Reply #227: People hear what they want to hear sometimes

[pazarus]

Admitting Dean made a mistake is about as far from Republican tactics as it can get. They proudly shelter their leaders from any internal criticism and condemn any voice from their own party that dares to speak out against even the most heinous of mistakes.

Look at DeLay right now. They'll defend him no matter what the ethics committee says he did. It's their style, and anyone who goes against it, like Shays, gets called names and practically cast from the party. They hate McCain now because he wants to preserve the filibuster. Anyone who steps out of line in their party gets the cold shoulder or is aggressively put back in place.

Not so with the Democrats. We're a lot more forgiving of debate ad discussion. We don't shield the public from dissent and put up a mask for the public. If one of our leaders makes a mistake, we can admit it without making the party weaker. If Clinton had admitted he made a little indiscretion early on, he would have headed off the impeachment and embarrassing investigation that happened.

Sometimes Democratic leaders, even ones you strongly believe to be infallible, can make a verbal faux pas. The Republican tactic is to deny it and ignore it and cover it up instead of facing it head on.