Get a load of this foolishness:
Politico: Jon Huntsman is trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.
Since returning from his post as ambassador to China last month, Huntsman has made scant mention of the man who appointed him in May 2009—President Barack Obama. And his would-be campaign officials say that won’t change when the former Utah governor officially launches his campaign.
Obama’s political team has so far returned the courtesy. Even as they blast out a seemingly endless stream of attacks on Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, Huntsman’s two establishment GOP rivals, the DNC is issuing few press releases and pushing little opposition research about the man who until the end of April served in the administration.
It amounts to a de facto non-aggression pact that is as unconventional as it is tenuous. With a Republican primary electorate convinced Obama is doing grave damage to the country, it’s difficult to see how bloodless rhetoric about the administration and generalized talk about America’s challenges are the recipe for victory. And if Huntsman emerges as a strong contender, it’s improbable to think that a White House that affirmed his political potential by dispatching him to far-off Beijing would let him rise unchecked. [MORE]What a friggin' loser! This sounds every bit as stupid as John McCain's refusal to use Rev. Wright against Obama. Why do so many Republicans insist upon using these silly Mr. Nice Guy rules when fighting Democrats? Democrats have been using dirty underhanded Saul Alinsky rules for decades and have now moved that practice into hyper drive. So why do Republicans cling to this failed high minded approach?
What perplexes me even more about this loser strategy is that the media will paint Huntsman as an evil meanie no matter how much he try to be Mr. Nice Guy. If you are going to painted as a meanie, you might as well reap all the benefits of it and bash your opponent's brains out.
Huntsman's civility strategy will end up being like a man attacked by a pack of rabid dogs and doing nothing more than saying "down boy".
In 2012, Obama and the left are going to tear into the GOP nominee with the same level of nastiness the use on Sarah Palin. When the Republican establishment decided to let Palin fend for herself, they allowed the left to set a new standard to attacking Republicans. This Mr. Nice Guy stuff will only make the left's dirty work that much easier.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico