Prominent Bloggers (Kerry Ad Recipients) Ask Kerry to Disavow Hate Ad

[tsipple]

Open Letter to Kerry

Dear Senator Kerry,

We write this open letter as a group of bloggers whose audience you respect enough that you advertise on our web sites.

We are deeply disturbed that former staff members of your campaign and other Dean rivals now working at the so-called “Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values” have resorted to the Willie Horton campaign tactic of linking Howard Dean to Osama Bin Laden. Vigorous competition among Democrats is expected and welcome, but all Democratic leaders should denounce these kinds of tactics.

Given your staff link to this attack through your former press secretary, Robert Gibbs - the new group’s spokesman — we feel it is incumbent on you and your campaign to make it clear that this kind of attack is unacceptable. Otherwise, there will be the appearance of covert cooperation by your campaign in supporting this effort. If your campaign does not make clear that you have no link to this scurrilous attack, all of us will have to reevaluate our willingness to allow advertising by your campaign on our web sites.

We don’t expect to have to make that decision, since we have faith in your integrity and expect you to quickly make clear your denunciation of this destructive and anti-democratic operation.

Yours,

Atrios-Eschaton http://atrios.blogspot.com/
Jeralyn Merritt-Talk Left http://www.talkleft.com/
Nathan Newman-NathanNewman.org http://www.nathannewman.org/log/
Oliver Willis-Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/
Jesse Taylor and Ezra Klein-Pandagon http://www.pandagon.net

[wtmusic]

1. More than a bit snarky

Do you have a link to a quicktime version?

[cindyw]

2. Weren't these the people Kerry fired or who quit his campaign

because of the firing. So now we think Kerry is associated with people he cuts from his campaign. I don't know about you, but I don't work with people who fire me or who I quit a job from.

Kind of ridiculous to think he is associated with this.

Also, since when is it his responsibility to defend Dean. if Dean cannot defend himself from this ad, how will he do against Bush? This commercial says that Dean cannot be a commander in chief while Osama is out there. Bush's ads will "associate" Dean (or whoever the candidate will be) with Osama. Suggesting a disgusting alliance.

If Dean is up to the task of beating Bush, he will demonstrate it with this ad.

I honestly wonder if Dean has anything to do with this ad because in the end, it is Kerry who is getting blamed and Dean who gets the opportunity to demonstrate hi strength under attack. Where is my tinfoil hat?

[tsipple]

3. "Also, since when is it his responsibility to defend Dean?"

It isn't.

But it is John Kerry's responsibility to defend civil debate and defend his party when people recently and closely associated with his campaign do something despicable. This ad is an attack against both, not only Dean.

John Kerry ought to understand that the easiest (and two second) press release of his life, now overdue, benefits John Kerry and his party.

That's the point of the open letter.

Anybody know if Kerry's campaign has responded yet? Any news from the Gephardt camp?

[dsc]

4. Since when do these blogs have to carry Kerry ads?

or does free speech only apply to people who support Kerry?

[chaumont58]

5. I'm a Dean supporter, and I think this ad harms Kerry more

I read this story on atrios.blogspot this morning. I don't have a clue who the ad creators hope to reach. This is a Willie Horton type ad, and no one, but no one, is going to be convince to vote for Kerry or Gephardt.

[kerrygoddess]

16. Kerry is not connected to this ad

Kerry is not connected to this add and it is shame and a sham that Dean supporters are doing this.

If Kerry is nailing Dean on the issues, Dean deserves this and this is the best they can come up with to fight back?

Reminds me of the lame "Conderate Flag" line Dean used after Kerry nailed him on the NRA.

[tsipple]

6. Dean's Official Blog Carrying This News Now

Link here.

Kerry and Gephardt campaigns apparently still silent. Anybody heard anything yet?

[sandnsea]

7. Should Dean disavow his attacks?

Did they ever call for that? When he said they were all for this war? When he said they all voted for the tax cuts? When he called them Republicans? Where are these people when Dean is out there spreading his hate against Democrats?

[helleborient]

8. Kerry called ads like these "political hate speech"

When they were used against Cleland in 2002. It's just a sign of his partisan immaturity that he seems to think they're fine when they're used against an opponent. I guess his comments when they were used against Cleland were dishonest political opportunism?

[tsipple]

9. Kerry's Inconsistency?

I guess his comments when they were used against Cleland were dishonest political opportunism?

I sure hope not.

Of course, today we're treated to the sad spectacle of Kerry slamming Dean for his opposition to this war, this way, at this time. But just the day before Kerry was accusing Dean of not actually being opposed to the war.

Geesh. This is like watching your drunk cousin at a wedding reception, hoping he won't embarrass himself for life as he tries to get the bride to do jello shots off his bare belly -- although fearing he already did exactly that.

[blm]

11. Maybe Dean should be held accountable for the way HE portrayed

the IWR and his reticence over many months regarding the fact that HE himself supported the key provisions in the IWR that he attacked the others for? I sthat possible in DeanWorld?

It's noone's fault but Dean's that he allowed the press to promote what he himself promoted that HE was the antiwar candidate.

You want Kerry to take the blame for what Dean himself promoted?

Sheesh. Dean supporters have some gall, just like Dean. As if there is no such thing as shameless.

[eileen_d]

10. Sorry, but the words "prominent" and "bloggers" do not belong together.

More power to the bloggers for expressing their opinions, but this is not news.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. The only place I've heard of this ad is on DU.

Do you really think Kerry should draw attention to this ad by talking about it? Where is this ad actually running? It it actually on the TV somewhere?

[eileen_d]

13. It's running on DU 24/7!

;)

[tsipple]

14. Yeah, Unfortunately...

...And it's a pretty big media buy, too. About a quarter million dollars. Running in a couple early Democratic primary states -- New Hampshire and South Carolina, I believe.

The same group is also running another pretty foul ad in Iowa, although that particular ad is not at issue here.

[sandnsea]

15. An article is running

Who has seen an ad??

[SahaleArm]

18. No one - This ad will never see the light of day beyond the web

It's meant to smear Kerry and raise money for Dean.

[kerrygoddess]

17. No big surprise Dean Bloggers would attack Kerry

No big surprise Dean Bloggers would attack Kerry for something he is not responsible for. Hmmm... so much like the candidate you all support...


Kerry is not connected to this ad and it is shame and a sham that Dean supporters are doing this.

If Kerry is nailing Dean on the issues, Dean deserves this and this is the best they can come up with to fight back?

Reminds me of the lame "Confederate Flag" line Dean used after Kerry nailed him on the NRA.