Offense vs Defense
Reported by Eleanor - August 10, 2004 -
Almost every big political issue of the day was discussed on Special Report w/Brit Hume (6:00 p.m.).
The big issues of the day were:
- Kerry's support for the war - Republicans claim Kerry said he would have voted for war even without WMD in Iraq. Democrats claim that Kerry's words are being twisted. It was the "way" Bush went to war without allies, not the issue of accountability of Sadam, that Kerry was talking about.
- Yucca Mountain - Kerry is against putting radio active wastes in the mountain. Republicans see this as a new position and a "naked attempt to court Nevada votes."
- Viet Nam - Christmas in Cambodia 1968 - was Kerry there or not? Kerry says now he was "near" Cambodia. Also, republicans, with the help of Hume and Bill Cowan, asked if serving "with someone" and serving "on the boat" are the same thing. Bill Cowan, Fox Military Analyst, indicated that one can observe better if you are near but not on a boat.
- Vet vote - Kerry wiped out Bush's 15 point lead with vets after the convention. Now Kerry is ahead one point. Kerry hopes to "peel away" GOP votes in states like Florida where 1 in 5 voters are vets who go to the polls.
- Democrats want Congress in session in August to discuss the 9/11 Report. Republicans want to work in Congressional Committees. Democrats have 1/2 of their people in Washington now to show that they are not weak on national security issues.
- Is the Swift Boat ad illegal? Veterans for Truth say they don't tell voters how to vote - they're just telling the truth. A "loophole" or technicality allows 527 organizations to spend as much money as they want as long as they don't coordinate with the campaign. This issue probably won't be resolved until after the election.
- Some journalists might be charged with contempt of court for not appearing before a grand jury in the Valerie Plame case. If they take it to the Supreme Court, they will probably have to testify.
- Teresa Heinz Kerry is worth somewhere between one and three billion dollars. She gives money to private foundations that she likes, to help them with their projects and to fight for what she and they believe in. Some of these foundations are environmental organizations. There is a question about whether or not she will have to resign if she becomes First Lady. She says she won't resign. Some of the organizations that Teresa funds attack Bush's environmental policies and have lawsuits to shut down polluters. A comment was made about Teresa's lifestyle, her five homes, SUV's, jet, etc. that do not reflect ecological values.
Comment: Key questions for me are: Who sets the agenda as to what issues make the news? Who drives the national dialogue? Who's on the offense and who's on the defense? Right now, and I suspect until November, the republicans are on the offense as they put the democrats on the defense on almost every single issue. That strategy keeps the national conversation off Bush's miserable record. But in spite of the fact that we're discussing the republican talking points, they're still losing the game. Look at the issues discussed:
1. Regardless of how much Kerry is put on the defensive on the war in Iraq, he didn't start it, and he doesn't own it. Bush does. Iraq and oil are big negatives for the republicans no matter what, so they will try to keep the attention off this issue as much as they can.
2. Of course, Kerry is trying to get votes in Nevada. That's why he's there. What's "blatant" about that? Bush would be better off if he changed his mind about a few things too.
3. Viet Nam: No matter how much the republicans try to use Viet Nam against Kerry, the fact is that Kerry was there in the heat of battle of his own accord; he was injured; he got medals; he objected to the war when he got home, and 30 years later, most people agree with that opinion. Bush was in the States, in the National Guard, with serious unanswered questions about that service. It's likely that the majority of vets will value voluntary service under fire if they consider the war at all.
4. The bi-partisan 9/11 Report made the value of presence in Washington in August a draw, and since the republicans have a majority, they drive the agenda as to when and how the 9/11 Report will be implemented, at least for now.
5. The Plame case has not gone away just because the 9/11 Report details varied somewhat from Wilson's story. The fact is that someone in or close to the White House "outed" a CIA agent. The best the republicans can hope for is to keep this out of the news as much as possible until after the election.
6. Criticizing Teresa Heinz Kerry's support for the environment is a loser for the republicans, as well as pointing out her wealth. People admire her concern for the environment AND her wealth. They also find it distasteful to trash a candidate's wife.
The biggest problem the democrats have, at least until the debates, is that the republicans are keeping their total lack of accomplishment out of the news. All they can brag about are tax cuts. As long as they can keep the democrats on the defensive, they control the agenda.
