Open Left

in defense of Ed Kilgore (0.00 / 0)

He no longer works for the DLC, you are just using his prior employment to impeach what he says, along with the moniker "insider."  I know both Ed and Matt personally, and I happen to agree with Ed on this one. 

I encourage everyone to read the article, it lays out why this might not be the best idea without using names to sully the message like Matt and Chris have done. 

I agree with the general idea that we need to get wayward Dems together on Iraq, FISA, the MCA, etc. but calling them names like this really ain't going to do it.  Sorry.

Truth over balance, progress over ideology

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by: Oldenburg @ Thu Aug 30, 2007 at 17:15:15 PM CDT

??? (0.00 / 0)

From Ed's bio:

Ed Kilgore is Managing Editor for The Democratic Strategist, an online magazine (www.thedemocraticstrategist.org); principal blogger at The Daily Strategist; and a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council and Progressive Policy Institute. Earlier in his career, Kilgore was Vice President for Policy at the DLC; Communications Director for U.S. Senator Sam Nunn; and a federal-state relations liaison and speechwriter for three Governors of his home state of Georgia. He's also served in the script and speechwriting operation of the last five Democratic National Conventions.

Unless I'm missing something, Kilgore is both (a) affiliated with the DLC and (b) an insider who wrote speeches for the last five DNC Conventions.  How exactly is it an insult to call him a DLCer and/or an insider?  Where exactly did I attack him?

I would also note I offered up his post as a critique of the Bush Dog Project so others could read it. 

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by: Matt Stoller @ Thu Aug 30, 2007 at 17:32:06 PM CDT

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RE: ??? (0.00 / 0)

Do you see the word "was" in there.  That means he NO LONGER works for the DLC.  Now, it can't be said he left there for ideological reasons and I am not suggesting as much.

But the way you used to the words "DLC" and "insider" were as epithets.  If you said a former DLC policy guy and speech writer to lots of Dems (he ghost wrote chapters of Kerry's presidential book) that would be as factual as you were with out the pejorative slant that was conveyed/intended.

I am glad you included his critique and I never faulted you for that.  I just wish you wouldn't use names like "Bush Dogs" and "DLC" and "insider" like that to discredit their arguments by association to groups you don't like, such as the DLC or "Washington insiders."

Truth over balance, progress over ideology

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by: Oldenburg @ Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 10:40:53 AM CDT

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Kilgore has reenfored my view (4.00 / 1)

His criticism is mild and reinforced my view that Matt is right. Finding and disseminating information about questionable Democrats and working toward a progressive majority are things that I agree with.

John McCain would love to send your kids to war.

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by: kazumatan @ Thu Aug 30, 2007 at 20:12:22 PM CDT

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