Preparation for criticism on Kerry campaign movie

[Dr Ron]

From The Democratic Daily--see original post for links, and be prepared for the Kerry bashing later this week:

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=703

Reports on Kerry Campaign Film Exaggerates Damages
September 27th, 2005

The latest attacks on John Kerry appear to be as lacking in substance as all the previous attacks. The buzz in the blogosphere this week comes from a report in the New York Daily News on an upcoming movie on the campaign. The Daily News claims the film “could end up being the silver bullet that kills Kerry’s presidential chances for 2008.” From what I’ve seen so far, I doubt this film will have any meaningful impact. Here’s among the worst that the Daily News reports from the movie:

It features, among other not-ready-for-prime-time moments, Clinton scowling and rolling her eyes over an apparent Kerry gaffe during a presidential debate; Kerry pretending to interview himself and babbling in Italian while waiting for a real interview to begin; Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) cursing at reporters during a campaign stop, and Kerry message guru Robert Shrum confidently declaring a few days before the 2004 election: “Zogby just announced who’s gonna win. Us!”

None of this sounds very meaningful. The Kerry bashers in the Democratic blogosphere were just as confident that the polls predicted a Kerry victory (and if the momentum wasn’t stopped by Bin Laden’s pre-election statement they might have been correct). A candidate playing around before the start of an interview is hardly even worth mentioning. Perhaps the claim which appears most significant is that Hillary Clinton scowled in response to a “Kerry gaffe” in a debate. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to review this portion of the film I’ve found that there was no gaffe.

The Hillary scowl occurred as Kerry was noting that, “The president got $84 from a timber company that owns, and he’s counted as a small business. Dick Cheney’s counted as a small business. That’s how they do things. That’s just not right.” Bush denied any knowledge of owning a timber company, but Factcheck.org demonstrated that John Kerry was right, reporting that “according to his 2003 financial disclosure form, Bush does own part interest in ‘LSTF, LLC’, a limited-liability company organized ‘for the purpose of the production of trees for commercial sales.’

So we have Hillary scowling over a true statement made by Kerry during the debates, hardly a gaffe, and several other trivial events. Give me a video camera and access to a campaign, and I bet I could find hours of material which would make the same campaign appear either brilliant or incompetent, depending upon how the material was presented. Of course we could never do this with the Bush campaign as they would never dare allow such access by the media.

This is not to say I believe the Kerry campaign was perfect. There are things I would have done different, but there is also no guarantee they would have done any better if they did what I would have preferred. It also must be remembered that Kerry came far closer than most Democratic candidates in recent years, despite facing an incumbent during a war, and despite facing an unprecedented smear campaign. In considering the competence of the political campaigns, we cannot deny the considerable expertise of the Bush campaign in distorting the facts. It is a shame that such competence is not seen when they attempt to govern.

[JI7]

1. Hillary scowl was in response to the Chimp's "got wood"

comment.

[Dr Ron]

2. Even worse for article

I was willing to give them a small amount of benefit of the doubt and go along with the scowl being in response to Kerry's statement (while showing it was no gaffe). It we could be certain that the scowl was in response to Bush and not Kerry at all, it would discredit the article even further.

[JI7]

3. the comment about the swift boat vets accusations

being mostly true said it all for me .

we could easily discredit the movie based on facts but the issue is that those who will take the time to read these things are the type who probably wouldn't believe it anyways.

but i'm not even sure this film is that big a deal. the original artile posted on it before i saw any clips made it seem like something that would be horrible and hurt Kerry. but seeing the actual clips it just looks pathetic if it's an attempt to hurt Kerry. personally i more enjoyed watching the clips than felt angered by it.

[Mass]

4. It sure look like that in the video.

[Island Blue]

5. I think we should embrace the film for its catnip moments

and honestly discredit the falsehoods presented in the film. (Where the filmmaker presents a falsehood, we should be prepared to present the truth.) Since none of us have seen the entire film, we have no way of knowing right now what all of the falsehoods presented might be. From the clips we've seen I don't really see how it hurts Kerry. I mean so far we've seen that Kerry is very fidgety and that he has a great sense of humor. (And when he was "interviewing" himself he was really just poking fun at the press and their stupid questions and there was another person sitting right there who he was also talking to. It's not like he was standing on a street corner all alone jabbering away.)

Is this movie going to be released in theaters? If so, I can't really imagine it having a huge commercial appeal anyway and it will probably be a DVD release soon. That will be great because once it's released on DVD we can fast forward through the bullshit parts and just watch catnip moments.

To me documentary films shot and edited like this one seems to be (as opposed to films like "Fahrenheit 9/11 and" "Going Up River") remind me of "This Is Spinal Tap" and almost become a parody of themselves.

[TayTay]

6. When is this coming out?

And who, besides extreme insiders, is the expected audience? Political documentaries are lucky to make back their initial investments. I don't understand how a documentary can harm a candidate. As I stated before, the most widely seen political documentary ever is Fahrenheit 9/11. It bashed the crap out of * and he still is President.

This film will be seen by a realtive handful of people. I don't understand all the fuss. The clips I saw were rather tame and, frankly, charming. It's nice to know we have a funny, multi-lingual guy who gets annoyed, just like normal people, when he has to sit around and wait his turn at something.

I don't get it. Why the big fuss?

[Mass]

7. I am not sure there is such a great fuss

When you google for the movie, all you find are RW papers and blogs who would be smearing Kerry on something else.

I think the worst thing that we could make is to overblow that and make useless publicity for this movie (my guess is that it is what the gossip columnist was going after).

[TayTay]

8. Arianna Talked about it today as if it was the Gospel Truth

What is wrong with her anyway? She also cites the Herald story about Kerry bring pro-war. (It's the Herald, they distort as a matter or course.)

This was very disappointing.

But there was this in the papers this morning: (Read to end of the excerpt")

Illness Forces Sheehan To Cut Appearance Short
Spokeswoman Says Sheehan 'Legitimately Sick'

POSTED: 10:52 pm EDT September 27, 2005
UPDATED: 11:04 pm EDT September 27, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Peace mom Cindy Sheehan cut short her appearance on a university campus Tuesday night, apparently "exhausted" from her anti-war activities over the last several days.

Sheehan, who addressed a massive anti-war rally Saturday on the National Mall and was arrested Monday demonstrating in front of the White House, spoke for about 10 minutes on a panel at a rally at Memorial Chapel at the University of Maryland.

After her remarks, there was supposed to be a "democracy collaborative dialogue" among the panelists and those attending the event. But Sheehan grabbed her bag and a bottle of water and left. Soon after, it was announced that she was ill and would not be returning.

Karen Tomer, a spokeswoman for Sheehan, said, "She's exhausted and she's not feeling well, but she intends to meet her obligations." Sheehan is scheduled to meet with Sen. John Kerry; she met Sen. John McCain earlier Tuesday.

[Mass]

10. I am getting a little bit worried about that

I read what she said about Clinton yesterday, and why she may be right in her case, Kerry is not going to change his position to please her (and I would not expect him to do so), so expect a few more flamebait posts once she put the review of this meeting online.

As for Huffington, I found this part of the article nearly funny given her success in her campaign in CA. I was more bothered by the unquestionning and selective use of the Herald article. I knew the title of the article would be problem and it was meant to be.

[karynnj]

11. Has she commented on the McCain meeting

(or Kennedy). It will be interesting. She seems so inflexible that she will not listen to anything. So, other than showing respect, understanding and kindness, what else can he do?

[Mass]

12. Yes she has/

Very complimentary for Kennedy. Not surprisingly very negative for McCain.

[whometense]

13. Do you have a link?

Or a site? Was that in the news?

[TayTay]

14. AP Daybreak Alert

PEACE MOM-MARYLAND

NEW: Cindy Sheehan not feeling well at Maryland event

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) _ Peace mom Cindy Sheehan left an event at the University of Maryland Tuesday night because she wasn't feeling well.

Shay Lohmon, who is traveling with Sheehan, says she is O-K and just needs to rest.

Many supporters came out for the event in College Park called "The Iraq War and the Cost at Home." It was hosted by several university groups.

Sheehan spoke for about ten minutes about her son before she left.

The California woman who has used her son's death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

Sheehan is scheduled to meet with Senator John Kerry Wednesday in Washington and is expected to be there.

[Mass]

15. Here

Kennedy http://meetwiththemothers.org/userdata_display.php?modin=50&uid=453

McCain is not updated on the website, but it should be on Harball transcript, same thing for Clinton.

[karynnj]

17. Thanks for the link

[emulatorloo]

16. self delete

i need more coffee

[paulk]

18. what's wrong with Arriana?

there's a career to be made as an equal opportunity opportunist political pundit. Bash the right with left wing talking points - bash the left with right wing talking points - voila! Instant credibility with both the right and left freeper crowd...

[kerrygoddess]

37. I posted this in another thread here...

My response to Arianna -

“Forgive Me While I Tear My Hair Out”
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=713

[karynnj]

9. Definitely agree

In the last few weeks, it has been almost comical seeing what the RW press has found "damaging" to Kerry:
-Calmly eating dinner in a restaurant without turning to watch Bush and putting out a response that said a speech several days later doesn't make up for the federal government's lame response. (Now, if they had Kerry either demanding the TV be turned off or sitting making rude comments to the TV - that would have been a story. )
- This film that at worst shows he doesn't sit still well and has lots of supporters who swear a lot doesn't seem a problem.
- And he's an angry Democrat when the majority of the country is angry too.

These 3 accusations are milder than the worst thrown by the LW!

[TayTay]

19. New York Observer has a story about this film

Part snarky stuff we have heard before, but not.

http://www.observer.com/pageone_newsstory4.asp

This will also be buried by the Delay announcement.

[whometense]

20. NICE

picture!!

[whometense]

21. Thanks for the link

Some interesting bits in there:

Their content, sometimes telling, sometimes mundane, offers no insight at all into Mr. Kerry himself...

<snip>

...Rosenbaum said this film’s target is not Mr. Kerry but the Democrats’ campaign machine more generally, one that, as he sees it, has played too much defense.

<snip>

Senator Joe Biden offers a little harangue on that point about halfway through the film:

“Who gives a shit whether you think or anybody thinks they’re going to stick to a message,” he tells a reporter. “The story is what’s coming out of (Mr. Kerry’s) mouth. Not whether Joe Lockhart got trumped by me or anyone else to change the message.”

And I love this one:

Mr. Kerry’s spokesman, David Wade, e-mailed this response to Inside the Bubble (which he said he had not yet seen): “Beyond our immediate families I don’t know who will watch recycled footage of our sleep-deprived existence, but you can sympathize with a film producer struggling to peddle a white elephant. Now if only they had inside access to Michael Brown’s team at FEMA, then you’d have a blockbuster.”

For an after-the-fact little campaign documentary, Rosenbaum's getting maximum mileage from trying to stir up controversy.

[TayTay]

22. I agree. And it sounds like the NY Observer was not impressed

with this as a film. It is not involving and doesn't work as a film.

Sen. Kerry has his critics. He has always had his critics. It is an endemic part of politics to pile up enemies and people who want some one else to win. It's just what happens. This will neither tip scales in this regard or change minds. (IMHO.)

The more you do or say or act, the more people come after you. That's just the way things are. Screw 'em and keep on swimming is the best course of action.

[whometense]

23. I do think the most

negative thing said about Kerry

Unaddressed by Mr. Kerry’s backers, but evident in the film, is the question of whether the candidate’s personal distance played a role in his defeat.

“I’ve seen 500 hours of footage and I shook his hand, I’ve stood in a room with him and I’ve heard him speak 25, 50 times, and I don’t know him,” said Mr. Rosenbaum. “Maybe he’s not knowable.”

is plain wrong and stupid, and reflects more on Rosenbaum than it does on Kerry. The film clips I saw showed pretty clearly who he is as a person. And Rosenbaum's comment sounds like what we usually hear about Kerry from talking heads/journalists. If Kerry kept his distance from someone who was filming the behind-the-scenes story of the campaign (and presumably hoping for a chance to make him look ridiculous), it's a big well, duh! Kerry didn't want to be your best friend? Gee.

[Mass]

25. I agree with you.

[karynnj]

27. Or maybe he was so real, Rosenbaum couldn't find the facade

that for so many politician becomes who they are portrayed as. What amazes me is that so many of us were struck by how real he really was - even when we just saw him on C-SPAN rallies. Although there are things Kerry has done none of us would have predicted,I don't think there were any posts, saying anything he's done in the last 9 months deviates from or changes anyone's overall perspective of him. Most things simply strengthen impressions already held. To me this is an implicit test that our picture is probably reasonably accurate. (But it's obvious that he REALLY knows Bill and Hillary - or he knows what they want him to know. Even after 8 years as first lady, there were things Clinton said or did that challanged my picture of her. )

More interesting than the comments on a movie that is to the campaign as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is to Hamlet were some random 2008 comments. I thought the juxtaposition of Edwards vs Kerry, a la the Brooks article was interesting - The observer picking up the same theme. The comment that "the opening" is to the right of Mrs. Clinton was weird. They did place Kerry correctly to the left of Clinton and called her pro-war.

[whometense]

28. I love that.

So real, Rosenbaum couldn't see what was right in front of him. Yes, I think that's a brilliant observation. And explains why Kerry is so appealing to "regular people" who are not looking for anything so complicated, and just react to the man they see in front of them.

Wow, I'm impressed!

[karynnj]

36. I just saw the clips -needed to find a computer

with less of a firewall. Seeing it made many things far less likely to be negative. Rosenbaum himself is so absolutely unlikable, that his saying he never learned who Kerry was does absolutely no damage.

How anyone can think the interview reflected badly is beyond me. I am absolutely impressed that he stayed pleasant and soft spoken; even though he looked totally exhausted, the remote interview was totally messed up, the room was hot, very small, and apparently smelly (from Kerry's cute comment). As a test can we put Bush in the same situation?

Rosenbaum himself came across as one of the most annoying people I've ever seen. I'm actually glad he made the SBVT comment - it discredits him , not Kerry. His patronizing comments about controlling the NYT's shoot made we wonder why, if this is how he talks, why did anyone let him in ever. Oddly, the contrast between this obnoxious, narssisistic nobody and the polite, respectful person who at that point had a real chance to be President may be a comparison people will at least sub-consciously make.

I loved the tiny part in the top clip where Kerry was standing with Teresa at the beginning of a rally.

[ginnyinWI]

29. I think you've nailed it, Karyn

Rosenbaum was looking for the candidate behind the facade--and there isn't one! Jokes on him--lol.

The Kerry I saw on these clips is a very real human being, and I don't mean that in a negative sense. He's lived practically his whole life in the public eye, and would probably have gone nuts a long time ago if he had tried to be one person in public and another person privately. To him it's not only more honest, but also more do-able to just confidently be himself. And yeah, we Kerrycrats have had him under the microscope for a long time and have yet to see any sign of phoniness.

[whometense]

30. It really is incredible how cynical

we've learned to be about our public officials. When someone like Kerry comes by the pundits have no idea what to make of him, so they just label him a phony and do everything they can to make sure that it sticks.

What is most disheartening is the willingness of people on the left to do the same. I expect it from the right, but from the left? I still can't get over that. I was so excited to have a chance to vote for someone whose integrity and moral courage couldn't be questioned for president last year. (shows what I know, doesn't it?) They don't seem to get how rare that chance was.

[ginnyinWI]

31. The far left is indeed very cynical

And some are quite gullible in my opinion. So in some sense our far-left is as bad as the GOP's far-right. Both can be stirred up using emotional appeals. Both have the tendency to just react in a knee-jerk fashion and think in black-or-white. sigh.

Our far-left seems to be very fickle, and tends to like the underdog. Example: when Cindy was the underdog, it was, "go, Cindy!". Now she is gaining some stature, and is beginning to become a target for criticism from some factions. Another underdog was Howard Dean in the primaries. And Kucinich. And Wes Clark. They like to target those with power and real influence--how dumb is that? I guess they don't identify much with them, which says a lot about them, not the objects of their criticisms. Very cynical and open to RW talking points about our Dems. Not a positive force. Fortunately they are not the majority of the party. You would think they'd have enough targets to hit on the other side of the aisle--but then they have to extend it to our Dems.

It helps me so much to get away from the DU mindset and listen to and read other commentaries. Helps keep it all in perspective. DU-JKG is the exception, of course!! :) We are the opposite of maintstream DUers--we are positive, not cynical, thoughtful, not knee-jerk, unified, not divided.

[WildEyedLiberal]

34. God, no kidding

Every time I get out of a flame war in GD, I have to remind myself that these people are NOT EVEN CLOSE to being mainstream liberals, let alone mainstream voters.

[Mass]

24. I guess this is the chore of the message

For whatever reason, Rosenbaum did not like Kerry. Probably because Kerry is more concerned by real people than by reporters, and probably because he was not given full access and is making the movie a messenger for his unhappiness.

Anyway, the movie seems very boring.

Unaddressed by Mr. Kerry’s backers, but evident in the film, is the question of whether the candidate’s personal distance played a role in his defeat.

“I’ve seen 500 hours of footage and I shook his hand, I’ve stood in a room with him and I’ve heard him speak 25, 50 times, and I don’t know him,” said Mr. Rosenbaum. “Maybe he’s not knowable.”

[kerrygoddess]

26. Adding to what Ron has posted..."The Snore Room"

Via info from staff:

The “Snore Room”
The rightwing blogosphere is attempting to make a big deal about the documentary Inside the Bubble, a behind-the-scenes look at the Kerry campaign. After viewing the clips available online, I think the working title should be ‘The Snore Room.’ Beyond Kerry staffers and volunteers, I doubt anyone would want to watch the recycled footage of the sleep-deprived existence of a few members of Kerry’s campaign staff.

We all remember the documentary on the Clinton campaign, The War Room. The War Room was popular because it starred James Carville, Paul Begala, and George Stephanopoulos. ‘The Snore Room’ stars mid level Kerry campaign staff, primarily advance team and logistical support staff. Insinuating “what went wrong” revolved around this select group of staff, is absurd. If this is Steve Rosenbaum best attempt at getting “inside the bubble,” someone needs to burst his bubble.

One can certainly can sympathize with the film producer because he is obviously struggling to peddle this white elephant, to recoup the expense of making the film. From the looks of one clip Rosenbaum has taken his flop and sold it as a shill to the infamous Swift Liars and the red elephants (or rejoicing republicans, as the promo says).

My sources tell me that the Inside the Bubble crew traveled very sporadically with the Kerry campaign as members of the Traveling Press. The film crew was granted no inside access to senior staff members, no access to the top decision-makers or the decision-making process, and virtually no access to John Kerry, himself. One former campaign staffer notes never seeing the film crew at HQ. Most of the footage has already ended up on the failed TV show, “Staffers” and no doubt the cutting room floor.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=702

[TheDonkey]

32. I was intrested in this movie. Seemed like a good idea

The Kerry campaign had flaws and maybe by having a truthful report of them he and other Democrats could learn from them and correct it.

But hearing things like it's just a sloppy made Kerry campaign bash is ridiculous. Will most likely be ignored and dumped into the bin of Celcious 4-11 or whatever that movie was called.

[TayTay]

33. Actually I agree. There were systemic flaws

ANd whoever the next nominee is (and I have my favorite choice, of course) would do well to pay attention to them. It will be crucial for the next election and for the one after that and so forth.

All campaigns make mistakes. (Cuz they have real live humans running them. Never met a perfect one of them before.) Kery's campaign made mistakes, so did That Friggin Idiot.

That said, there was some real catnip in those clips. Sigh! Speak Italaina to me, Sneator. ORder dessert or something, I don't know. Just speak Italian again.

[TheDonkey]

35. yea, it will be fun to relive some of the campaign

and remember the excitment and memories! Makes me feel hopeful then I see Bush on tv.... and that hope dies haha.

[Vektor]

38. HORSE SHIT:

(and if the momentum wasn’t stopped by Bin Laden’s pre-election statement they might have been correct).

Grrrrrrr! :grr:

He did not "lose" because of that stupidity. All that Bin Laden shit did was make Bush look worse - after all, why is he still free as a bird and making videos? That tape had nothing do do with the THEFT of the 2004 election. Kerry won, but Wally O'Dell, Bush buddy and owner of Diebold made sure that little fact never saw the light of day.

I am so sick of people claiming Bush "won" because he is "tough on terror."

WHAT A BUNCH OF SHIT.