When did Clark, Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards, Kucinich, CMB, and Sharpton...

[killbotfactory]

All pledge that every one of their supporters will support Dean if he's the nominee?

I'd like to know, since apparently it's a sin for Dean to admit the truth that some of his supporters won't all fall in lockstep behind the next democratic candidate if it isn't him, I'm sure the other candidates have pledged that all their supporters will get behind Dean if he wins, right?

[Padraig18]

1. I must have missed the news that night, too.

I'm too young for Alzheimer's, and I surely don't remember any of them saying that... :shrug:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Justice]

2. When Did The Media Ask Them About It?

This is what happens when media people ask questions of candidates.

Wasn't Dean answering a question by the media?

Let's ask the media why it hasn't asked the other campaigns. Why don't you ask the other campaigns.

Remember when Clark was asked about whether he'd be satisfied with VP -- and all the Dean supporters jumped all over his response?
Clark didn't volunteer the topic - he was answering a question.

But that didn't matter to some people - they wanted to know why Clark said anything. Why wasn't Clark silent on the matter. Why couldn't he have answered it differently....

Now Dean answered a question. Dean is free to answer questions as he sees fit. But he has to live with the answers he gives.

[killbotfactory]

6. I didn't slam Clark for his statement...

It seemd obvious that he's trying to focus on running for president, and that if he get's pegged as "Dean's VP" it would be hard for him to win.

I just don't see why Dean's getting berated for speaking facts. He can't possibly guarantee that his supporters will fall in line behind someone else, much less a typical washington politician.

[bearfartinthewoods]

26. was he? what question was he asked?

[Myra]

4. I missed that announcement as well.

I only saw one where Dean declared:

"If I don't win the nomination, where do you think those million and a half people, half a million on the Internet, where do you think they're going to go? I don't know where they're going to go. They're certainly not going to vote for a conventional Washington politician."

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/12/28/dean/index.html

[Padraig18]

7. You edited that statement nicely, Myra.

Why don't you include the remainder of the quote where he says he will support the nominee and urge his supporters to do the same?

[killbotfactory]

9. That wouldn't make Dean look as bad, though...

And that's just unacceptable.

[StephNW4Clark]

5. Well my goodness...

...the arrogance knows no bounds.

Clark is the one candidate who specifically stated he wouldn't go negative on any of the Democratic candidates, and has kept his word.

He's asked his supporters to support him in the primary, but do everything they can to get Bush out of office. It's not too much of an intellectual leap to assume that means voting for the Democratic nominee.

But seeing as this is a Dean campaign - I'm guessing you need that written in blood, with a pledge of my first born child.

You wonder why there's so much venom between the campaigns...

And quite frankly, let's see the charity Dean has shown ALL Democrats. Those who may be more centrist have been labeled as belonging to the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, Al Gore tells us to stop supporting anyone else because Dean's polling at a whopping 16% of Democratic voters, and now Dean comes out with this statement.

Fine - assert that he means that his supporters won't just go with the Party. But (and this is giving him the MASSIVE benefit of the doubt) he meant it in the most innocent manner, at least get him to phrase comments better. **IF** he's the nominee, he's going to need to work on delivery of the message as well.

[killbotfactory]

10. Arrogance?

Stating that he'll fight for the democratic nominee, whoever it is, and urge his supporters to do the same is arrogance?

I don't know, maybe some of you guys don't realize that the Dean campaign is not the Borg and aren't full of mind-controlled zombies who will do Dean's bidding?

[rucky]

8. How dare you try to turn the tables like that!

shocking and offensive! pshaw! double pshaw!

[Justice]

11. Emphasis on the word Try.

[maddezmom]

12. none

and none have spoken about their supporters not supporting the nominee either.

[killbotfactory]

13. Right...

They just all refused to say Dean could beat Bush, and/or was weak on national security who shows "muddled" thinking, and flipflops, and is from the Gingrich wing of the democratic party.

Nothing so bad as to saying you don't know what your supporters will do, doubt they will all fall in line behind the democratic nominee, but will ask them to do so, anyway.

[KittyWampus]

16. What Does Their Refusal To Say Dean Could Beat Bush Have Any Relevance?

We are talking about the words that came out of Dean's mouth... and the implications of those words.

Why change the subject?

[killbotfactory]

18. I was asking a question.

If you don't want to answer it, that's fine. But I thought it was relevent seeing as the board is being flooded by righteous indignation against Dean for answering a question honestly.

[mitchum]

31. That should be the conversation-stopper right there...

but, of course, it won't be.

[KittyWampus]

14. When Did They Make A Point Of Saying Their Supporters Would Or Would NOT

be transferrable?

Why in earth would Dean feel compelled to say such a thing except to use it as a veiled threat?

[killbotfactory]

15. Because he was asked about it...

And has a grassroots organization the other campaigns can only dream about.

[KittyWampus]

17. Dean Was Asked If His Supporters Were Transferrable?

Link?

[killbotfactory]

19. I assume he made these comments in a press conference of some kind

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/29/politics/campaigns/29DEAN.html?ex=1073365200&en=9ea1ffc64c5e720d&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

Usually they ask the candidate questions and he responds.

[arewethereyet]

20. its more that they didn't threaten lack of support

not so easy to shake that gaffe or rather those gaffes off.

There is no place for threats in this.

[killbotfactory]

21. Can they guarantee all their supporters will go to someone else?

Why is this a controversy. Supporters of democratic candidates are mind-controlled robots, and I'm sure have different reasons for supporting who they support.

[arewethereyet]

28. no but they wont threaten non-support off the cuff

and they would say something more like I would encourage my supporters to join me in working hard for X.

As opposed to Dr Dean's phrasing.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. Find me a quote by any candidate saying THEIR votes were NOT

transferrable to a "Washington Insider" which BTW was the exact same rhetoric George Bush used to distinguish himself.

[killbotfactory]

23. I can't really... but...

Why would any of their supporters back Dean if he's "weak on national security", "displays muddled thinking", "wants to raise your taxes", is a "rookie" who is out of the "mainstream", etc... ?

Is that encouraging support for Dean if he's the eventual nominee?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Distinguishing bonafide differences isn't the same as sending code talk

to your supporter not to vote for those that beat you.

[killbotfactory]

25. It wasn't code talk... it was straight talk...

Dean can't guarantee that his supporters will flock to another candidate. That's just the simple truth.

[Padraig18]

27. They know that, killbotfactory.

They're just grasping at straws...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. With all due respect, I am not grasping

I really think the ugliness and divisiveness coming from ALL the frontrunners is to OUR (that equal YOURS AND MY) detriment.

I have some criticisms of Dean as I do other candidates..I am NOT committed to a candidate as of yet and will gladly vote for Dean if he gets the nod.

So please don't group me in with anyone other than myself.

I stand by my sentiment that he IS attempting to threaten with this statement that he has now made on more than one occasion.

If he is SO FUCKING INSPIRING, then I suspect he can inspire to vote for the eventual candidate should it NOT be him, as can ALL of the candidates.

[clarknyc]

29. No candidate can

Dean can't guarantee that his supporters will flock to another candidate.

Or can they? Talk about marching in lockstep!

[Upfront]

34. Union International's

Tell the troops who to vote for, but knows some won't. Dean has brought lots of new voters in because he is different. Who kmows what they will do if it is not Dean. If you want to return the party to the days when big money did not control both partys, you might want to listen to Dean. These new voters are for him because they can see a real difference worth voting for. I am an old voter who always votes and I see the difference also. I have been waiting since they killed Bobby Kennedy for this kind of difference. He is here! It is Dr. Dean!

[corporatewhore]

32. i dont know why dean supporters wouldnt vote dem if he doesnt

get the ticket becausehe is allready shown himself to be a business as usual dem if people are willin to compromise for him why wouldnt they compromise for another business as usual dem(not saying its bad or good)

[arewethereyet]

33. thats not really the point

this is nothing more than a threat that his 1.5 million supporters will be unavailable if he doesn't get his way.

Now that I see that, who cares. The swing voters will flock to Edwards is far greater numbers anyway.

And you are right to assume that Dr Dean's supporters will pull the "D" lever despite his threats.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

35. They don't need to make threats?

eom

TWL