when we find out who this anonymous "Democratic" group's backers are.

Gephardt has absolutely nothing to lose by this gambit. Again, if he can't take Dean down in Iowa, he's toast anyway.

That's the latest from my crystal ball. ;-)

DTH

ON EDIT: Oh, and another thing. Gephardt has wanted the Presidency for *16* years, if not longer. That's a long, long time to harbor ambition and see it all going up in smoke.

ON EDIT 2: And of course, we have to consider where these ads are airing: Iowa.

[slinkerwink]

you're right but the kerry link is still suspicious

and Gephardt does have a past history of smearing Democrats like the late Paul Simon by comparing him to Ronald Reagan.

[frustrated_lefty]

5. Slink,

Kerry is an upright guy, any attempt to portray him as otherwise is ill-founded.

[helleborient]

35. It would be easy for Kerry to disavow connection...

Until he has, why should there not be suspicion?

If there were a similarly hate-filled attack ad against Kerry with those having past Dean connections working in the organization, I think Kerry supporters would have the same suspicions.

[Zomby Woof]

6. one of the many reasons

I never trusted Gephardt. Ever. Him and Lieberman, bah! :thumbsdown:

[drfemoe]

26. It's both of them

sheesh .. they were the first ones to gang up on Dean.
Then they got Edwards in on it.

This is how washington stinky politics has 'worked' for too DAMN LONG.

They don't have the guts to keep attacking Dean on their own, so a few staffers go off and start a new organization. Wow, how did the dems ever survive without this one?

Well they didn't do a great job with the campaigns they were staffing, so we can only hope their job experience is as successful as hushmeisters.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. The ad just shows you that there isn't much difference..

..between Dems and Repubs when it comes to horrendous smear/propaganda techniques. Rovianism will be the way to go for politics in the 21st century, it appears.

[frustrated_lefty]

2. That reflects my own thoughts

Kerry wouldn't do it. Gephardt....maybe. We'll have to wait to see.

[virtualobserver]

3. I think that your theory is sound.

Maybe the Kerry guy just wanted to prove that Going nuclear on Dean would work, and had been frustrated that Kerry had not been willing to do that.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. Another Reasonable Possibility

Never underestimate what some people will do to vindicate themselves.

God, what I wouldn't give to interview Gibbs right now. With a bottle of truth serum handy. ;-)

DTH

[eileen_d]

4. Well, darn your crystal ball anyway!

;) I know you've been right on other predictions, but I hope you're not right on this one.

[Myra]

7. Oh man. I am scared of even going near this scorching subject.

I'm just tiptoeing around so that if someone finds out whodunnit, I'll know.

Phew.

[Fleshdancer]

9. We need some Missouri DUers with good memories

I'm interested in knowing if Gep has ever gotten really nasty in his ads for his Congressional campaigns...and his previous Presidential campaigns now that I think about it.

Does anyone remember?? I can barely remember last week so I'm useless for this excercise.

on edit: as long as we don't take our theories for facts, this Sherlock stuff is pretty fun. It will be interesting how this thing plays out.

[SadEagle]

15. Well, there is this story:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20031203-1234-gephardt-labor.html

And someone earlier posted some background on this particular aide that made her look quite like an adherent of the Karl Rove school of campaigning. Can't find the link atm, however, and don't know how credible the source was, anyway.

[Fleshdancer]

21. That's true

And I don't think that aide was ever fired even after the Union leaders wanted her to get the ax. Hmmm...threatening to sell out the Unions to the Republicans if the Unions support Dean.

Interesting how we don't talk about that anymore, isn't it?

[loyalsister]

32. Gep's basic opportunism

He voted anti-choice until 1986. Then he had a sudden epiphany. Otherwise he might not have gotten some of the support he did when he was running for president in 1988. In 2000, he voted to override Clinton's veto of the PBA ban. Remember, Clinton said he would have signed the bill if there had been a health exception. Then in 2003, he votes against the same damn bill under Bush.
Gep is as smarmy as they come. Women should be totally insulted by him!

[Wonk]

10. I don't know who was behind it but maybe we can use this as an opportunity

to bring the Bush/Bin Laden connections into the broader discussion for folks who aren't already aware of their long standing family ties.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22George+Bush%22+%22Salem+Bin+Laden%22
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22George+Bush%22+%22Bin+Laden%22+%22James+Bath%22

on edit: By we I mean WE. Dean supporters, Clark supporters, Kerry supporters, Kucinich supporters, etc.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

11. Don't blame Gephardt

No evidence. It's probably straight from the RNC. So how many Republican fundraisers and shadow groups are our frontrunners using now? How often do the DLC get together with their GOP counterparts and "coordinate" activities? I'm reminded of a story involving sausage and how you don't want to know how it's made?

These are sleazy attacks and exactly what we can expect from Bush.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

13. Do You Really Think So Many Democrats Are Associated With the RNC?

All of the people listed are or were Democrats, some of them prominent (the congressman from Ohio springs to mind).

The WP article forwards an interesting theory, that the group is funded by Gephardt's unions.

Maybe Gephardt didn't know or approve of it. But man, I'd be shocked if that was really the case.

DTH

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

23. maybe

your theory is plausible. I certainly hope you're wrong.

[Eloriel]

29. Gephardt doesn't have to "know" --

Or more accurately, he's got Joyce Aboussi to use as fallguy (erm, girl) and scapegoat so he can keep his manicured hands quite clean, thank you, and play ever the innocent.

He's a scumbag.

[tsipple]

16. Quite Possible

I think Gephardt and Kerry are innocent unless and until proven guilty, and the Dean campaign agrees.

But we also agree that both Gephardt and Kerry need to denounce this filth. I mean in the next 12 hours. This ad is just utterly beyond the pale.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

22. I agree, everyone should denounce the ad

The ad is despicable and besides, how can we attack Bush when he does these ads if we do them ourselves? Every candidate needs to denounce these ads - AND every candidate needs to denounce the corporate media for excluding Sharpton, CMB, and Kucinich.

The media is willing to broadcast the sleaziest attacks on Democrats, no matter who they get the money from, and whether it is a direct commerical or one of their talk shows. No Democrat should be putting money into this machine to attack other Democrats, we need to focus on our program.

[drfemoe]

28. Denounce the 'ads'???

This is a group of "democrats" . who supposedly support someone for president.

They don't want to say who they support!!! Why is that?

Denouncing the ads doesn't solve anything. The ADS didn't fund and make themselves. We need to know WHO these people are supporting.

[drfemoe]

27. Maybe the campaign

that's okay... but I have NO such faith.. oh no...

[HFishbine]

38. Evidence

It's not from the RNC. The group is headed by a Gephardt campaign contributor:

Former Congressman Edward Feighan is the President of Americans for Jobs, Health Care & Progressive Values. He is also currently the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ProCentury Corporation, the parent of the Century Insurance Group based in Columbus, Ohio. The Century Insurance Group is a specialty-lines insurer, writing commercial property/casualty insurance for niche markets nationwide, operating in 49 States and has annual gross premiums of approximately $175 million. Mr. Feighan has served as member of the board of directors of ProCentury since October, 2000.

http://www.progressivevalues.com/default.asp?ID=3

[KittyWampus]

12. DTH, If A Democrat Did This Ad, I'll Donate $ To Dean

just on principle alone...

[slinkerwink]

14. thanks

[xray s]

17. Me too

Especially if Dean gets some shots in on Bush/Reagan ties to Al Qaeda when he responds...

[Lobo_13]

18. These guys ain't the sharpest tools in the shed

These are the same goofy bastiches that pointed out that Dean has been praised by the NRA, in IOWA. A state that has more card carrying NRA members than not.

Just as that ad backfired, this one probably will as well. The folks that vote in the primaries are not going to be fooled by this. It's a waste of space until the general election.

[HFishbine]

41. Please see post #38

Then click here: http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=contribute_central

[JNelson6563]

43. I believe you would!

Remember that time you confused me with another person with Nelson in their name? Your sincere apology and heartfelt appreciation for my acceptance of said apology made an impression on me. I appreciate that sort of thing a lot. Though I disagree with some of your views I know you to be honest and sincere.

:toast:

Julie

[IndianaGreen]

48. Get ready to open your wallet

I hope you give your money to one of the antiwar candidates, particularly those that the media is trying to silence by shutting down their measly coverage of their campaigns (Kucinich, Mosley-Braun, Sharpton).

[pruner]

19. regarding ON EDIT 2…

the ad will also be running in SC, where Gephardt just picked up a significant endorsement (Clyburn).

[DoveTurnedHawk]

20. Missed That -- And Also, Note Where the Ad Is NOT Running

Thanks. I thought it was just Iowa.

The fact that it's NOT running in NH -- a state that Gephardt is essentially skipping -- is also telling.

DTH

[slinkerwink]

24. yep, it's very suspicious

[salin]

25. Exceptionally telling

as the initial accusations were flowing towards the two candidates who were in the face to face heavy competition in these two states (and principles in the ad's organization had recent ties to each campaign). A skip in the NH primary is very, very suggestive.

[Sean Reynolds]

30. I don't think it'd be Kerry - he wouldn't do such a thing.

But Gephardt has been down right evil in his attacks against Dean. Last week I read a story where his campaign was sending out pamphlets basically calling Dean a Republican.

While Kerry has been strong in his attacks, he hasn't been as mean spirited as Gep has this whole primary season. If it in fact *IS* Gephardt, I think ALL Democrats need to force him out - because we don't need this kinda smear in our party.

You know there is small attacks that are to be expected. What we have seen the past few months is TAME compared to this. I think it's HORRIBLE to basically clump Howard Dean with bin Laden. It's SICKENING and the party that made it should be held responsible. There is no need for this kind of attacks in the Democratic Party. We've been pretty civil this primary season, albeit there have been a few times where it's gotten nasty. But compared to the Republican 2000 primary campaign, this is fucking tea time with the Queen.

*IF* Dean wins the nomination and *LOSES* in the general election, you can blame fucks like this.

I firmly believe that which ever person, group or party made this ad probably feels Dean will win the nomination. THEN when he loses in a landslide, they can snub their noses and say, "we told ya' so!" now vote for us in 2008.....BLAH!

This is what has scared be for the longest time. The DLC and their candidates will take down Dean JUST to prove a point. They're capable of pulling a stunt like this if it ruined Dean's chances in 2004. I mean, what better way to get your message across than by having Dean as your poster boy for what NOT to run as a candidate. That would only convince the people in the party to move even closer to the right.

And gosh, who is one of the DLC's favorite sons? Well besides Lieberman? GEPHARDT!

I don't know what to think, I just really hope this isn't a fellow Dem attacking.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

31. I Think Gephardt Has a LOT of Pent-Up Ambition and Frustration

He, even more than any of the others, IMO, must be so beside himself with how this campaign has been going.

DTH

[Blue Gardener]

33. I live in Iowa

I'm getting really tired of Gephardt spending so much of his time bashing Dean. I've continuously receive fliers in the mail from the Gephardt campaign crticizing Dean, plus all the negative TV ads. I want to hear what he has against Bush, not his fellow Democrats. I pretty much tune him out anymore.

[slinkerwink]

37. have you heard from any other Iowans regarding Gephardt?

[helleborient]

34. It's an easy thing for any of the other candidates to disavow

This type of ad...and they could add their legitimate non-fear mongering disagreements with Howard Dean.

John Kerry called this type of advertising "political hate speech" when it was used against Max Cleland. The honorable thing would be for him to do this once again...we're waiting.

[buddhamama]

36. you may be right. how disappointing

no excuse for it.

will Gephardt be the next DEM to join Zell...

[MoonRiver]

39. Hmmm, interesting analysis. It makes sense.

All Gephardt had to do was not s&%$# his anti-war House colleagues, as well as the rest of America, and he could have had a real shot at the prize. Shows it never pays to sell-out. But after that dirty trick I can definitely believe he's capable of producing the Osama/Dean add.

[Rose Siding]

40. It's running in SC and NH but not in IA

And Iowa is where gep would need it.

[slinkerwink]

45. but it's running in IA and SC, not NH

[SahaleArm]

51. Makes sense - two states Gephardt wants to win.

Now that he has Clyburn's endorsement it's full speed ahead...

[IndianaGreen]

42. This ad is a clone of the anti-McCain Texans for the Environment's ad

In terms of motive, this is a Gephardt operation. It reminds me of the anti-McCain ads from Texans for the Environment that were run during the GOP primaries in 2000. The Texans for the Environment turned out to be a couple of construction contractors that were the beneficiaries of Governor Bush's prison construction contracts.

This ad is more than an attack on Dean, this ad is repeating the FREEPER mantra that to oppose the war in Iraq is to support terrorism. The ad smears millions of peace loving people in America and the world.

[JNelson6563]

44. Good theory

Sound reasoning. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.

Nice work DTH--

Julie

[SEAburb]

46. Trying to say Gephardt is involved in the making of the ad

borders on slander. 1+1 doesn't=3 Like good supporters of a candidate they doing what they can to get their candidate elected. It's that simple.

[IndianaGreen]

47. You can't slander public officials, and...

the people behind this ad are contributors to Gep's presidential campaign.

DTH has presented a compelling circumstantial case, more compelling than the Scott Peterson case.

[SEAburb]

49. Guilt by association isn't a compelling argument //nt

<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

[madfloridian]

50. And some stuff about David Jones and who else he works for.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/11/08/democrats/index.html

I found this article from 1999. It shows how Gephardt "lent" Jones to Rangel to raise funds to help elect more conservative (?) members. At least that is part of it. This is a long article, and I am not familiar with all the players.

SNIP:...."House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, sensing major opportunities for Rangel, lent the charismatic lawmaker his chief fund-raiser, David Jones. The fund-raising element was crucial, because Rangel initially lacked financing for his first order of business -- expanding the operation's reach."

[imhotep]

52. your first instinct was right.

The only one who benefits is the guy in second place nationally.
The DLC candidate.