Quote:
Originally posted by sgtclub
I love this. This is the latest and greatest DEM spin. Anything that could possible cause doubt on someone's leadership abilities or policies is now a personal attack. The fact that a candidate has taken inconsistent positions, routinely, is fair game.
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If I call you a moron, I'm not saying that the things that you post are moronic, I'm saying that you, club, are a moron. That's a personal attack. If, on the other hand, I say that the things you post (or the work you do, etc.) is moronic, it's not so much an attack on you. When you attack Kerry as a waffler, you are not "causing doubt" about his "policies," and you are not attacking his "positions." You are saying that what he says in these positions is unimportant, and that what is important is his personal characteristic of waffling.
In other words, what you said was just dumb.
Personal attacks are fair game in an election. Not ipso facto, but we're electing leaders, not platforms. I think there is an element of truth in the Kerry/waffler thing, but I also think it's way overstated, much like the Gore/liar thing. Whether or not it's true, it is certainly a personal attack.