A Lesson in Rovian Smear Tactics in the Media

[babylonsister]

http://www.diatribune.com/lesson-rovian-smear-tactics-media

A Lesson in Rovian Smear Tactics in the Media
Submitted by pioneer111 on Sat, 04/21/2007 - 20:19.

* Rove, Karl

A commenter in another diary wrote about the Edward's $400 haircut story and said:

...but this is the kind of thing that should not
have happened from an anti-poverty candidate

There is truth in this sentiment, but it is not the main issue. Any presidential candidate is not poor, so will be subject to something being found if someone is looking to find something. And obviously the reporters were looking for something. Why were they looking for such detail in expenses in John Edwards' campaign? They didn't do that to the other campaigns.

I would like you to consider this possibility. The Republicans learned new refined campaign tactics from Karl Rove. They used tactics that were totally unexpected by Democrats and, sometimes, we still don't know how to deal with them. This happened all the time to the Democratic candidates in at least the last two election cycles and we still have not developed a good defense. Whining about it doesn't help. You have to understand the strategy.

Rove taught the Republicans and the media to attack a candidate for his/her strengths not weaknesses. This sounds counter-intuitive but it is very effective.

more...

[napi21]

1. It's not counter intuitive at all. If you destroy a candidate's strengths,

all he has left are the weaknesses, and they take care of themselves.

[babylonsister]

5. I do wish the Dems would get the hang of this; while I don't want to be

affiliated with a party that smears so blatantly, I do wish the Dems would use some of Rove's same tactics when warranted (and I'm not talking haircuts).

[ClassWarrior]

6. Gratefully, I think they're starting to learn.

NGU.

[C_U_L8R]

2. how ironic - they destroyed their own "strengths" in the process

Not that the republicans ever had any true strengths
but they sure claimed to be the party of small government,
fiscal responsibility, strong defense and personal freedom.
Looks like they lose on all counts. At least that leaves them
with one core strength... corruption

[JDPriestly]

3. Actually, the Republican candidates' strengths are their weaknesses.

McCain -- the war hero, too timid and frightened to tell the truth about Iraq and/or Bush. Goes to the Baghdad market surrounded by military guards. And then there is that picture of him hugging Bush and lookiing very small in comparison to Bush -- who is not very tall himself. McCain is a male dominant wannabe -- he isn't the real alpha male at all.
Thompson -- the "movie star" not really very popular and not at all likable
Romney -- his super conservative "sincerity" -- so how did he get elected in a pretty liberal, blue state -- his religiosity -- how do his Mormon beliefs sell to Southern Baptists?
The list goes on. In each case, what the candidate sees as his strengths are actually his most vulnerable qualities.

[ClassWarrior]

4. Hey, I think you have the hang of it!

:hi:

NGU.

[GreenTea]

7. Republicans want Edwards GONE, This is how the republicans always work it...

in the background,slowly and then keep building (like rOVE did with John Shelley in California, IN THE BACKGROUND)...But most believe what the media tells them...they accept with no questions asked... As Obama & Hillary ARE shoved down our throats day after day after day and many believe they are really thinking for themselves...

ASK ANY WHAT JOHN EDWARDS PLATFORM IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR AND THEY DON'T KNOW SOME ONLY KNOW & CARE ABOUT A HAIRCUT OR HIS HOUSE.......THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN ARE BEING MANIPULATED.

The republicans want Edwards gone, the republicans, their corporate media and the DLC are feeding us Obama & Hillary each and every day AND you better take it...and we do...and we do believe they are thinking for themselves...fucking Rove & the republicans, always working to serve us up the weakeakest Dem Candidate...and why not, it makes it easier for the republicans, throw in some electronic voting machines, the weakest candidate, low turnout, find ways to keep people from voting and you have republicans again in total power.

Rove & the republicans are going to do all they can to get Edwards out of the race.

Bill Clinton is a brilliant man, a skilled & seasoned politician, a very charismatic person...John Edwards has all these same attributes & qualities, Hillary Clinton offers NONE of these attributes. John Edwards (thankfully) is much more liberal than either of the Clinton's!

Which is why the republicans and their media (and the DLC) will do anything to pick apart and get Edwards out the race as early as possible...They much prefer a Obama or Hillary which they can easily destroy via the huge moderate & swing voter base...Glad to see so many others are starting to get it.

Posted on Apr 20, 2007


"The folks at Gallup have noticed a unique trend in the race for the White House: Hillary Clinton’s numbers have been heading steadily down. In fact, no other candidate, whether Republican or Democrat, shows as clear and consistent a trajectory. Time for a May surprise? "


http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/hillarys_downward_spiral/

[JDPriestly]

9. How right you are.

Edwards is not a socialist. He is a capitalist. He favors economic development here in our country to respond to the problems of our world and our country. He is on the right track.

The conservatives have no solutions -- no ideas. They gambled every cent of political and economic capital they had on ensuring American domination over Iraq and its oil. And their investment is yielding absolutely nothing.

Conservatism is bankrupt. It's time for new ideas. Edwards has them.

I'm not ready to say that no other Democrat has them. I think we have so many talented and intelligent people vying for the Democratic nomination. But, I do like Edwards a lot. He is a problem solver. He is a brilliant man. I also like Obama. Gore and Clark would also make great presidents.

But, Edwards is out there. To get elected, you have to really want to serve. You have to really want to win. I think Gore and Clark want to serve, but I'm not sure they really want to fight to win the presidency. Gore should have fought harder in Florida. What prevented him from organizing Democratic activists to go down and make sure the votes were counted the way Bush sent down the thugs to make sure they weren't? Edwards is a fighter. He's out there even when the media is not paying that much attention to him. He believes in himself even when no one else does. It's those qualities of persistence and determination that mark a winner. Edwards has them.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Aren't You Forgetting Something? WHY Do the Rovian Smears Always WORK?

Because the Repiggie media repeats them all endlessly, while buring any stories
that are damaging to Repiglican candidates once the campaign is under way.



WE HAVE NO DEFENSE AGAINST THIS AS LONG AS WE ARE DEPENDENT
ON THE MSM TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT!

We need to go around the Repiglican media slime machine.
Al Gore is showing us the way.

[ClassWarrior]

11. You and I and the bloggers are showing us the way.

We are the Media 2.0. We WILL prevail, as long as we...

Never Give Up.

[GreenTea]

10. Rove has made it very clear, Edwards is the one he fears the most and wants out.

[jasmeel]

12. How does one defeat this type of attack? If you respond to it you've

already lost the argument by giving it credibility. If you don't respond then the RW noise machine (the media) just amplifies the story. Any ideas?? The last 2 election cycles it's been impossible.

[AndyTiedye]

13. The Only Way to Defeat the Repiglican Media is to Go AROUND Them

Al Gore is showing us the way.