DeWine attacks Brown as weak on terror

This is one of the reasons I am demoralized by Brown's vote. I think everyone knows that had Brown been running for reelection in the 13th he was a strong reliable NO vote on the torture bill. We all know, and some express it that he voted yes as a political calculation to somehow insulate himself from "weak on national security" attacks.

Well this email from DeWine just landed in my eBag

"Again, the voting records of Mike DeWine and Congressman Brown demonstrate they are polar opposites when it comes to the importance of national security and intelligence funding. Repeatedly voting to slash intelligence funding, Congressman Brown's rhetoric and his record confirm his disinterest and lack of understanding of national security matters. Amazingly, year after year, when Republicans and Democrats addressed the threat of global terrorism, Congressman Brown voted time after time to cut the Nation's intelligence resources.

"Mike DeWine is fighting to keep us safe and has worked diligently and effectively during his tenure on the Senate Intelligence Committee to make sure that those trying to prevent terrorist attacks have the necessary resources they need to do their jobs."

I don't know when folks are going to start to get it. Republicans are going to use this line however you vote. Democrats and Republicans are always going to have different voting records, it's why there are Democrats and Republicans !

You simply cannot inoculate yourself from having a different voting record. And this triangulation BS that Democrats keep trying weakens them. It makes them wishy washy, untrustworthy. That then feeds into the whole narrative the GOP construct anyway.

Sherrod Brown didn't avoid any of that yesterday. By constantly running from these issues instead of making a true case, once again Democrats look weak in the eyes of the voters. This vote was a net negative for Brown. Instead of worrying about how some swing voters might have voted he now should be very worried about how many in his base might not bother.

If anyone thinks that's hyperbole they ought to go look at the primary numbers again to see just how many Democrats had reservations to begin with, and now just had them reinforced.

If you're going to campaign on principles you have to have some. Just wanting to win, in fact, not wanting to lose, which is what that vote was, isn't principled at all.

If DeWine has any brains and independence at all he would vote against Bush on this bill in the Senate, then run ads that Brown is pro-torture, anti constitution, far out of the mainstream of American Values. That's exactly what I would have done to DeWine then let him defend it.

If you think that is remote, maybe, but consider it's what happened with the defense bill that had ANWR drilling in it. Brown voted for ANWR drilling because he didn't want a "didn't support the troops" vote to be hanging out there. DeWine made the smart independent play and voted to block ANWR drilling and got accolades for it.

Where's Browns ads accusing DeWine of being against the troops ? Isn't that what he was afraid would happen to him ? See, this whole exercise in triangulation and being a bed wetting wimp worried what the GOP will do is all bullshit.

Democrats need to vote their principles, make their case and trust the voters. Everyone said Russ Feingold would be buried after being the only one to vote against the Patriot act. He won reelection overwhelmingly and can now speak on these issues with moral clarity.