'Attacking' Hillary Clinton is a lousy strategy for candidates

[bigtree]

. . .Democrats or republicans.

The most effective strategy for candidates is to aggressively present themselves and their beliefs and proposals. All the attacks serve to do is to offer Hillary Clinton an opportunity to present her own positions in detail, highlighted by the attacks. The way these confrontations are usually set up, they really don't provide an effective frame for the attacking candidate's own positions.

And, Hillary Clinton is exceptionally prepared to parry these types of confrontations and turn them to her own benefit. I'd be willing to bet that, if we looked at the transcript from all of the debates so far, we'd find that Clinton has laid out more of her proposals and positions than the others. A great deal of those opportunities were provided her by the other candidates' insistence on focusing their time on drawing her out.

Those lagging in the polls need to give voters something to hang on to; something more substantive and inspiring than how they managed to zing Hillary.

[Gabi Hayes]

1. tell that one to the Swiftboaters for "Truth"

fear and negativity are the hallmarks of republican campaigns.

it's all they have

OK....lower taxes, but that falls into the negativity category, as in 'republicans will lower your taxes; democrats will RAISE them'

[bigtree]

3. Bill Clinton faced all of that same opposition

. . . and wore them down by focusing on his own agenda

[opihimoimoi]

2. No shit....but they are desperate and we all know what will ensue...

Like a gunner entrenched on high ground...she has the odds....

[bigtree]

5. catbird seat

Onlookers are observing this campaign (like picnickers during the early skirmishes of the Civil War) assembled on the bluff overlooking her battlefield of choice. The others leave their own ground and come to her to wage their staged battles.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Like the Somme(WW1) the attackers were devastated....never attack entrenched peeps

[Kolesar]

9. The pomposity here is almost unbearable

The Somme???

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

16. yep any criticsim of Hillary is supposedly 'desperate'

we should all shut up and let Queen Wal-Mart begin her reign. All hail Carville and Begala!

[Kolesar]

4. What attacks?

Am I supposed to go comb DU to find out??

[bigtree]

6. yup

[Kolesar]

7. I have a life

so I "ain't gonna". I'm going to pack for a trip to the beautiful countryside and leave the butts-in-chairs activists to themselves.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. It's Fine If They Do It In The Context Of Highlighting Their Own Merits

e.g., "Some of my opponents were instrumental in passing laws that encouraged outsourcing jobs to China. That has raped the Middle Class in order to enrich the Predator Class, which is why I'm against it."

[bigtree]

13. I like that approach

I don't think that's what some have in mind for tonight

[Pastiche423]

11. Disagreeing ain't attacking

Or has that changed on this progressive board?

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. OK!

[omega minimo]

14. the claims today that Edwards and Obama "attacked" Clinton are bogus spin

The bogus spin makes it look even more like the assumption of Clinton as candidate is being orchestrated -- THAT is a lousy strategy.



Edwards and Obama challenged her on issues that voters care about.

The "news" tells people they "attacked" her and don't bother mentioning the issues.

:thumbsdown:

People are NOT that stupid.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

15. I agree whole-heartedly,

except with the stupid part...

[omega minimo]

17. !

:spray:

[bigtree]

18. call it what you want, they're giving Clinton more stage than she deserves

As I'm watching, she's being given the opportunity to lay out her own platform in full after their confrontation of her. That's what will be played over and over afterward: Their attack lines and her policy response.

And, look at how much time she's getting

[omega minimo]

19. you're assuming people buy the bogus spin