Posted on 08/05/2004 12:44:11 PM PDT by truthandlife
He called for an end to ALL THESE ACTIVITUES.
That isn't cutting the SBV off at the knees. He's saying "Oh, can't we just stop all this negative campaigning?" knowing full well NOTHING will stop any of it right now.
McClellan is merely saying "Tut-tut, this is all so bad, can't we all just get along?" while the ads continue.
This is fabulous! I hope the WH sticks to this line of offense. It more or less side steps remarking on the 'Nam vets vs. Kerry controversy while highlighing the hypocrisy of the media & Dems.
Of course, the press secretary should have responded:
I will respond to this question as soon as you demonstrate that you asked John Kerry to repudiate Farenheit 9/11!
"The President supported the bipartisan campaign finance reforms that were passed, and he felt that they improved the system. And that's why he signed them into law."
The truth now comes out!
At the time he signed it the argument was that it was unconstitutional and would be struck down by the court!
They aren't CBS (See BS) for nothing....
It sounds to me like the White House handed a hatchet to the dnc and dared them to cut their own legs out from under themselves. At the same time, the White House has given the Swift Boat Veterans the front page and lead story for at least a day. Their ad will get more free airtime now and in many more markets. In addition to this, kerry's team comes out looking like the bad guy with all the sick lawyers ready for blood. This is a win-win for both President Bush and the Swift Boat Veterans. They get the attention they wanted applied to kerry's lies and President Bush gets an opportunity to take out a few of the 527s aiming at him.
I agree, Ron---I hate McCain-Feingold too. HOWEVER, given that it is the law of the land, and that Bush already made the boneheaded mistake of signing it, I think it was rather skillful maneuvering on the Bush administration's part to use the Swift Boat controversy to bring the issue back to soft money campaigning. It prevents them from having to come right out and condemn the vets, while at the same time putting healthy distance between the administration and the advertisement.
I mean, let's look at it clearly: there is no doubt whatsoever that MoveOn.org and other Dem 527's are violating the letter and spirit of the law---a law that MoveOn.Org's biggest sponsor George Soros pushed for! That man, and his petty little organization, deserves to be hoisted by its own petard.
CBS staffers must be hard of hearing.
I should add, I think it is important to express outrage at kerry and the media (and even the WH as you may wish to do). It lends some levity to the situation and draws the cameras in for a closer look, thereby building upon the frenzy.
Not necessarily. Its a nice way of saying "we won't condemn them until Kerry condemns moveon.org, Soros, etc." which ain't never gonna happen! So, the WH is on record calling for an end to all of these kinds of ads, but didn't question the credibility of the group or their accusations. Its political maneuvering - not as personally satisfying as saying "shove it," but in political terms its about the next best thing!
Not necessarily. Its a nice way of saying "we won't condemn them until Kerry condemns moveon.org, Soros, etc." which ain't never gonna happen! So, the WH is on record calling for an end to all of these kinds of ads, but didn't question the credibility of the group or their accusations. Its political maneuvering - not as personally satisfying as saying "shove it," but in political terms its about the next best thing!
You hit the nail right on the head. I vote to make you press spokesman!
MR. McCLELLAN: The President deplores all the unregulated soft money activity..................
Then why did the White House sign the McCainiac CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW REFORM ACT??????????????????????
Disagree with McClellan being replaced. The press can't stand him because he is boring and stays on message. You must be doing something right if the press does not like you.
The way the media is so anti-Bush you want a guy that will follow the script and not go off the reservation. The media would crucify Bush if he did.
You are being very selective in your choice of quotes. If you read the entire interview, you will see that McClellan went out of his way to avoid singling out the SwftVets group, refused to call for them to stop the ad, and instead, kept pointing out that the Dems have been doing this for months. Basically, he said, "We'll only stop if you do." This is exactly the right tone - distancing themselves from the ad itself, which is necessary to keep the ad from being portrayed as a Bush trick, while not denouncing the content of the ad or the group.
If Kerry was smart, he'd fire all of his campaign advisers and follow the advice that Rush gives to him daily on his show.
Perfect. Hopefully, now some will start asking whether these charges are true.
Frank Burns for president LOL
NFP
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.