Need help debunking attack on Dean campaign

[iowapeacechief]

Folks in a Kucinich forum are in a tizzy about an e-mail message purportedly from Joe Trippi saying "homosexuals" may not be Dean interns. I am sure I've seen this discussed and debunked on DU, but now I can't find the thread, and I can't find anything about this anywhere else. We have our disagreements, but we don't need this garbage!

[jmaier]

1. I'm not a Dean supporter

but I wouldn't believe that report/rumor for an instant.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Why don't you just write to the campaign and ask them?

If it is a phony memo, they will be glad of the opportunity to set the record straight. (no pun intended)

[iowapeacechief]

21. I asked DU because....

...because I knew it had already been debunked here, and I trusted your collective memory and wisdom to give me the quickest, most credible response possible! Thanks again!

[DuctapeFatwa]

22. The most credible response would be from the Dean campaign

and specific to the issue.

Without meaning any disrespect to the people who post on this message board, it is a public message board run by a private company, and no poster to the best of my knowledge, is authorized to make statements on behalf of Howard Dean's campaign office, regardless of how much they admire Dr. Dean, support his candidacy, or how strongly they feel that the email is a hoax.

I do not support any of the candidates, nor do I work for any of them, but if I worked for Dean I would get something out that addressed this specific email, and I would do it yesterday.

[Cheswick2.0]

26. really?

I have never heard anything about that. If it has been discussed her I am not aware of that.

[helleborient]

3. I would bet some of the paid staff in Iowa I met this weekend are gay...

Of course you have to rely on stereotypical appearance, because I wasn't asking...this is ridiculously stupid and low from Kucinich supporters.

[diamondsoul]

9. Uh, Helle-

did you maybe miss the fact that the e-mail does have the appearance of being legit. Enough to make some people believe it was, and especially if they aren't aware of any response from DFA.

Not to mention the fact that two of the people trying to counter the angry people are Kucinich supporters! Thanks for the broad brush slapping us in the face.

[helleborient]

11. Why did Kucinich supporters run with it before checking with the Dean

Campaign?

It looks legit...let's run it, right?!

We'll ask questions later.

[helleborient]

16. A broad slap was not intended...there are misguided supporters in every

Camp that we all need to try and control.

That's what I was attempting to point out...and I did not do it well, I'm sorry.

The "training" for going door to door when I was in Burlington this weekend emphasized over and over...do not be confrontational, do not be nasty, emphasize the positives of the candidate.

I would assume everyone doing official campaigning for any of the candidates receives very similar training.

Unfortunately, I believe there are those in every campaign, Dennis Kucinich's and Howard Dean's among them, who persist in trying to play "gotcha" politics and persist in wallowing in questionable attacks...and that is very sad.

[diamondsoul]

4. There was a warning posted

I'll run a search and kick it for you.

[w4rma]

5. It's tough to give proof of something that never happened.

I can't exactly point you to an article. :P

[mmonk]

6. appears fraudulent on its face

wouldn't worry about it.

[Rose Siding]

7. Here is a response from the campaign w/*link*:

(it came out when this e-mail surfaced a few days ago)


Saturday, January 10, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't Be Fooled By Cheap Imitations
In the final nine days before the Iowa Caucuses, we're going to be showered with all kinds of distortions and tricks that try to diminish the enthusiasm you've built for this campaign. For instance, today a fake email advertising "Paid internships for Dean" is circulating. It's a fraud, and was not sent by Dean for America.

All official DFA email comes from a deanforamerica.com address, and at the bottom says "Paid for and maintained by Dean for America." Anything else is a fraud, and should be deleted. However, an email can be made to look authentic with the disclaimer and can even apear at first glance to come from a Dean for America address. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of an email because of its content or tone, forward it to us at [e-mail].

Posted by Mark Sundeen at 11:55 AM

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/003056.html

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. This link does not address that specific email

[Rose Siding]

28. And how would that be feasible?

Can you imagine the firestorm of attention seekers diverting the focus? It's absurd. If someone can't figure out that the Howard Dean campaign isn't going to be discriminating against gays, then God bless them.

This link addresses the fact that bogus e-mails are circulating.

[DuctapeFatwa]

29. Well, my assumption is that it would be distressing to them

for anyone to think such a thing. You may be more informed on that than I am.

Have they addressed other similar incidents specifically?

I don't remember any firestorms of attention.

[helleborient]

13. Kucinich supporters run with it and ask questions later...

Just as dirty as misguided supporters of any other candidate.

[iowapeacechief]

19. That's why I set out to cut it short

You are all too right, helleborient. It's a pity.

[diamondsoul]

8. Here's the thread link-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=94875

And as an aside, I just checked the Dean campaign contact information and there does not appear to be any such address as "[e-mail]" attached to the campaign.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. LOL That sounds pretty stupid. Still they should probably do a statement

saying that they welcome qualified interns regardless of race creed sexual orientation blah blah

[iowapeacechief]

18. Actually, that IS the address...

...their messages DO come from:

"Joe Trippi, Dean for America" <[e-mail]>

It WAS a plausible fake in terms of appearance. Anybody reading for content should have caught it, unless predisposed to believe the worst.

[Eloriel]

20. Why don't you try it before assuming that because it's not listed

that it's somehow a fake, or phoney, or whatever.

Not every contact email address is listed.

I am pretty sure I've seen that address, but why don't you check it?

Eloriel

[Walt Starr]

14. It's a hoax email

The Dean for America site put it up and showed it for the hoax it is.

[Hep]

15. It was a hoax.

Jesus christ. Anyone who didn't know that was a hoax by looking at it either really wants to hate Dean or has no brain. Tell them I said it.

[iowapeacechief]

17. Thanks for constructive replies!!!

I posted the following to the Kucinich list. Glad we could spike it so fast, thanks to your help. (No thanks to you who could only offer cheap shots, but I understand your feelings.)

-----------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 12:10:52 -0500
To: [e-mail]
From: "Daniel G. Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 'No homosexuals need apply for Dean internships'

These explanations are good enough for me. Thanks to folks at Democratic Underground for tracking it down.

Kucitizens, let's keep our focus on what's real and practical--please.

Dan Clark
Muscatine, Iowa
One week: Caucus for Kucinich January 19!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=94875
The following email is a HOAX. You’ll see why after reading the first paragraph.

The message was sent from a FAKE email address — not from Joe Trippi or from Dean for America. Some of you may have already received it through one of your Dean Yahoo groups.

Subject: Fwd: Paid interships for Dean! Apply Now FWD: To all Dean Supporters

"Joe Trippi, Dean for America" [e-mail]> wrote ate: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 07:53:42 -0800 (EST)
From: "Joe Trippi, Dean for America"
Subject: Paid interships for Dean! Apply Now FWD: To all Dean Supporters
To: All Dean Supporters

Internship Dean Madness Program (snip)


http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/003056.html
Saturday, January 10, 2004
------------------------
Don't Be Fooled By Cheap Imitations
In the final nine days before the Iowa Caucuses, we're going to be showered with all kinds of distortions and tricks that try to diminish the enthusiasm you've built for this campaign. For instance, today a fake email advertising "Paid internships for Dean" is circulating. It's a fraud, and was not sent by Dean for America.

All official DFA email comes from a deanforamerica.com address, and at the bottom says "Paid for and maintained by Dean for America." Anything else is a fraud, and should be deleted. However, an email can be made to look authentic with the disclaimer and can even apear at first glance to come from a Dean for America address. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of an email because of its content or tone, forward it to us at [e-mail].

Posted by Mark Sundeen at 11:55 AM

[KaraokeKarlton]

23. That email was sent out by an anti-Dean site

it's bogus. The bottom of the message uses the "logo" of Dean for Americans <-----notice the s at the end? The Dean Campaign is Dean for America (no s). You can see who sent out this email by visiting www.deanforamericans.com This is either the GOP or a very, very disgusting Democrat who should be kicked out of the party.

[iowapeacechief]

24. Dean campaigners: Is there an official answer?

I'm not kicking this thread up to be mischievous. I am helping round up a genie that's evidently three days out of its bottle--impossible, of course.

Does your campaign have a single, authorized, official answer to this particular dirty trick? If so, please post URL.

I ask because you know your organization better than I do. Thanks.

[Cheswick2.0]

25. Hey, I've heard that before

B-)

[iowapeacechief]

27. Huh?