Axelrod feeling the Heat? backs off 'insane' comments

[Mari333]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/12/on-call-with-bloggers-axelrod.html?wprss=44

[T Wolf]

1. But he only backed off when asked if Nelson's "stubborness" also qualified as "insane."

He and Obama are fine with calling liberals crazy. But they dare not insult one of their DINO brothers.

[ljm2002]

11. Precisely. n/t

[SIMPLYB1980]

2. His right hook hit firmly though.

Better watch out for his left upper cut, that is the finisher.

[Beaverhausen]

3. I don't call that backing off

not at all.

[DJ13]

4. The WH realizes that criticizing Dean just made him stronger with the base

It really only pointed out how far to the right the WH has moved since January, which only further inflamed the base.

Too late now, they pulled off their mask.

[depakid]

5. Dean stands for the majority position- Nelson stands for the far right

and insurance lobby.

Big difference.

[DJ13]

8. Yeah, but the point was they ended the anti Dean rants too

I understand it took asking about Nelson to stop Axelrod in his tracks, but from a tactical perspective criticizing Dean was a stupid move.

[depakid]

10. Yep- but it probably took the feedback for the administration to clue in

My guess is that they underestimated (and likely resents) the fact that Dean holds a tremendous amount of credibility and influence with the progressive base.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Or maybe cooler heads are prevailing

Your turn.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. I'm willing to hope for that. n/t

[polpilot]

9. Axelrod should never have been in the White House. Kingmakers and

policy making from political operatives never works.