Hating on the troops in the 29th
What is it with republicans and actual veterans? They cut their healthcare, let things like Walter Reed happen, start illegal wars, and when push comes to shove, point to yellow-ribbon bumper stickers to cover up their systematic abuse of America's military and the men and women in uniform.
From the 29th District comes another such tale of woe. It starts, predictably enough, with potshots taken by draft-dodger, Certified Wingnutâ„¢ and incumbent republican Congressman Randy Kuhl against Democratic challenger Eric Massa, a retired Navy Vet. In this specific case, Kuhl broke ground with an interesting description of military retirees.
To Kuhl, these aren't retired military personnel - they just don't have a job. This from a professional politician who has served in elected office for almost three decades.
Now, you'd think that even a Randy Kuhl would realize that this kind of slur is somewhat inappropriate. You'd think so, but you'd be wrong.
Kuhl previously took aim at Massa, saying he didn't have a job, which struck a nerve with the potential challenger. Massa responded by pointing out he was retired from the Navy.
During his stop in Hornell, Kuhl didn't back down from his previous statements.
“I've got a job to do, I don't care what he's doing,†he said. “I guess he's a professional politician.â€
Kuhl also took another swipe at Massa, saying there is nothing but negativity coming out of the Democrat's camp.
Allow me to translate from the wingnutese: "Yo, dude! Get a frigging job! And stop being so negative!"
It's time for Randy Kuhl to be out of a job. We have Eric Massa and other fine netroots candidates on our ActBlue page - show them some love.
Support the troops - Elect Democrats.
On the web: Eric Massa for Congress
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2008 Elections | NY-29 | Eric Massa | Randy Kuhl
Welcome, Eric...
Submitted by Bouldin on 14 August 2007 - 2:08pm.
...and thanks for sharing your perspective.
As to going negative, I'd suggest that's a quandary - the truth about Rndy Kuhl is such that it's hard to see how any accurate discussion of his policies and his record could be anything but.
It's Kuhl's record, and his consistent attacks on average people, on veterans, on people who work for a living, that are up for debate.
Keep up the good fight.
Welcome!
Submitted by mole333 on 14 August 2007 - 4:14pm.
Welcome Congressman (if I may get ahead of ourselves...)
In regards to going negative, there is negative and there is negative. I think there are appropriate times and ways to be negative as long as that isn't all you got.
I am recommending a book to all candidates and their campaigns because I think it is critical to the success of the Democratic Party. Drew Westen's book The Political Brain outlines how the brain works and how that influences how people vote. Simply put, Republicans, in their predominantly emotion-driven campaigns, actually work with how the human brain functions. By contrast, the Democratic Party tends to use a message-driven campaign strategy, yet this doesn't take into account how the brain actually functions.
May sound esoteric, but Westen brings it down to earth very rapidly, focusing on exactly how voters react psychologically to different messages. Gut-level emotions are about 80% of how a voter decides who to vote for. Reasoned logic accounts for about 20%. Focusing only on that 20% loses elections.
In the emotion driven area, positive emotions are most important, but ignoring the negative also loses campaigns. Westen outlines actual strategy for Democratic campaigns in the second part of his book going issue by issue. I don't agree with all Westen says, but I do think in general he is dead on and Democratic candidates ignore his book at their peril. It takes the concept of framing and gives it its scientific underpinnings.
Best of luck!
Congressman : -)
Greetings Daily
Greetings Daily Gothamites,
I find it astonishing that my opponent has declared that retired Veterans simply don't have a jobs. However, I'm not shocked to see him belittling the sacrifices of our Veterans in this manner considering his record in Congress. He has made a career out of attacking Veteran's benefits. In fact in a press release early this year, he bragged about getting a $2.5 Million government grant for a local bowling alley at a time when the VA, only a few blocks away, was being forced to shut down their acute psychiatric ward. After the tremendous backlash from the grassroots and the netroots, he removed the link to his press release from his list... go figure.
I don't believe in going negative, however I absolutely will hold my opponent accountable for his votes and comments. The families of the 29th District deserve a leader in Congress, not a rubberstamp to George Bush's failed policies.
Thank you,
Eric Massa