McCain Campaign Manager In '04: "Nothing Is More Discomforting Than a Smear Campaign"

In 2004, long-time McCain campaign manager Rick Davis penned an op-ed for the Boston Globe, lamenting and lambasting the use of smears to win presidential campaigns.

The essay titled, "Anatomy of a Smear Campaign," detailed how Sen. John McCain suffered from smears when running against then-Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary, and made the following observations:

-- "Every presidential campaign has its share of hard-ball political tactics, but nothing is more discomforting than a smear campaign."

-- "It's not necessary, however, for a smear to be true to be effective."

-- "Rebutting tawdry attacks focuses public attention on them, and prevents the campaign from talking issues."

Davis went on to urge the 2004 presidential nominees "to publicly order their supporters not to go there," as that was "[t]he only way to stop the expected mud-slinging."

More on the change of heart from McCain and Davis over at LiberalOasis.

Follow Bill Scher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billscher

Comments

[SamEllison]

That was advice for Kerry, play nice, don't use the ammo that he could have.
And we stupidos took the bait.

[tel8034]

What a difference a huge drop in the polls makes.

Rick Davis needs to re-read his own 2004 op-ed piece.

[only1Demvoter]

Well Bill, so far The Right has shown just ' in how little disregard ' they hold the truth, the lives of their fellow Man, the Constitution, the wellbeing of anyone other than themselves, the future of this great nation...

" No honor among thieves. " ... And all brought to you by the party of zero moral compass.

Holding them to any ' standard of intregrity ' is an errand of futile expectation. And pointing out their shortcomings is somewhat like shooting fish in a barrel, at this point.

Yet understandably, ' Fun ' !!

Besides : http://obeygiant.com/headlines/obama-delight ( Thanx to the poster that first put this up ! )

The truth reigns the day !!

All they can do with their derisiveness is further flush their false assertions down the drain !! Spin and deflection MUST incorporate a modicum of credibility... They posess none !


Thanx for another inciteful post Bill. -ralph

[Danigirl65]

Wow, it's simply amazing what a little "looking backwards" can do for a soul, eh??