valid and invalid criticism

[pasadenaboy]

In my mind, candidates or supporters who cricize an issue because most people don't support it, or because support of it makes someone unelectable are not constructive.

If Lieberman disagrees with Dean on the Bush tax cut, he should argue the merits of the tax cut, or his proposal to reform it. The arguement that because most people don't agree with repealing it, it shouldn't be done, is ludicrous. People are wrong and it is up to leaders to lead, not follow public opinion polls.

Same with people who criticize Kucinich as being unelectable. Look, criticize his policies, or his record, but using a crystal ball to determine who is electable or not is silly.

I would really rather have a candidate who represents what I believe run a smart, hard campaign and lose to Bush than have some polished, spinning sell out win. Now, whoever gets the nomination, we support, but we have to pick the candidate who most alligns with what we believe in, not the most popular, or the choice of the conventional wisdom

For full disclosure sake, I am a Dean supporter.

[Dookus]

1. I'm not sure such criticisms are invalid...

during the primary. Lieberman, to use your example, is trying to point out why a tax policy that is opposed by most Americans will make it harder for Dean to defeat Bush. And of course, his goal right now is to get the nomination, NOT to deal with tax policy.

It's a perfectly normal part of the primary process.

[pasadenaboy]

2. but what's the point of defeating bush

if you are not going to do the wrong things he is doing right?

If Lieberman believes the tax cut is wrong, he should oppose it on its merits. If he believes it is right, he should support it on its merits. How most polling data comes in is totally irrelevant. Who wants a president that's going to make decisions based on polls?

[Dookus]

4. because that's only HALF of what a candidate needs to do

at this point. I think it's perfectly valid for ANY candidate to point out that an opponent's position on an issue will be a hindrance in the General Election.

All the candidates need to convince DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY voters that they're the best person to defeat Bush. Pointing out an unpopular position of another candidate is a reasonable part of that. It happens in every single primary, for both parties.

[Cocoa]

3. I doubt that's Lieberman's argument

seems to me Lieberman would naturally be more in favor of the tax cuts than most other dems.

I agree about electability and crystal ball arguments.