Today the Kerry Campaign posted and distributed a press release entitled: "The 2004 Gop Convention: Four Days Filled with Lies, Mischaracterizations, Distortions, and Half-Truths."
Now I have never been officially involved in a political campaign (though in 1988, as a 12-year-old, I did do volunteer work for Dave O'Brien's [Democrat] failed bid to be a US Representative from Iowa!) But even a novice could tell that this press release was a disaster-in-the-making.
The press release: (1) has numerous typos (it's GIUILIANI, not Guiliani!); (2) contains no rebuttals whatsoever to the supposed lies--it just lists them as if they were self-evident; (3) mistakes policy disagreements for lies (e.g., when Hastert says that Kerry is on the wrong side on taxes, litigation, and regulation, the Kerry Campaign counts that as four instances of lies-mischaracterizations-distoritions-half-truths!). Worst of all, though, the release cites four quotes by John McCain! Bad move. Not smart.
And before you can say "campaign confusion," the press release has been pulled from JohnKerry.com, as if it never existed.
That might have worked in the days prior to the blogosphere. But not anymore. The original press release can be read here.
[Hat tip: Begging to Differ.]
