The Democratic Myth Machine

if you spend much time listening to John Kerry, Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe, or any of a host of other national party leaders, you’ll hear lots of references to something called the “Republican smear machine.” Sometimes it’s called the “Bush smear machine,” or the “attack machine,” but in each case Democrats use the phrase to describe what they claim is a pattern of dirty politics by the president and his GOP supporters in recent elections.

Now, Democrats charge, Republicans are at it again. “George Bush and the Republican smear machine have begun trotting out the same old tired lines of attack,” Kerry said during a February campaign appearance in Virginia. In years past, Democrats have taken it lying down, Kerry explained, but now things are different. “This is one Democrat who’s going to fight back,” he vowed. “I’ve only just begun to fight.”

About the Author

Byron York

Byron York is a former White House correspondent for National Review.

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Presidential Election

if you spend much time listening to John Kerry, Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe, or any of a host of other national party leaders, you’ll hear lots of references to something called the “Republican smear machine.” Sometimes it’s called the “Bush smear machine,” or the “attack machine,” but in each case Democrats use the phrase to describe what they claim is a pattern of dirty politics by the president and his GOP supporters in recent elections.

Now, Democrats charge, Republicans are at it again. “George Bush and the Republican smear machine have begun trotting out the same old tired lines of attack,” Kerry said during a February campaign appearance in Virginia. In years past, Democrats have taken it lying down, Kerry explained, but now things are different. “This is one Democrat who’s going to fight back,” he vowed. “I’ve only just begun to fight.”