ALERT: A lawyer's warning about Republican strategy for 2006

[JDPriestly]

I am a lawyer. In virtually every case I handle there are good facts -- facts that support my client's case -- and bad facts -- facts that harm my client's case. My job as a lawyer is to make sure the focus is on the facts that are good for my client and those that are bad for the opposition. One strategy to achieve that is to admit my client's bad facts, but minimize their importance by showing that the other side's facts are just as bad or worse.

The Republicans are masters at this strategy. What commentators are not getting is that that was the purpose of the ABC 911 movie. Yesterday Ed Schultz, for example, observed that while the movie outright lied about Clinton's conduct, it showed Bush's gross negligence in ignoring the terrorism problem fairly honestly. Dear Ed. That does not show that the movie was honest after all. That was the point of the movie. It concedes the bad facts about Bush's pre-911 handling of the terrorism threat. But it shows Clinton to have been just as bad as Bush. The viewers are left to conclude that both guys were equally at fault. That's exactly how I would handle bad facts. And all the Democratic protestations are just hot air. Unfortunately, in politics there is no judge to keep out fabricated evidence.

MY PREDICTION FOR THE REST OF 2006: In the last week or so before the election, the Republicans will spread malicious lies about every Democratic candidate out there. Each of the lies will be believable. Some of them will based on "bad facts" that are true about the Democrat; others will be just made up out of whole cloth. The Democrats will not know what hit them. They will be caught unawares and without the time to respond. That is how the Republicans plan to win this election.

The Democratic strategy of pointing the finger at Republican bad facts -- such as the rampant corruption is thus likely to backfire. It is very easy to make totally unfounded accusations at Democrats at the last minute. Every Democratic candidate needs to prepare supporters for the likely onslaught. Every possible bad fact had better be explained and admitted in the next week or so. And supporters need to be shown how the Republican technique of handling bad facts works. Otherwise Republicans will win. Trust me on this.

We need a national campaign that alerts the public to the simple fact that Republicans are covering up their bad facts by making up "bad facts" about Democrats. We all hate being fooled. That is the best way for Democrats to counter this Republican strategy in my view. The Lamont ad about the messy desk was effective. Every Democrat needs a similar campaign right now.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Lamont's "messy desk" ad was a perfect counter. It discounted and

diminished negative ads that might aimed at him.

I hope the Dems can capture some of the most outrageous hyperbole flung by the RW and turn it around in that way. Be amused, then dismissive.

MKJ

[AndyA]

2. MY PREDICTION FOR THE REST OF 2004: Is this a typo?

Or is this a rerun from the 2004 elections?

Regardless, I would suspect the same holds true for both. It worked once, why not drag it out again.

[JDPriestly]

5. Thanks. Rushing out the door for a busy day. Sorry for the typo..

[Hissyspit]

3. Proactive prolepsis!

Most of us are still being reactive - which is necessary often and better than nothing, but it would be nice to see more proactive strategy.

[acmavm]

4. Maybe I don't understand what you're trying to say.

<snip>
The Democratic strategy of pointing the finger at Republican bad facts -- such as the rampant corruption is thus likely to backfire.
<snip>

I thinks it's not only necessary to point out 'bad facts' which is just another way of saying 'lies'. If they're lying then it needs to be pointed out, and forcefully.

If you might mean something that is true but doesn't look good for whatever dem is being focused upon, then yes, it needs to be explained right. But it also needs to be compared to the republican party and the fact that nothing they have done has been in support of the American public (except the top 5%) and that they've given into every single damn demand that the bush**/cheney** administration has made.

But we won't have anything to worry about if the dems keep silent like they have been. We've already lost in that case. Our problem's not going to be mud slinging. The sleeze bags always do that. It's the fact that they don't ever fight back.

[JDPriestly]

6. I'm saying you have to anticipate the strategy and fight back

BEFORE IT IS USED. PREPARE YOUR JURY FOR THE OPPOSITION'S LIKELY STRATEGY.

[acmavm]

12. If your capitals are a way of yelling at me I'll tell you right now

to knock that shit off. I don't care if you're the future King of England, know it off.

And yes, they need to anticipate the strategy. It's not like it hasn't been pointed out a million times including the fact that they plan to spend 45 million dollars on their little mud slinging crap fest to the November election.

And all I said was that if they keep acting like they are now, it's all over.

[JDPriestly]

7. I posted this because commenators missed the point on the 911 movie.

[KurtNYC]

8. I agree - the last 3 days going into the November polls

will be a saturation of negative ads.

The Dems are kind of getting into the game eg. they went after B*sh for politicizing the anniversary of 9/11/01. What would have been better is if they had started BEFORE B*sh did his photo ops on 9/10 and 9/11. In other words last week be saying "I can only hope the White House will not desecrate the memory of those who were killed 5 years ago by: (pick one)
- doing a photo op tour while OBL is still at large
- falsely linking the 911 attacks to Saddam and the occupation of Iraq
- attempting to use this anniversary for partisan political purposes

This is a technique commonly called "land mines" You tell the audience what your opponent is about to do and then your opponent proves you right. It gets more attention focused on your opponents' techniques which helps to diffuse or even reverse their effectiveness.

[robinlynne]

15. i like the way you think.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Is it any wonder...

why the legal profession is generally held in such low esteem when so many lawyers have no concern for whether facts or true or false; only whether facts are 'good or bad' for their client.

[acmejack]

10. How can one advocate for something without making such considerations?

Lawyers are generally held in disregard only until a person finds themself in a position which requires the services of one. I have always been grateful for the services of a good lawyer armed a command of the facts and the wile to use them to my advantage.

[Iowa]

22. Actually, there's no such thing as a false fact...

"...the legal profession is generally held in such low esteem when so many lawyers have no concern for whether facts are true or false..."

Furthermore, I think the OP is referring to the need to put the truth out there in a way that will present our position in the very best possible light, while anticipating and minimizing the damage created by the opponent. That's a very honest, honorable, and rational approach, IMO.

[General Lee]

11. This is my take on your posting:

There is nothing new about 'last minute' unfounded accusations which on the surface seem to hold water. This is part of the same psychic element that caused the Romans to revel in the carnage of the arena; the same element that allows the media to sell its propaganda to a vulnerable public; the same element that permits Madison Ave to sell the Brooklyn Bridge. It's the lure of sensationalism that the electorate loves.

You said that in politics there is no judge to keep out fabricated evidence. It is up to the electorate to serve as the judge, jury and executor in this matter. Unfortunately the electorate is not all that sharp or they would have never re-elected bush. The problem is with the electorate. If they continue to savor their smug existence one nurtured by a corrupt administration, even more corrupt corporate structure and a Congress which is for sale to the highest bidder, then we can only hope for the best but expect the worst!

Behind all the Republican campaign rhetoric is the adage, “Don’t switch horses in midstream”. This served them well in 2004. But here again, it's the electorate that allows itself to be led around on a leash. They have forgotten that one does not stay on a clueless jackass caught in midstream with a rising torrent!

Perhaps what is needed is another Great Depression to awaken the nation out of its stupor.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. So true, so true. Good read.

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. You are dead on.

Thanks for spelling it out.

[bdamomma]

16. one question, not trying to get away from your topic

could Americans press charges or like a civil suit on Bush. just asking.

[underpants]

17. K&R. Are we at war???

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2823769

Add this in there as well.

[populistdriven]

18. K&R

[RangerSmith]

19. This is the meme

of all affiliations, though... politics, religion, etc.. and it's used by all.

You'll see it used often here when someone says, "I really don't like my dem candidate" and the response will be, but you have no choice, the rep is worse!!

It's used to beat down anybody who believes there are issues in their affiliation of choice and wants to see changes made in there own party.. "suck it up, the other side is worse."

It's why IMHO, so many are now saying they are independents.

[AZBlue]

20. K&R

[eccles12]

21. The Dem strategy had better be to pre-empt them on every turn.

Using smart, farsighted tactics like this:

"Now the Republicans will say....blah,,blah, blah but what they won't tell you fact, fact, fact."

And the Dems need to be working on the favorable facts about every issue out there including immigration, taxes, deficits, gasoline price control, Iraq, Iran, N.K, gun control, bankruptcy, usary, and especially voting irregularities. Dems need to set the tone by having the public already know what the Republicans are likely to be saying so that when it happens they can say, "Well, the Dem candidate was right. This is exactly what the Republicans are trying make us believe." If you prepare people for the "lie" when it actually comes they will recognize it. If they haven't been warned, they will take the lie for the truth...just because they are ... well, I'll be knind here...uninformed.

[Wednesdays]

23. "Swiftboat" hasn't become a verb for nothing

Problem is, this is like sitting in the dark, knowing an ambush is about to take place, but not knowing which direction it's going to come from or where to fire. :shrug: