The "electability" trap for John Kerry.

[milkyway]

Kerry's supporters have relentlessly pushed the electability argument as the main reason why people should vote for him. It has become the buzzword of this campaign. It is certainly a strong argument that resonates with Democrats, and it may very well win him the nomination. But by pushing this argument so much, Kerry's supporters and the media are handing Karl Rove a powerful weapon to use against Kerry in the GE. What the argument basically says is that people vote for Kerry not because they want to, but because they think they have to. It's like forcing yourself to eat your vegetables.

Kerry has a public image of a traditional Massachusetts liberal, but one who is cautious and calculating, unwilling to take political risks. He does not stand firmly for anything if it might cost him. By pushing the electability issue, his supporters are saying that their is not another more substantial reason to vote for Kerry. But a lot of Dems don't understand that people vote for guys like bush and reagan because they are seen as strong men of conviction, even if the voters don't agree with their policies. People want a leader as President, and the repugs are masters at portraying Dems as soft and unsure of themselves (Mondale, Dukakis, Gore). Even during this campaign, Kerry has been a follower, not a leader.

All of the other candidates during this campaign have become identified with certain issues.

Dean: anti Iraq war, anti bush tax cut, for balanced budgets
Edwards: two Americas, helping the struggling
Clark: anti Iraq war, new leadership
Lieberman: pro Iraq war, pro bush tax cut
Kucinich: anti war, anti globalization
Sharpton: an advocate for African-Americans and the poor and working classes

But Kerry really has not become identified with any single issue or idea during this campaign, other than he's electable and he was tricked by bush on Iraq so don't blame him. This is not a winning message in the GE.

I think bush is very beatable, and I think Kerry could beat him. But if his supporters want to see that happen, they should drop the electability meme and start communicating to the American people why he should be President of the United States.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Actually I support Kerry for other reasons

I'd say his unique issue is the environment, he is great with it. Thats not my meme why you should support Kerry, take a look at his platform, its pretty good. His health care plan calls on for regular citizens to get the same health care as members of congress. I actually recall this meme being used more by Clark supporters than Kerry supporters. I find Kerry electable but I support him because hes my type of democrat, a MA liberal and has some nice positions, I believe hes electable but thats not my reason.

[milkyway]

5. I know Kerry is strongly pro-environment, but the casual follower does

not see his candidacy that way. If you boiled a candidate's campaign down to its most basic issues or ideas, what would you say about Kerry? You can say this is simplistic, but a lot of voters only have a casual knowledge of the candidates.

You're right about Clark, they have pushing the electability issue as hard as Kerry. But Clark is at least identified by his anti-Iraq war stance.

[JohnKleeb]

7. I dont know, I disagree with this whole meme

Well Clark to me is engimatic IMO because he said if I recall he would have voted for IWR if he were in congress. Kerry is doing decent with issues people, if you read the exit polls, I agree this is a strength your guy has done well in. I always said screw electablity :), see my DK avatar eh. In fact when Clark first entered the race, the mantra I saw was Clark and only Clark can win. I think Kerry's main issue that the public eye will notice is standing up to the interest groups and what not, he talks a lot about it.

[krkaufman]

9. You recall incorrectly

> Well Clark to me is engimatic IMO because he said
> if I recall he would have voted for IWR if he were
> in congress.

No, Clark testified before Congress that they should *NOT* vote for a resolution authorizing war -- which IWR did.

He recommended a resolution threatening force and laying out all the preconditions for authorizing war: including further UN inspections, requiring an international coalition, and add'l planning. Bush would have needed to come back to Congress for a second resolution to be given final authorization to go to war.

Instead, a bunch of Congressmen who were more concerned about their 2002 mid-term reelections caved, and voted for the IWR we have today. Granted, though, that they might not have been able to prevent the resolution from passing (0% likelihood), they would have at least correctly exercised their responsibilities.

[JohnKleeb]

13. Thanks for the correction, thats why I said I wasnt positive

Well no offense but and I am not saying you should ask for these endorsements to go but Clark has some of those same people who voted yes like Blanche Lincoln and Gene Taylor. Thanks for the correction.

[oasis]

2. For those who can't tolerate Bush, "electability" is a qualifier.

[aquart]

3. We don't have any other disqualifier in this race.

All the men have valuable ideas and skills to contribute to the Presidency. The slate is outstanding.

It comes down to that one thing: will the most Americans vote for this guy? Will so many vote for him that there's no way to steal the damn election?

It better not be 500,000 this time. It has to be overwhelming.

I hope it scares the shit out of Congress.

But that's why it's being used.

[sandnsea]

4. He's electable because he's best

His knowledge of the issues is comprehensive, his plans make the most common sense and are also comprehensive, he is rarely caught off guard, he has guts and tenacity, he's also a great listener, funny, smart, respects everybody. He didn't tell an old Republican to sit down and shut up, he talked to him. There's reasons people say Kerry is the most electable, it isn't just a buzzword.

[Gadave]

6. All 4 are electable

I don't see a problem with any of the people in the race, but I always have extra love for the underdog, so right now I am pro Dean. I was pro Gephardt, but when he dropped I went with the guy I felt was getting hit on.

My issue with Kerry is that he doesn't inspire me. Its like that movie Braveheart when the people would do anything for William Wallace, but were lukewarm to that noble guy. They both had the same goal, but one inspires a lot more.

EDIT: Man my spelling is awful, and I always spell the words in such a way that they are in the dictionary too, so spell check doesn't help.

[JohnKleeb]

8. You mean Robert the Bruce as in the noble

Its all about perception IMO. Kucinich and Kerry inspire me the most. If you wanna see Kerry inspire, I would advise you to watch the victory speech in NH. BTW out of curiosuity how do you go from Gep to Dean, your two campaigns were rivals. Gep I really like for what he dose for labor.

[Gadave]

12. Its my underdog backing nature

I am not solidly Dean, just feel he got a bad break and people are piling on. I always pull for the underdog.

I liked Gephardt cause it was the same way. Everyone blamed him for not winning back Congress, and so forth. He seemed like a pretty good guy who really seemed to care about the people he fights for. I knew he wouldnt have much of a chance, after he lost minority leader and all. All the candidates have good and bad points, except maybe Leiberman who I don't think represents his party very well.

At least of the 4 remaining viable candidates, it doesn't seem like we can lose. I just hope the primaries dont end soon, till Kerry has at least gone through the crucible of the front runner.

[JohnKleeb]

14. oh gotcha

No one likes Lieberman :evilgrin:

[krkaufman]

10. Braveheart.... great example

Man, I'd hate to see what Kerry's Dad looks like.

[Gadave]

15. So who in the Democratic party is the father, LOL

[sandnsea]

16. Kerry is my William Wallace

One of these days, I guess people will get it. *sigh*

[Gadave]

17. The Bruce wasn't a bad guy

Remember William Wallace died! And in a not to comfortable fashion.

The Bruce became King.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. You're totally off right from the first sentence.

The voters who are making their minds up hours before they are voting are being swayed by this idea according to the 'exit polls'. If you think about it, you'd realize that if they just asked different questions in the exit polls, the voters would have supposedly voted for different reasons.

I became a supporter of Kerry's in the early 90's when I was a CSPAN junkie, just from hearing him speak, and watching him ever since. A few months ago, the campaign was going nowhere, but I was ready to go down with the ship if necessary, because I believe in John Kerry. Nobody was saying anything about how electable Kerry was. Of course no votes had been cast.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

18. Remember.......

Howard Dean supported Biden-Lugar which would have gotten us into the
same mess.

[0rganism]

19. Really? I think he's one of the less electable

His senate record is one of a strong liberal on many issues. His manner is aloof, cold, calculating. He filters his enthusiasm to the point of seeming dishonest. He suggests New England aristocracy, perhaps another Kennedy clan in the making. And he's a senator: the last time a senator unseated an incumbent president was 1888, even history is not on Kerry's side.

Counter to the dominant meme floating about, I think Kerry IS strong on the issues; his weakness lies more in the "intangibles". There's already a strong anti-Kerry smear legacy floating around, just waiting to be reactivated. He'll be easier for the bush campaign to attack than Dean, Edwards, and maybe even Sharpton. Lots of liabilities.

Unfortunate, because he's a great man, and could be a fantastic president. I wish him the best, but if he's the nominee, I worry about our chances.