Attacks On Cavaretta Are Not Helping Anyone
Last week, State Senate candidate Dean Cavaretta took part in an online Q&A session on Acton Patch. One of the participants, noting that there was a Twitter account titled “Dems for Dean”, asked the candidate what Democrats had endorsed his campaign. The candidate used this question as an opportunity to highlight the similarities between his economic point of view and that of President Bill Clinton. The President Emeritus has publicly stated that, economically speaking, it is improper to raise taxes during a recession. There are many reasons why this is true, far too many to go into at any length, but essentially, an increase in taxes raises interest rates and decreases consumer spending.
Despite this seemingly innocuous statement in a pleasant online chat, some members of the Massachusetts Democratic Party have since attempted to use this as ammunition with which to attack Mr. Cavaretta. Kevin Franck, spokesman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, released an incredibly bitter statement on the subject, saying, among other things, “Maybe Dean Cavaretta was in a secret meeting with kings and queens when Hillary Clinton, who calls him all the time, rang him to break the news about Bill's endorsement.”
The sad truth is that Mr. Franck's venom isn't uncommon in the political arena. Rather than discuss the issues, he has attempted to distort a statement and improperly use it for his own ends. Whatever his purpose was in making these comments, the only end he achiever was to look like another sordid character in the modern-day political play.
Neil
4:45 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
"One of the participants, noting that there was a Twitter account titled “Dems for Dean”, asked the candidate what Democrats had endorsed his campaign. "
Dean deflected the question by talking about how his opinion on one topic is coincident with Bill Clinton's opinion. That not exactly a responsive answer to the question: "Who are the Dems4Dean?" which is to say: "What Dems endorsed the campaign?"
By naming Bill Clinton, a slick side step, Dean implied Bill Clinton endorsed his campaign. It is not a surprise he'd be jibed for it.
Maybe it's wrong to assume that Dems4Dean is a ruse, a claim without substance, I.E a lie. but no one has stopped Dean from answering the question, and Dean has not named names.
There are a number of twitter accounts such as Dems4Dean and towns in the district 4Dean. People on Twitter have long thought it was marketing BS and not real people getting together. It has a name: astroturf.
Alan
4:45 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Alan: What about Dems4Dean? So far, you've only listed endorsements from Republicans. Is this account just you retweeting yourself, because I haven't met any Dems who support you.
Dean Cavaretta: Alan: I'll give one: Bill Clinton....
src: http://acton.patch.com/articles/live-chat-with-state-sen-candidate-dean-cavaretta
ABRHS89
9:02 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I am bemused by the lengths at which the Cavaretta team is trying to use the "Bill Clinton supports me" gaffe (or delusion) as some kind of positive episode.
My advice to Mr. Dehner, who is working for the Cavaretta campaign (do a quick google search): just leave the Bill Clinton thing alone; it does not reflect well on the candidate. Whining about the candidate's own words being used "against" him does him no favors either.
One last thing: when a campaign staffer fails to disclose his ties with the candidate in an post decrying the lowdown tactics (of taking the candidate at his word)--well, that seems the definition of ironic, or perhaps just foolish. And cynical.
Thanks for the chuckle. Good luck. Really.