Dean's Got It Right: NEVER Apologize

[stopbush]

He's adopting Page One from the RW playbook - never apologize for anything anywhere anywho. It doesn't matter how egregious the act or statement, you never say "I'm sorry...I screwed up...I mis-spoke."

The R's have very successfully painted any type of apology as a sign of grave weakness. That's why they hop on any instance of LW speech and frame it as "offensive" and "needs an apology." It's a knee-jerk reaction and it works every time.

Go through the 2004 campaign and see how many times Dems were asked to "apologize" for some innocent or perfectly valid remark. Look at ANY criticism of fearless idiot. You could say that * wore two different socks and the Rs would demand an apology because you were "enabling the terrorists."

I hope that other Dems are taking notice and are ready to follow Dean's lead. RW refusing to apologize has worked very well for them - the stories disappear because the RW doesn't further compound the problem by giving it any air time. Dems should do the same, and Dean is taking the lead.

Go Howard!

[wryter2000]

1. Hear, hear

These sharks will jump on any sign of sensitivity so they can try to make us look weak. No more!

:loveya: Dr. Dean

[The Doctor.]

6. This bothers me greatly....

Although I agree that it is quite tactically correct of Dean to never admit error, it bothers me that both major 'sides' may be adopting this type of ignorance.

On another site, I have witnessed this.

One poster there made the misstatment, "A crime is a serious felony."

And I attacked the mistake. Perhaps I may have been overzealous, but I wound up proving something to myself.

I derided him for it, I pointed out the error quite broadly.

And, as I expected, he chose to defend the statement and try to prove my argument false.

It was kind of interesting, watching someone cling to something so obviously incorrect in an attempt to save face.
Especially since, on the internet, one has no face to save lest they choose to wear their own.

He decided to put me on his 'ignore list' so he wouldn't have to deal with me again rather than just say, "Ooops... my bad, that should have been the other way around."

Not being able to admit fault is another form of ignorance.
I understand that it is also perceived as strength.

I weep that we may all become more ignorant, oh... I mean "focused", to achieve all our ends.

[Southsideirish]

9. Oh, Lawd! This kind of "goo goo" thinking drives me up the wall!

Lets take the "high road" and proceed on the freeway to Loser Town.

In Loser Town live many high minded souls who sit around "tut tut-ing" about what we should and shouldn't do and they don't even know - that's why they lose all the time.

How much of his day do you think Rove spends worrying about the niceties of politics?

Yes, "zero." is the correct answer - that's why he is where he is and we are where we are. And I want very much to be where he is - on the winners side, no matter how "ugly" things have to become to get there.

[madfloridian]

10. Dean's belief is that our party may be inflicted with Stockholm Syndrome

I tend to think that may be true. For the last few years they have been afraid to speak lest they offend. Now it is time to speak even if we do offend a little.

It is time. There is a difference between admitting fault and apologizing for offending. Every damn thing the Democrats do offends the Republicans. They are even offended that Dean had the nerve to go to Kansas so soon. Kansas is theirs, and we have no right there.

That is how bad it has become. Dean should never apologize.

[Johnny Noshoes]

11. Bullies

Bullies don't like it when those they've been picking on finally realize that the only way to stop being "robbed of their lunch money" is to fight back. Now that we are AT LAST beginning to fight back the bullies are acting all huffy and wondering why we won't just "hand it over anymore." Well we just need to let 'em know that we're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it anymore - enough is ENOUGH.

[Starlight]

13. I agree completely. People who are afraid to stand up & fight

for what's right shouldn't be in politics in the first place. Anyone who is timid, apologetic & worried about offending or not be liked by repubs has no place in the Democratic party. :nopity:

[murray hill farm]

2. Yes!

He is something, that Dean! I so appreciate him...and believe my high hopes for him will not prove disappointing. Yes..go Dean!!

[pauliedee]

16. Kerry didn't apologize to Lynn Cheney...Loved it!!!

He laughed at them!!! They didn't care when Alan Keyes called her daughter a heretic...

[Demit]

3. You are so right. And so is Dean. I love the idea of him stopping them

in their tracks--like bullies whose tactics don't work anymore. Go Dean!

[gorbal]

4. nah, there are times you should apologize

I am hoping for a wopping huge apology from Mr GW sometime soon. Of course, that will somehow be orchestrated so that GW looks good. One thing Dems don't have, is the subtle mastery over the psychology of public opinion that Row and co have.

We do have their manifesto now though:)

[Kire]

12. yes, there are

after you get busted for something

part of this mantra should be, "never get in a situation where you need to apologize"

[Zenlitened]

5. Agreed. I think it's also good policy...

... to never say anything really complimentary of our opponents. Just say, for example, "they're on the right track" and segue right into describing how Democrats plan to address the issue, how Dems have embraced the issue for years, etc etc etc. That sort of thing.

Dr. Dean is very good at this. He knows how to make the most every opportunity in front of a camera or microphone, by TALKING UP our party and our beliefs, no matter how hard the interviewer tries to drag him down into a mud-wrestling contest responding to repuke's filthy tactics.

And he often seems to have a twinkle in his eye while he's doing it -- as if he's well-aware of the tactic and its effectiveness even as he employs it.

People-powered Howard!!! :) :) :)

[pauliedee]

18. I agree....Kerry ignored Bitch Cheney

I loved it ...didn't lose a wink...!!!

[Johnny Noshoes]

7. The only time you should apologize

in the political realm is when you are very obviously wrong and it is something serious. Many times our side has said I'm sorry when its something petty that the rethugs pick on and blow up way out of proportion. That is when you say hell no, make them look like the morans they are and move the discussion forward without giving these bastards a reason to keep harping on the originally petty bs. This is something that Dean is very good at and he seems to like cutting these idiots down with that great mischevious grin of his. Man you gotta love it.

[flaminbats]

8. Democrats have apologized long enough..

time for the :kick:

[Spinoza]

14. Yep, Clinton never should have apologised.

Never.

[pauliedee]

19. Yeagh Baby...Lynn Cheney can kiss my ass!!!

Yeagh Baby...Lynn Cheney can kiss my ass!!! She begged for Kerry to apologize for calling her daughter a dyke....:nopity:

He laughed at the bitch!!!!!!! :kick:

[ProudDad]

15. The Dems should ignore the pukes

They should frame a coherent message that resonates with traditional American Values and keep on the offensive.

Read "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff... That's how we're going to defeat the right-wing wackos... Dean wrote the forward...

[pauliedee]

17. Kerry didn't apologize to Lynn Cheney...Loved it!!!