Should Campaign Rallies Be Open To Everyone

rraley

New Member
Much has been made recently of Bush-Cheney events only being open to those who sign cards that declare their endorsement of the ticket. Does this sort of practice seem correct to you? Isn't it the purpose of the political dialogue in this nation to talk to everyone and isn't it the purpose of the presidency to represent ALL Americans? What do you think really justifies this?
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
If Democrats knew how to act, maybe they COULD come to the rallies. As it stands, however, they take every opportunity to disrupt the speeches and make the whole thing a juvenile mess so they should be forced to stay away. People go to these things to see the President, not listen to a bunch of screaming DUers.
 

rraley

New Member
Originally posted by vraiblonde
If Democrats knew how to act, maybe they COULD come to the rallies. As it stands, however, they take every opportunity to disrupt the speeches and make the whole thing a juvenile mess so they should be forced to stay away. People go to these things to see the President, not listen to a bunch of screaming DUers.

Well, John Kerry opens his events to everyone and Republican protesters ahve consistenly heckled him. Senator Kerry could deal with it, why can't President Bush?
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Originally posted by rraley
Well, John Kerry opens his events to everyone and Republican protesters ahve consistenly heckled him. Senator Kerry could deal with it, why can't President Bush?
Well, I haven't heard anything about Bush making everyone who attends his rallies sign a solidarity proclamation. Is there a news story where I can find out more about this?
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Personally, I think hecklers should stay away from Kerry rallies, too. I WANT people to hear him talk without distraction. I want them to hear every syllable that comes out of his and his wife's mouths.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Originally posted by rraley
here you go
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? BUSH didn't make the stipulation - the RNC did. And since it's their rally, not an official speaking event, they can probably have whatever rules they want.

That's the sort of spin and distortion that really pizzes me off about the Democrats. Rallies aren't meant for the President or VP to "get their message out" and "speak tot he people" - they're meant to energize the base and get them all fired up. :rolleyes:
 

ylexot

Super Genius
I think they should open the events to supporters and undecided voters. Maybe make people sign a statement saying that they won't heckle or in any way disrupt the event.

I like this quote:
The Kerry-Edwards communications director for New Mexico, Ruben Pulido, said that when Kerry visited New Mexico on July 10, several Bush supporters shouted ''Viva Bush" and waved flip-flops.
:roflmao: :lmao: :killingme
 

rraley

New Member
Originally posted by vraiblonde
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? BUSH didn't make the stipulation - the RNC did. And since it's their rally, not an official speaking event, they can probably have whatever rules they want.

Actually, the RNC runs all of the Bush campaigns rallies in order for the Bush campaign to use its money almost exclusively on television ads and developing state campaign structures. So, in actuality, all of Bush's events require the endorsement card. Furthermore, we all know that the Bush campaign controls the RNC while the Kerry campaign controls the DNC.

As for the assertion that rallies are meant get out the vote of the base...I agree and disagree. At this stage of the campaign, I believe that rallies should function to energize the base and reach out to undecideds. After the debates, a rally's purpose should simply be to get the base out.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Originally posted by rraley
Furthermore, we all know that the Bush campaign controls the RNC while the Kerry campaign controls the DNC.
That's actually the other way around - the DNC controls Kerry and the RNC controls Bush. Although not as much as they would like to, in either case.

But that's beside the point. While I take great enjoyment out of hecklers harrassing Kerry, I still think he should be able to get his message out without disruption. And if the DNC only wanted supporters at their rallies, I would fully understand that and not think it was a big deal.

There is a faction of the Democratic party that thinks it's funny to make jokes about killing the President and have no problem invading Karl Rove's personal residence to make themselves heard. They have absolutely no respect whatsoever. I think it's entirely reasonable for the RNC to take precautions against having these sorts at their rallies.
 

rraley

New Member
Originally posted by vraiblonde
There is a faction of the Democratic party that thinks it's funny to make jokes about killing the President and have no problem invading Karl Rove's personal residence to make themselves heard. They have absolutely no respect whatsoever. I think it's entirely reasonable for the RNC to take precautions against having these sorts at their rallies.

There is undoubtedly a faction of the GOP that is like this for John Kerry as well.
 

Ken King

A little rusty but not crusty
PREMO Member
Rraley,

Consider the word "rally", doesn't it mean to come together for a common cause or purpose? That in itself would indicate that they want like minded folk there and not those in opposition to their goal or plan.
 

rraley

New Member
Originally posted by Ken King
Rraley,

Consider the word "rally", doesn't it mean to come together for a common cause or purpose? That in itself would indicate that they want like minded folk there and not those in opposition to their goal or plan.

Yes that is true, the actual meaning suggests that, but I more consider them "campaign events" than rallies.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Originally posted by rraley
There is undoubtedly a faction of the GOP that is like this for John Kerry as well.
Then they're obviously a lot quieter about it than their Democrat counterparts.

You strike me as a reasonable person. Take a trip over to the DU and see the kind of wackjobs that are out there. If it were your candidate, would you want to risk having these guys show up at your rally, in any kind of close proximity to your guy?

But again, if the DNC wanted to close their rallies, I wouldn't think it was sinister or suspicious. I'd think it made perfect sense.
 

rraley

New Member
Originally posted by vraiblonde
You strike me as a reasonable person. Take a trip over to the DU and see the kind of wackjobs that are out there. If it were your candidate, would you want to risk having these guys show up at your rally, in any kind of close proximity to your guy?

There are major wackjobs there (and many of them I would consider greens or socialists, not Democrats). There are many conservative wackjobs on other forums such as the Free Republic.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Originally posted by rraley
There are many conservative wackjobs on other forums such as the Free Republic.
I don't go on FR so I'll have to take your word for it. But if there are people on there calling for the death of John Kerry and plotting how to infiltrate the conventions and such to cause problems, don't you think the DNC should think about taking precautions against these people?

Some guy over at the DU wanted to take a tear gas bomb to the RepConv and set it off during Bush's acceptance speech. Another guy responded that they should get jobs with food service and spike the refreshments with LSD. Both of those ideas are moronic, but I'll suggest anyone who attacks a public official isn't firing on all cylinders anyway.

It so happens that the RepConv coincides with freshman week at NYU, so we'll be there for several days. If the RNC wanted to close off all of Manhattan to non-Bush supporters during that week, that would be just fine with me. :shrug:
 

Kyle

ULTRA-F###ING-MAGA!
PREMO Member
I don't visit either regularly but from what little I've read it's running about 40-1. Maybe a little higher.

For every one nut-job at FR saying things like you describe there are about 40+ at the DU.
 
B

Bruzilla

Guest
I know I'm a little late here... but I tried to attend two different speeches that Kerry gave down here in Florida, and I was barred from entering either one once I told the folks checking IDs and giving passes that I am a Republican.

I don't know who told rraley that not Dems can get it, but that's not the case down here.
 
B

Bruzilla

Guest
True enough. But, why spend lots of $$$$ to go to all of these cities to preach to the choir? I would rather spend my time trying to convert the undecided than just spend my time talking to people who are already going to vote for me.
 

Larry Gude

Strung Out
Couple of points...

...to Double RR...unless two candidates appear in public together and ask each other questions and respond to one another, then it is a photo op and it is up to the campaign handlers as to what they are trying to project.

I would offer that libs are far more effective at demonstrations and disruptions. Conservatives are to busy at work.

To Bruz, they're not preaching to the choir per se though they are trying to pump up the base. They are trying to sway the un-decideds.
 
Top