Why Aren’t Dems On TV?

Tom DeLay is on Hardball now smearing and accusing Democrats and Nancy Pelosi, saying they’re part of the prosecution of him. I have barely seen any Dems on TV today, and this should be a slam dunk.

Why are they afraid of ever winning on anything?

21 Responses to “Why Aren’t Dems On TV?”


  1. Gravatar Icon 1 Jadegold

    In this case, the Dems are playing it very smart.

    If they trotted out Dem politicos to denounce DeLay or proclaim his guilt–the implication would be made this was all about politics.

    Instead, DeLay’s soundbites and yapping are usually accompanied by reporters noting that DeLay has been repeatedly admonished by the House Ethics committee and the fact that some of his best buddies are facing some very serious jail time. On some newscasts, the DeLay indictment is linked to Frist and Plamegate and Bush’s horrible poll numbers.

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 cellulose

    Dude, you need a new headline writer!

    “WHY THE DELAY?”

    Almost writes itself ;)

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 JD

    Is it possible that many of the Democrats may think that this prosecution will prove to be about as effective as the one Mr. Earle mounted against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and choose not to step out in front of this bus?

  4. Gravatar Icon 4 Semanticleo

    It is a big mistake to let DeLay and henchmen control the mike.

    Don’t the democrats always follow Bush’s radio address with a response?

  5. Gravatar Icon 5 James E. Powell

    I believe there is an unwritten rule of network and cable ‘news’ coverage: Democrats are not permitted to explain or comment upon Republicans. This is a corollary of another unwritten rule: Democrats are not permitted to describe their party or its candidates, that must be done by Republicans and/or Republican pundits.

    Expecting the corporate press/media to allow one of its greatest benefactors to be slammed on their shows is naive. How much money do you think DeLay made for them in the last five years?

  6. Gravatar Icon 6 JWG

    I think it just makes DeLay look like a crybaby when he screams it’s all about politics. I’ll have to agree with Jadegold on this one. The Democrats can allow the facts to speak for themselves rather than make it look like political payback.

  7. Gravatar Icon 7 spitar1

    The Dems are being pussies once again. That’s the problem with the party…when they have a clear shot they never take it. The republicans are much better at seizing a moment, turning it into their issue and driving their points home…even if it isn’t true. Lie enough and it becomes the truth. The republicans are out there dominating the issue right now and they will shape the media’s and the public’s opinion morphing it into whatever they want the message to be. I figure when they get done with it it will be because of Hurricane Katrina and the Democrats of course will be responsible for causing that.

  8. Gravatar Icon 8 Oliver

    It is dumb to not be on TV. We are no longer in an environment where you are “given enough rope” to hang yourself. Dems need to be on every news network denouncing the Republican Culture of Corruption.

  9. Gravatar Icon 9 Matty

    Tom DeLay.
    Bill Frist.
    David Safavian.
    Karl Rove.
    Hurricane Katrina.
    Iraq.

    Folks, the only reason the Dems aren’t making the rounds on TV is they’re too busy chilling the champagne and cooking up the Orville Redenbacher.

  10. Gravatar Icon 10 mr.curmudgeon

    So what are they supposed to do? Storm the doors at Fox news? Carpool to work with Blitzer?

    The corporate media is essentially in black out mode when it comes to Dems. So, as much as I want to jump on the “The Dems Have No Message” bandwagon, I can’t bring myself to ignore the very real possibility that they aren’t being allowed on the air when it would most benefit them.

    From what I’ve seen (having to dig it up online), they have been speaking out….It’s just that NO ONE IS COVERING IT!

    Maybe they can hold signs outside the windows in front of the Good Morning America show.

  11. Gravatar Icon 11 Oliver

    The media will cover it if Democrats demand airtime. You think the press can just not cover it if Pelosi had a press conference today? This is a massive misfire on their part.

  12. Gravatar Icon 12 buma

    Mr Willis, this is OT, but that ProGOPGear ad on your site looks interesting — I could have a little fun plastering a few dozen of those “You can thank me . . . I voted for Bush!” bumper stickers. Like on Brownie’s SUV, or all over New Orleans, or in the green zone in Baghdad, or on the pumps at the neighborhood gas station.

  13. Gravatar Icon 13 Constantine

    The Democrats can allow the facts to speak for themselves rather than make it look like political payback.

    Letting the facts speak for themselves worked great for the Democrats in 2004, didn’t it?

  14. Gravatar Icon 14 JWG

    Letting the facts speak for themselves worked great for the Democrats in 2004, didn t it?

    Actually, Kerry spoke too much.

  15. Gravatar Icon 15 neoconsrloopy

    No, the Democratic leadership is playing it right, at least at the beginning of the cycle.

    Speaking out now just allows the RW media to attack the Democrats as shrill and partisan, and deflects the attacks back to the messengers.

    But starting in a few days, Democrats should weave Tom Delay into every criticism of the President and the Gooper Congress.

    “Like Tom Delay, the indicted Gop leader, the President has a tenuous grasp on ethics”.

    “The corruption in post-Katrina Louisiana by Federal contracters reminds one of a Tom Delay operation”

    “Congressman (fill in name) is a Tom Delay Republican”.
    If I don’t see Tom Delay’s face in Congressional campaign ads from sea to shining sea in 2006, I will give up on the Democratic party. But I don’t think I will have to.

  16. Gravatar Icon 16 Teddy Feces

    Haha, I love it “A Tom Delay Republican”

    Thats gonna be my new insult…

  17. Gravatar Icon 17 Frank_D

    Should read:

    Here s what I wrote last summer about this case :

    Just to put this $190,000 deal into perspective and demonstrate the petty, vindictive nature of this partisan investigation, the study also reveals that Democrats transferred a total of approximately $11 million dollars in soft money from its national parties to fund Texas campaigns in 2002, compared to $5.2 million transferred by Republicans.

    I ve been watching TV all day and no one has provided this context. I ll keep watching to see if the coverage gets more than fingernail-deep.

    Bottom line: Even people who aren t fans of Tom DeLay should show some intellectual honesty and admit that this is an out-of-control prosecutor and a phony charge.

  18. Gravatar Icon 18 neoconsrloopy

    Like Kenneth Starr, right Frankie?

  19. Gravatar Icon 19 Frank_D

    Kenneth Starr? Isn’t he the guy that “proved Clinton innocent”?

  20. Gravatar Icon 20 neoconsrloopy

    Yes, not only was he inept but he was an out-of-control prosecutor pushing a phony charge.

    Where is your intellectual honesty? You have about as much intellectual honesty as your fan blog has readers.

  21. Gravatar Icon 21 Frank_D

    My blog has more readers than your blog - Oh, wait — You don’t have one!

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