Kerry Staffer's Attack 'On Background' Backfires

[Snellius]

Sen. John F. Kerry's campaign spokeswoman is deeply unhappy with the New York Times' chief political correspondent for quoting her criticism of Howard Dean.

The reason? The Massachusetts Democrat's team made the attack in an e-mail to reporters that contained a note asking that it be treated on "background," attributed only to a Democratic campaign. Adam Nagourney refused to go along.

After the capture of Saddam Hussein, Kerry campaign press secretary Stephanie Cutter listed past Dean statements in arguing that his opposition to the war in Iraq was "politically driven." Nagourney, ignoring the not-for-attribution request, wrote that this reflected campaign aides' concern that they not be viewed as politically exploiting a foreign policy victory.

Nagourney, who previously outed "background" e-mails from aides to Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), John Edwards (N.C.) and Bob Graham (Fla.), said: "If someone wants to go off the record, call me up, and I'll be glad to negotiate. But you cannot do it preemptively. I will not let someone attack someone else anonymously, which is what the Kerry campaign is trying to do."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A6146-2003Dec16?language=printer

[Raya]

1. Moderator: This is a Dupe

[billbuckhead]

2. Dean has been give a free pass on his opportunistic antiwar views

It's sad the "liberal" media won't hold Dean accountable. Maybe, if they told the the truth about Dean being a DINO with a progressive marketing campaign then we could discuss the real issues.

[KoKo]

3. Bill, Dean is not "Anti-War" he was Anti-Iraq Invasion at this time.

Please don't confuse the two.

[deutsey]

4. Very true

Anyone who has heard what Dean has had to say about this knows that's he's always said he supported the bombing of Afghanistan and the first Gulf War.