The Stakeholder
Begala: “Cry Babies”
Paul Begala sent the following message to DCCC supporters.
Dear Friend,
Apparently, it didn't take long for the "Grand Oil Party" to come unglued. After I called their fat-cat funders a bunch of dirtbags in my email to you on Sunday, they started squealing like a pig stuck under a gate. House Republicans are crying so hard over my "dirtbag" comment, you'd think they just found out they were forced to spend the Fourth of July quail-hunting with Dick Cheney.
So I want to take a minute to do something I don't do often enough: apologize. I am very sorry for calling those fat-cat plutocrat Republicans "dirtbags." Doing so was grossly unfair. To bags of dirt. After all, dirt is good. Things grow from the dirt. I myself raise tomatoes and corn and pumpkins, jalapenos and cucumbers and lettuce - all from the good earth.
No, it was too kind, too generous to call them dirtbags. Probably better to call them oilbags or toxic-waste-bags or chemical-pollutant-bags. So I'm sorry.
Still, even though I used such a comparatively flattering term, the Republican whine machine was in full whimper. Yesterday, before their alligator tears even dried from crying about me calling them out, they mobilized their favorite shadowy attack squad, the Karl Rove-backed Freedom's Watch.
They are launching vicious attack ads against 16 Democrats starting today. We can't thank you enough for generously standing with us before and we wouldn't ask if it weren't so critical we fight back - but we need your help again.
Contribute $35, $50, or more to our EXTENDED DEADLINE Matching Campaign before July 4th to fight back against the Rove-Freedom's Watch attacks - Democrats will still MATCH and TRIPLE your gift.
Of course the Republican hypocrites are launching their attacks today. Between my comment about their 'dirtbag' funders and my good friends at the DCCC hiring a 'W' impersonator to record radio ads that exposed their friends' support for Big Oil in Congress, we've clearly gotten under their skin. As we say back home in Texas, "a hit dog barks."
They don't know how to handle a Democratic Party that is ready, willing, and able to hit back when the right-wing slime machine kicks into gear. This is exactly how we're going to win this year - but we need your help to keep it up.
Contribute $35, $50, or more to our EXTENDED DEADLINE Matching Campaign before July 4th to fight back against the Rove-Freedom's Watch attacks - Democrats will still MATCH and TRIPLE your gift.
The days of Democrats quietly enduring Republican smears are over - as are the days of Republicans living by a double standard. The Bush Republicans questioned the courage of a war hero like former Senator Max Cleland. They besmirched the war heroism of John Kerry. They spend years smearing Bill Clinton, savaging Hillary Rodham Clinton, and viciously attacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid. Now they're attacking Barack and Michelle Obama. But the second I call their fat-cat funders "dirtbags," they turn into a bunch of blubbering cry babies.
This year, let's dry the crybabies' tears and celebrate Independence Day by giving Barack Obama the bigger, stronger Democratic Majority he'll need to declare our independence once and for all from the failed Bush-Cheney-Grand Oil Party policies for America.
Contribute $35, $50, or more to our EXTENDED DEADLINE Matching Campaign before July 4th to fight back against the Rove-Freedom's Watch attacks - Democrats will still MATCH and TRIPLE your gift.
Sincerely,
Paul Begala
P.S. Let's show the "Grand Oil Party" that their fat-cats are no match for tens of thousands of grassroots supporters. Help us raise $8 million before July 4th to Fight the Rove-Freedom's Watch attacks that are starting today - Democrats have EXTENDED THE DEADLINE and will still Match and Triple your gift.
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Dear Paul,
What’s up with the street fighting language? I couldn’t believe it when Bush was re-elected. It made me fume, but is this the way to roll going forward? Could these comments actually hurt us? I’m just asking.
I’m a Democrat and I’ve made contributions to our cause as I am able. I want us to take back the White House and the Senate. While we are on the same team and I support your right to say what you wish to say, what’s wrong with collegial debate. Your comments came across to me as a great big “na uh!” Where’s the debate? I don’t believe that this strategy will do us any good. We should be tough not rude. If you are going to be rude, at least make it clever.
We should stick to issues and require good behavior from ourselves and from our worthy opponents, who really will lose in November if we stay true to our message. That message ought to be that we’d run the government with intelligence, strength, and integrity.
Best,
Barbara Shreffler
Houston, Texas 77030
Thank you Paul. I personally call them scum bags, but we all get the point. There are more of us then there are of them. I’m disabled and unable to afford to support your effort, but I’m with you in heart and soul. I do my writing and signing petitions. I’m really sorry that’s all I can do, but I’ll keep doing what I can do and it renews my commitment to have someone like you and General Clark stand up to the Republican Slim Machine. Your all my Hero’s. Thanks again.
Dear Paul,
I’m with Barbara on that. I am totally on board with the DCCC agenda but do think your comments are harmful, not because of how names like “fat cats” and “dirt bags” hurts the feelings Republicans and oil mongers but because your comments are off putting and time wasting to potential donors to our cause.
I, like Barbara, would rather see more discussion of issues and less name-calling. That’s just resorting to dirty (pardon the pun!) tactics. I impatiently read your missive, didn’t find it compelling, and also am irritated that DCCC is seeking donations to ameliorate a situation apparently caused by your “calling them out.”
Keep up the good work Paul, but next time I hope you’ll highlight Democratic strengths and keep your comments about Republican weaknesses productive and substantive.
Sincerely,
Liz VanderVen
Name calling might work in the political fight during a campaign, but it makes it hard for people to “work across the aisle” when the election is over. After all, that’s the goal, to work for the people.
One of the things I admire most about Obama is he doesn’t tolerate this in his campaign. I was really sorry to see Samatha Power resign from Obama’s foreign policy staff for calling Hillary a “monster”. I thought Power was great, but it is consistent with Obama’s goal, of breaking the gridlock, to stop this kind of behavior.
I’m with Liz and Barbara on this.
Sincerely,
Jackie Jarboe
I agree that the “dirt bag” theme of this appeal is childish and counter-productive.
I was completely confused by the radio ad. Is Robin a Democrat or a Republican. Do you want us to support her or call her a dirtbag, too?
What a mishmash this message from Paul Begala was.
Not very motivated to contribute to such a murky appeal.
I am removing myself from the email list, as i do not wish to be exposed to such foul language.
I am working very hard to create a better world and had hoped the Democratic Party has that kind of vision as well.
Re: Cry Babies
We support the DCCC and Obama but this kind of stuff really turns us off.
The issues we face are far too important to be handled in this immature and flippant way.
Dear Paul
I am somewhat concerned by the article on-line at the NYT about the DNC’s apparaent missmanagement of the convention. Fair enough, convention although in my mind are a waste of valuable reasources are a reality of political life. I guess, although I have reasons whay you shouldn’t you must. Just the single thought of all that fuel that will be burned getting there and back. Unjustified, in a one horse show. If it where up to me I would have a huge party, and at that party declare Barak the Candidate, and try to get him to announce his running mate, although I understand he is not obliged to do so. I respect the comment that the Obama campaign is tight fisted about money, but this is not the Republican Party, and frankly I think the Democrats have more to gain by juxtaposing their position, frugal convention, to the spend through the nose Republican across the street. Opportunities are being lost here for clear difference in the optics, beleive me, if some Americans see Democrats spending like drunk sailors, they will be less inclined to get their enormous butt off the couch election day and vote. I hope the counting is going well, and all the disabled and travel challenged people across the nation have volunteers to pick them up. An enormous undertaking no doubt, but focusing on the message it sends, priceless.
Lary Waldman
Hasn’t anyone yet figured out that “working with those across the aisle” means slinking over and yielding to all their demands? THE REPUBLICANS KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE IT. The Democrats always want to compromise, even when there’s no one to compromise with.
Scumbags? Dirtbags? These are extremely mild phrases. The Republicans used them against the moderate conservative Bill Clinton, and John McCain told a dirty joke about 13-year old Chelsea Clinton, BUT HEAVEN FORBID WE HURT THEIR FEELINGS WITH THE TRUTH!!!!
I’m not worried about their feelings actually. I’m focused on the idea that we are better than them. I want us to take back the White House and the Senate. We can demonstrate how much better we are by catching them up on what they are doing wrong. Instead of calling them a dirtbag, point out that our economy is in the toilet and we are now engaged in a war that our president lied about just so we’d go for it. That is strong language with a purpose. It leaves no room for comment from the folks receiving it if they are being honest with themselves.
Calling them dirt bags simply doesn’t get the job done. We should tell them exactly what is wrong with their decisions. It will get Obama in the White House and elect more Democrats in the Senate. Name calling doesn’t seem to work. If it did, I’d be hurling them fast and furious.
Personally, I’m appalled by the actions that this president and his minions have forced upon us. Our country is in a mess largely due to this administration’s decisions. I’ve thrown things at my TV in anger. Will that help us now? Not one bit. Does it feel good. Only a little. What would feel fantastic is to have leaders with intelligence and compassion running our country. We should not fight amongst ourselves but constructively work for change.
To Barbara and the others who criticize the language:
No disrespect to you intended.
I agree in principle with you, Barbara, but if the last 8 years haven’t awakened the sleepers, civil language certainly won’t, either.
Perhaps I’m prejudiced, but it seems to me that the support of those who allow their votes to be swayed by such trivialities isn’t worth much; the first 527 attack ad will probably change them to die-hard McCain supporters in any case.
I hear you.
I don’t worry so much about hurting Republican’s feelings as alienating independents and swing voters.
The argument that they name call Democrats names too, so the Democrats are justified in doing so doesn’t cut it with me. I can’t imagine Martin Luther King, Jr. or John Kennedy agreeing with that logic. I think we can be tough without stooping to their level.
I was frustrated with the Democrats not defending themselves in 2004, I feel much better about it this round. I think we’ll come through the 527 attacks and that the American people are hurting enough that they want to see a more constructive debate.
It is a little uncomfortable to get out of the box of cynicism, but we have to win by positive means in order to solve the problems that loom.
Jacquelyn, your point (also mentioned by Barbara) about not sinking to their level is a good one without bringing up the “independents and swing voters.” I think my prior comment addressed the worth of support from those who are offended by language more than by grossly unethical, even criminal, behavior, who find crude, even profane language more offensive than nicely-worded but flagrantly untrue statements. All I can add is that most of them don’t seem to have been offended enough by the incredible level of childish and dishonest name-calling by Republicans to stop them from voting Republican in 2000 and 2004, to name just two elections.
Jim,
I agree that the things that have gone on in the past seven or so years are outrageous, like lying to get us into war, wire-tapping and torture, the worst. In addition a lot of things aren’t being taken care of at home like energy, climate change, Social Security, health care, contaminated food, Katrina and collapsing bridges.
I think the smearing and name calling distract from the important issues. Somehow they seem to make more exciting news. I guess it takes less thought and they fit better in a 30 second piece on the evening news so they have time to cover Brittany and Paris.