Candidate "loyalty" to the Party

[Brian_Expat]

There's a big discussion about candidate loyalty.

Much has been said arguing that Dean is "disloyal" because he said he cannot guarantee that non-Democrats in his party will vote for someone else if they win the nomination. This has been described as disloyal.

However, there are other things that could be potentially viewed as "disloyal" too. A few examples:

When Wesley Clark absolutely ruled out the VP slot or another position in the party if he isn't the nominee, stating he only wanted the presidential slot, period, was that "disloyal?"

When John Kerry supports the war in Iraq despite a majority of the party opposing it, is that "disloyal"?

When Joe Lieberman agrees with Bush's foreign policy, is that "disloyal"?

What is "disloyalty" to the party? Who determines it?

[tsipple]

1. Some more measures of party disloyalty...

1. Ted Koppel asks all the candidates who believe that Dean can beat George W. Bush to raise their hands. None do. (Correct answer: a semi-trained monkey can beat George W. Bush, he's so awful.)

2. When a shadowy 527 group runs ads trying to compare Dean with Osama Bin Laden, then refuses to disclose its contributors. It was so bad, one of the unions that did contribute, the IAM, publicly denounced the ad and threatened to go get its money back. The other candidates were (mostly) mute.

3. When Zell Miller says he can't vote for any of the nine (nine!) Democratic candidates, and he endorses George W. Bush. I'm not sure I heard Terry McAuliffe criticize Zell Miller on this one.

4. When several candidates denounce Dean for saying that America is not safer with Saddam captured... and then the threat levels increases to orange. (Way to stay on Democratic message, guys.)

5. When many candidates drop out of the Washington, DC, primary, which just so happens to be the place with the highest percentage of African-Americans that will be voting in the Democratic nominating process. Why were so many candidates eager to ignore one of the most loyal and vital constituencies in the Democratic Party?

6. Helping the Republican Party raise money at a 2001 fundraiser.

7. Voting for Ronald Reagan and some other Republican presidential candidates. (As Jimmy Carter put it so wonderfully, "I can forgive... but my wife can't.")

Anyway, those are some. So I really wonder if there's more than a double standard at work here. But whatever. Lots of people just want to complain about Dean for the next few weeks, because that's all they've got to do I guess.

[Northwind]

2. Well said!

NBD '04

[dajabr]

3. For now, those with the white-knuckle grip on the Party...

And the ear of "friendly" journalists determine who gets smeared UNFAIRLY.

Good news is "People-Power" is coming on strong. And, you know what they say about the victors...they get to write the history.

[tsipple]

4. Yeah, Funny How Democracy Has a Habit of Catching Up...

...with the out-of-touch and corrupt. :7

[dajabr]

5. Speaking of out-of-touch and corrupt...

Here's a companion to Carville's comments. Disgusting!

Via Atrios:

[tsipple]

6. Hey, Isn't that Sign Against DU's Nickname Rules?

I guess it would be, wouldn't it?

[rucky]

7. Then the buck-toothed kid with the beanie gets a tombstone!

n/t