From Bush, Unprecedented Negativity (WP)

[VolcanoJen]

Oh, wow... Rove isn't gonna like this front-page treatment. Absolute must-read, everyone!

From Bush, Unprecedented Negativity
Scholars Say Campaign Is Making History With Often-Misleading Attacks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3222-2004May30.html

Excerpt

On Tuesday, President Bush's campaign began airing an ad saying Kerry would scrap wiretaps that are needed to hunt terrorists.

The same day, the Bush campaign charged in a memo sent to reporters and through surrogates that Kerry wants to raise the gasoline tax by 50 cents.

On Wednesday and Thursday, as Kerry campaigned in Seattle, he was greeted by another Bush ad alleging that Kerry now opposes education changes that he supported in 2001.

The charges were all tough, serious -- and wrong, or at least highly misleading. Kerry did not question the war on terrorism, has proposed repealing tax cuts only for those earning more than $200,000, supports wiretaps, has not endorsed a 50-cent gasoline tax increase in 10 years, and continues to support the education changes, albeit with modifications.

Scholars and political strategists say the ferocious Bush assault on Kerry this spring has been extraordinary, both for the volume of attacks and for the liberties the president and his campaign have taken with the facts. Though stretching the truth is hardly new in a political campaign, they say the volume of negative charges is unprecedented -- both in speeches and in advertising.

[goclark]

1. Keep it coming-great that someone is saying it

Great!!!

[freetobegay]

2. Thanks, thats a great read!

[union_maid]

3. I hope this story gets out there

Negative ads are a double edged sword. People are influenced by them but they can be turned off by them, too.

[Career Prole]

4. Alllright!!! That link's making the rounds tonight!

Every freeper I know is getting it in their e-mail. Thanks!
:bounce:

[KC21304]

5. I hope the Kerry people put out some ads

quoting this story. I see Bush ads here quoting negative stories about Kerry from newspapers. And the ads don't say they are quoting from opinion pieces.

[VolcanoJen]

6. The article gives Kerry a hard time for overstating Bush's ad spending...

... during recent rallies. Apparently, Kerry has been saying that Bush has spent $80 million on negative ads, and that's not true (yet).

But, here are some true, shocking stats from the Bush camp, per the WP article:

Three-quarters of the ads aired by Bush's campaign have been attacks on Kerry. Bush so far has aired 49,050 negative ads in the top 100 markets, or 75 percent of his advertising. Kerry has run 13,336 negative ads -- or 27 percent of his total. The figures were compiled by The Washington Post using data from the Campaign Media Analysis Group of the top 100 U.S. markets. Both campaigns said the figures are accurate.

Later in the article, they mention "Flipper the Flip-Flopping Dolphin" and other cutesy toys the Bush Youth enjoy taunting Kerry with at his rallies. In Cincinnati, the Bush Youth employed actual flip-flop sandals for this tactic.

Amazing article... it's not the desired effect, in terms of the Bush camp, to reap early negative press from their latest series of ads. Also, when you think about it... what in God's name do they have in store for us after Labor Day? Usually, the truly heinously negative stuff doesn't start until mid-September.

[corriger]

7. my god

these are children with powers not their own.


---I ask this, when will americanrealise their politics are devolved to games and television!

[yardwork]

8. A lot of Democrats are believing these accusations

including some posters here at DU. Find out of the facts before you gripe about Kerry, folks. Don't let the Bush camp determine your opinions. It's ok to gripe, but let it be evidence-based.

[corriger]

9. factual yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my belief is that this entire two party system is broken.

This hijacked systeme of ballance.

[niceypoo]

20. Kerry never says anything

He lets the right steam roll himself

[sandnsea]

21. They have political agendas

They're more than happy to spread Bush lies for their own purposes.

[jdj]

34. go to the d-bunker blog at johnkerry.com to check facts

it's at
http://blog.johnkerry.com/dbunker/

This is where they are responding to the negative ads and propaganda as they come out.

[mia]

10. Great news!

I'd just about resigned myself to the fact that Bush & Co. would be spinning their lies right up to the election.
It's significant that The Post pointed out distortions from both sides. Kerry doesn't need to spin to make a point, but Bush can do little else.

Let's hope that analysis of political ads is an ongoing trend.

[agincourt]

11. Is it possible the little pointy eyed rat lies?

Oh no! Now I'm one of those awful Bush-haters. If we're a democracy twenty years from now, these times will be looked at like the McCarthy era, only longer and worse.

[truthisfreedom]

12. lies incorporated strikes again... only this time, the media isn't playing

along like the good puppy press rove expects. holes are opening in the bushco dike.

[VolcanoJen]

13. Kerry should come out with new ads, making light of this issue.

He should hire his own Flipper the Flip-Flopper giant dolphin mascot, and they could make a commercial where Kerry punches him in the mouth, or gives him a great big bear-hug, or takes him down in a crushing, hilarious tackle (my favorite), complete with "ummph!!" sound from the mascot, depending on your preference (and the way the three endings played with test audiences, of course).

He could poke a little fun at Bush's negative barrage, and then wrap it up with a zinger like "It's time to have a serious dialog about the future of our country. These negative games won't get any of us anywhere."

[Just Me]

41. Unfortunately, there is plenty of research demonstrating that the negative

does tend draw people's attention. That is why the right-wingers have been ridiculously successful,...they have tapped into the human weakness of,...let's say,...someone else being "bad" (hence, we each are doing pretty good in comparison). Denial and rationalization are basic human weaknesses and the right has abused those two weaknesses to its benefit.

I like your idea of poking fun at Bush's negative bashing. However, I would take that and then divulge the whole truth about the betrayal and deception and stonewalling by Bush. Notwithstanding our weaknesses, we HATE being lied to and we all still value "the truth".

Truth still matters.

[maggrwaggr]

14. why is this great news? The ads will run, people will believe them

and the damage will be done.

Kerry will be on the defensive about the accusations and the fuckwads will have done thier damage.

[VolcanoJen]

16. I don't recall a previous election where a major newspaper...

... called out the negative and misleading advertisements of an incumbent president, as early as May/June. In my experience (and I've only been watching elections closely since 1984), the press waits until long after the election is held to begin their "lamentations" about the effects of negative advertisements. This story in today's WP represents something of a break with conventional wisdom in election reporting, and I think it's significant.

I always felt that Bush was making a misstep by running negative ads so early. They very well may have a "burn-out" effect on voters, especially battleground voters. In my state, the ads literally blanket the airwaves... I used to pay attention; now they're nothing more than white noise to me. From both sides. I've already begun my own version of election ad fatigue, and it's only Memorial Day.

I sense a backlash, and I'm simply amazed that the Washington Post chose to run this story on A01.

[maggrwaggr]

22. cool. I see it as "rope a dope"

with Bush being the dope.

Thanks for the positive outlook on this. :)

[VolcanoJen]

24. I look at it this way: Bush expected to be in Reagan's shoes, 1984.

He wanted, in fact, likely felt entitled, to run his own "Morning in America" ads; in fact, he even tried them, at the very beginning of the campaign. Remember his failed attempt at "going positive?" Laura at his side, with Chimp proclaiming, chillingly, "I know EXACTLY where I want to take this country!" ads? Maybe they only showed them in certain states (aren't you in Cali, mag?), but they were everywhere in Ohio, right as the Dem Primaries wrapped up.

But, Rove/Bartlett made one crucial error in this ad... they casually slipped in a shot of a flag-draped coffin from 9/11, and their "positive" ad attempt backlashed almost immediately.

That was the first, and likely last, for awhile, "positive" ad we'll see from the Bush camp. I mean, honestly, what the hell shape would a "positive" Bush ad take, after the carnage of April 2004? The torture of May 2004? There's no "Morning in America" on any horizon for Bush.

I'm a "glass-half-full" kind of person, mag. I grow even more optimistic about Kerry's chances every time I read a major article like this one. :D

[calimary]

36. Yes indeed! It is SIGNIFICANT that this would even see the light of day.

A year ago, we here on sites like DU would be the ONLY ONES complaining about such negativity. Now that the Washington Post is coming out with a huge article about this - and on page A-1 indeed? - this is incredibly significant. This shows that the leash the White House has had around the neck of the press is starting to fray. In fact, it looks as though some people on that leash for so long have decided to start chewing through it.

[progressivebydesign]

15. This is making me ill. Here is how Kerry could handle this.

Short and Sweet. Voice Over: "You have seen the television ads about John Kerry . (montage of shots from the ads) George Bush has already run over 50,000 of them. All attacking John Kerry, the decorated Vietnam veteran, the long time senator. Why should you take notice of those ads? Because they're lies. Over 100 million dollars spent by the Bush campaign already, and all they can do is lie about John Kerry. Tell George W. Bush it's time to hear some truth coming out of the White House. Tell George W. Bush to stop the lies."

[virgdem]

17. You have come up with a decent idea for a response by the Kerry campaign

Why don't you send it to them and ask if they will consider using it. Couldn't hurt!!!

[calimary]

37. I second that.

Send it in! The wording is great. The message is great! They ought to cut and paste it straight away. It'd make a TERRIFIC campaign commercial. Do it!

[kentuck]

27. I think that is an excellent idea, Caliphoto...

People's attention needs to be drawn to the number of negative ads Bush and Rove have run..

[ZenLefty]

18. "the liberties this president and his campaign have taken with the facts"

That pretty much describes this administration succinctly.

[VolcanoJen]

19. And from Dana Milbank, et al, no less.

}(

[Leilani]

30. Dana Milbank has been tougher on Shrub than most

& he is supposedly hated by the White House.

[truthisfreedom]

23. this is destined to become the THEME of bush's campaign, and a real issue

in the media. it'll be great! it'll be all anyone talks about when bush is mentioned, and Kerry's tactic of saying bush has nothing to run on and everything to run from will be totally validated.

[VolcanoJen]

25. Count the Icky Kerry Faces on the Bush Website!

Josh Marshall's all over this story, too:

www.talkingpointsmemo.com

By all means, read the article, which, if following the dictates of Strunk & White, might be titled "Bush Campaign Lies with Unprecedented Frequency". But if you'd like a more immediate and tangible read on the sorts of campaigns the two are running, stop by the campaign sites of President Bush and John Kerry.

Now, look at how often, candidate A's face appears on the front page of candidate B's website, and vice versa. For instance, as of the early morning hours of Monday, John Kerry's face appears 6 times on the front of the Kerry website, while President Bush's face appears not once. On Bush's website, Kerry's face appears 4 times. Bush's face, not once.

Bush Website - Oooh!! Scary Kerry Faces!

Kerry Website - Just Say No To Bush Faces!

[kentuck]

26. That's why speeches like Gore's are so important....

They are not going to let up...It is going to be negative attack all the way....do not disarm.

[Just Me]

42. I agree. When the objective is ONLY about "winning" power,...

,...rather than empowering the people, the power brokers employ dirty tactics. Our people deserve to be valued and inspired and brought into the fold rather than treated like participants in a Jerry Springer circus.

Geez,...what happened to proving that we value all human life? What happened to the hope that anyone could make a difference?

[Cooley Hurd]

28. Apparently, this article hit home...

The latest Bush ad on CNN (just now) was the "no child left behind" ad (touting Bush as an edumacation reformer).

[robbedvoter]

35. Aparently not. See the Crossfire take on it (my e-mail)

"Some say that the Bush-Kerry showdown is going to be the most negative campaign in American history, but who is winning the mud-slinging contest? Are negative ads an effective substitute for a positive vision? And who would be the better commander-in-chief for America's military and veterans?"

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

29. They know what's coming...

The Republicans know that the news from Baghdad and the coming economic reports aren't going to be good. People are going to grow more frustrated with Iraq and more afraid for their financial future. Their only hope is to get people to dislike John Kerry enough that they'll cast a vote for Bush as the "lesser of two evils" in 2004.

There's a campaign slogan that inspires confidence: "Bush/Cheney 2004 -- Because We Don't Suck Nearly As Much As The Other Guys"

They also know that the Democratic convention is coming up, and that's going to provide a nearly double-digit bounce for Kerry. If he's already up by 8-10 points before the convention, it will create a nearly insurmountable lead (as for Bush Sr.). Their strategy right now is to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Kerry and home some of it sticks.

[snippy]

31. Good article but it only scratches the surface of the story of Bush's lies

Dear Mr. Milbank:

I enjoyed your article concerning the negativity and misleading attacks of the Bush reelection machine. However, the article only scratches the surface of the story of Bush's dishonesty.

The entire world knows that Bush is the most compulsive and incessant liar in the history of American politics.

For example:

Bush claimed that John McCain has an illegitimate Negro daughter and Bush said he would veto McCain-Feingold and the yawning boy was not there and was not yawning and besides he was standing some place else and Richard Clarke had complete access to Bush and Rice which proves that Clarke was out of the loop which is Clinton's fault but Clarke briefed the press on background about Bush fighting terrorism which means that unnamed White House sources may not be identified even when Bush wants to even if they criminally reveal the identity of a covert CIA employee and everyone except Bush himself knows where he was during his National Guard service but it was Clinton's fault that Bush did not show up for duty which was after Bush volunteered to go to Viet Nam but before he was no longer required to take a flight physical and about the same time that God ordered him to smite Saddam because the 60 lines of embryonic stem cells which do not exist and more arsenic in the water and more mercury in the air prove that republican science is better than sound science and the Bush administration did not illegally conspire to illegally reveal the identity of a covert CIA operative which resulted in 2 million new jobs being created because democrats support terrorism and are not good Americans just as the Jews were not good Germans which is why Bush said he would veto the creation of both the Department of Homeland Security and the 9/11 Commission but now claims credit for their creation and the White House is cooperating with the 9/11 Commission which is why the White House withheld documents and called the republicans on the Commission before Clarke testified and why the White House is not coordinating the attacks on the integrity and bipartisanship of the Commission since the dental xrays prove that Bush spoke with the CIA director everyday and did not ignore either the repeated warnings of the dangers of al Qaeda and Osama or the August 2001 intelligence briefing specifically warning of the upcoming 9/11 attacks because the United States is a nation with a mission and that mission is to bring freedom to every single person in the world which will cut the deficit in half if you do not count those parts of the deficit which will increase under Bush which is Clinton's fault but the boxes from China were labeled "Made in USA" which resulted in 2.6 million new jobs being created even though the $400 billion decorative Medicare turkey was not labeled $550 billion and was passed without bribery or criminal deception and was not criminally promoted by the Bush administration using taxpayers' money which proves that government spending under Bush has gone down if you do not count the increased government spending under Bush which is Clinton's fault and Bush's plane to Baghdad was spotted because before Saddam bought the uranium and became an urgent but not an imminent threat which is Clinton's fault Bush had no plans on his desk to invade Iraq since the invasion was not planned before Bush took office even though it was the subject of his first national security council meeting and in December 2001 when plans for the invasion were being finalized Bush said he was focused on the military operations in Afghanistan and then the aircraft carrier was too far offshore for the Navy to make a large enough "Mission Accomplished" banner to describe the WMD we have found in Iraq some of which Saddam was giving to Osama for following Saddam's plans and using Iraqi hijackers on 9/11 which is Clinton's fault but everyone who pays income taxes got a tax cut which created 3 million new jobs and allowed Iraqi oil revenue to pay for the cost of the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion by a small number of troops who would be greeted with floral program related activities except for the dead and wounded troops who are being brought home secretly which is Clinton's fault since Bush is the one who hugs the mothers and the widows and the wives and the kids and since Bush does not watch television news he did not know about the republican torture pranks occurring in Iraq until he saw the pictures while watching television news and that is why Bush who will use the jawbone of an ass to force OPEC to open the spigots and who is responsible for good economic numbers but not bad economic numbers which are Clinton's fault wrote the poem that he did not write blaming Laura for dropping the dog.

I would offer other examples of Bush's dishonesty but the heavy rains have loosened the topsoil on my keyboard.

There is no subject so somber, serious, or shallow that Bush will not lie about it. The only other option is not to lie. And that apparently is something Bush can not do.

FIRE THE LIAR !

Sincerely,

Snippy W Shrub
(the W stands for Whore but for some odd reason Bush thinks it stands for Vacation)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

32. Stop beating around the "Bush."

"highly misleading"
"the liberties the president and his campaign have taken with the facts"
"stretching the truth"
"wrong"


LIES!

[VolcanoJen]

33. Lies told by Lying Liars!!

:D

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

38. "Liberty Facts!"

Oy.

[Democat]

39. The media will never say that Bush lied, because they want him to win!

Bush never lies, he's too perfect!

[TrogL]

40. Welcome to the "big lie" methodology

They did it in 2000 and now they're doing it again.

Here's how it works.

Tell a bigass lie.
When opposition claims it's inaccurate, proclaim that's exactly what they would say whether it's true or not.
When the opposition begins to prove their point, tell another big lie.
Lie about lying.
Refer to non-existent articles, reports, documents, surveys, polls and websites.
Lie about telling the truth.
Deny everything even with introvertible evidence.
Attack opposition's character, health, sanity, intelligence, hair colour, hair style and anything else you can think of.
Keep doing it as quickly as possible in as many outlets as possible.

[Kukesa]

43. Kick!

This is a good one, Jen. Keep 'em coming.