There are reactions across political web to this: Let’s have some fun in Michigan
For Michigan Democrats, the Democratic primary is meaningless since the DNC stripped the state of all its delegates (at least temporarily) for violating party
rules. Hillary Clinton is alone on the ballot.
But on the GOP side, this primary will be fiercely contested. John McCain is currently enjoying the afterglow of media love since his New Hamsphire victory, while Iowa winner Mike Huckabee is poised to do well in South Carolina.
Meanwhile, poor Mitt Romney, who’s suffered back-to-back losses in the last week, desperately needs to win Michigan in order to keep his campaign afloat. Bottom line, if Romney loses Michigan, he’s out. If he wins, he stays in.
And we want Romney in, because the more Republican candidates we have fighting it out, trashing each other with negative ads and spending tons of money, the better it is for us. We want Mitt to stay in the race, and to do that, we need him to win in Michigan.
Forget the ethical implications, the effect on Kos’ reputation, and the fact that it reveals a certain lack of confidence in one’s own candidates, I’m not convinced that this tactic will work quite the way he’s hoping. I don’t know if he can pull together such a movement in only a few days.
If it works? This has come-back-to-bite-you-on-the-ass written all over it. Suppose Mitt goes on to win the general election? Kos would be the laughing stock of the blogophere. It just seems like a risk that isn’t worth the potential reward.
I don’t live in Michigan, but even as an Obama supporter, I can’t endorse this sort of subversion. I’m not so blinded by partisanship to believe that its worth tainting our democratic process. The tactic sounds childish, and the fact that he believes that he can influence such a thing seems arrogant and egotistical. Luckily, after 900+ comments in that Kos thread, the reaction is mixed. Many believe as I do. Others wonder if another candidate should be the target. Currently, I think this idea will flop, but Kos will probably wind up with some egg on his face either way.
I would hope that if you’re an independent or Democrat and decided to vote for a GOP candidate, it would be for the person most in-line with your political views. Period.
Update: There’s actually an ad now. (h/t Katie for the email)
Hilarious?
ChenZhen's Chamber 