# Why doesn't Bush use clips of Edwards dissing Kerry in the primaries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338 "2004-10-03T17:04:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/1 "2004-10-03T17:04:31Z")
It’s not a great debate but I couldn’t figure out where else to put it. Surely there must be some good footage of Edwards during the primaries speaking of why Kerry isn’t the right man for the job. Has anything like this ever been done? I would think it would be pretty powerful. [ominous voice] Even his own vice president thinks he’s incapable of the job…[/ominous voice] ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/2 "2004-10-03T17:21:49Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > It’s not a great debate but I couldn’t figure out where else to put it. > > Surely there must be some good footage of Edwards during the primaries speaking of why Kerry isn’t the right man for the job. Has anything like this ever been done? I would think it would be pretty powerful. [ominous voice] Even his own vice president thinks he’s incapable of the job…[/ominous voice] Two words for you, if this were to happen. “voodoo economics” ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/3 "2004-10-03T17:52:30Z")
Actually, I fully expect to see them before all is said and done. Whether or not they’ll have the intended result remains to be seen, though. And I think that running “voodoo economics” as a rebuttal smacks of the sins of the father being visited on the son. And that’s not necessary when the son has sinned aplenty independent of his old man. Waste ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/4 "2004-10-03T17:58:17Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > Actually, I fully expect to see them before all is said and done. Whether or not they’ll have the intended result remains to be seen, though. > > And I think that running “voodoo economics” as a rebuttal smacks of the sins of the father being visited on the son. And that’s not necessary when the son has sinned aplenty independent of his old man. > > Waste I didn’t mean it as a possible rebuttal against GWB, though. I was just giving an example of a relatively recent (well…in this context, I guess 25 years is relatively recent) instance of someone who criticized a fellow candidate’s qualifications in the primaries who later became the VP candidate for that same person. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/5 "2004-10-03T18:01:53Z")
If I remember correctly there was early speculation on Edwards VP chances because he quickly dropped direct attacks on sure-thing Kerry. The pickings might be slim, especially when only really critical/negative things would be useful. Otherwise it is easily played off as proper jousting for the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/6 "2004-10-03T18:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] I didn’t mean it as a possible rebuttal against GWB, though. [QUOTE] Oh, well, never mind then. Y’see, **this** is the problem with two people from the same family being president: **jayjay** and I wind up miscommunicatering. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/7 "2004-10-03T18:16:06Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > miscommunicatering. I told you we wanted ice SWANS, not ice SCHLONGS! ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/8 "2004-10-03T18:19:31Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > Y’see, **this** is the problem with two people from the same family being president. . . Not to mention that it cocks up my ability to code. And **jayjay** : heh ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/9 "2004-10-04T12:15:32Z")
I really don’t recall Edwards dissing _anybody_ in the Primaries. It was as if he was running for Vice President, which was probably the most realistic expectation for him. If Kerry is elected Edwards will still be relatively young and with much better credentials and photo ops after eight years. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/10 "2004-10-04T12:22:30Z")
The principle of **M** utually **A** ssured **D** estruction applies to more than just nuclear war, you know. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/11 "2004-10-04T14:17:16Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > The principle of **M** utually **A** ssured **D** estruction applies to more than just nuclear war, you know. I would think it’s harder to get a clip of Cheney criticizing Bush. He never ran against him and he isn’t exactly a publicity hound. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/12 "2004-10-04T14:37:17Z")
This is actually a pretty good debate topic. I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t more fallout after a primary, or in Canada a leadership convention. It wouldn’t just be footage of Edwards dissing Kerry, it could be all 12(?) Democratic candidates dissing every other Democratic candidate. In theory there should be TONS of footage, quotes, and soundbites to choose from. My WAG as to a direct answer is that the really juicy footage is some how _owned_ by the DNC and therefore the GOP wouldn’t be able to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/13 "2004-10-04T14:56:44Z")
Edwards ran a positive campaign, and did not attack any of his fellow Democrats. His attacks reserved for the Bush administration. The closest Edwards came to attacking Kerry was after a long-winded Kerry reply to a debate question, when Edwards said “That’s the longest answer I’ve ever heard to a yes-or-no question,” and even then he was only criticizing Kerry’s campaign style. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/14 "2004-10-04T15:57:16Z")
> [@](#): > > _KidCharlemagne said_ > I would think it’s harder to get a clip of Cheney criticizing Bush. He never ran against him and he isn’t exactly a publicity hound. They might have to go through the backdoor- get clips of Cheney criticizing Kerry on stances he shares with Bush. 🙂 However, I think **Brutus** might be referring to candidates generally acting cozy during the nom process. Though that conflicts with my memory. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/15 "2004-10-05T03:22:27Z")
It doesn’t have to be limited to Edwards — I’m sure Dean screamed a few anti-kerryisms during his campaign for the nomination. Do an ad showing a side by side – showing what Dean said then and what Dean says now. Do the same ad for others who campaigned against Kerry but support him now. Tie that in with the flip-flop theme. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/16 "2004-10-05T03:37:39Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I would think it’s harder to get a clip of Cheney criticizing Bush. He never ran against him and he isn’t exactly a publicity hound. But how about whoever runs in 2008? Or 2012? There will be another contested Republican primary at some point, so there is little to be gained from starting to use primary footage in ads. Turnabout could get nasty for all parties on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/17 "2004-10-05T03:38:31Z")
> [@Tigers2B1](#): > > It doesn’t have to be limited to Edwards — I’m sure Dean screamed a few anti-kerryisms during his campaign for the nomination. Do an ad showing a side by side – showing what Dean said then and what Dean says now. Do the same ad for others who campaigned against Kerry but support him now. Tie that in with the flip-flop theme. That’s politics as usual; I don’t think even American voters are that stupid. To reiterate an answer to the OP: Edwards made a point of running a clean primary; it enabled him to capture the “nice vote” while letting his rivals thin each other out (starting with Gephardt and Dean). It worked well until the field thinned enough that Edwards actually had to start calling out his opponents, and by the time he needed to mount a serious challenge to Kerry, it was too late; he had no message to build on. He who lives by the ploughshare … ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/18 "2004-10-05T03:55:06Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I would think it’s harder to get a clip of Cheney criticizing Bush. He never ran against him and he isn’t exactly a publicity hound. Well Kerry did briefly have an ad in which John McCain was telling Bush he should be ashamed of himself before McCain asked him to pull it. Certainly it would be a very dangerous tit for tat. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-bush-use-clips-of-edwards-dissing-kerry-in-the-primaries/267338/19 "2004-10-05T03:57:12Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > But how about whoever runs in 2008? Or 2012? There will be another contested Republican primary at some point, so there is little to be gained from starting to use primary footage in ads. Turnabout could get nasty for all parties on that one. True, but this same argument applied in the past to other negative campaign tactics. It might only take one candidate to turn up the heat before it becomes standard practice.