Funny College Democrat Mistake
I can't believe I didn't catch this until now, but bear with me....
Last semester, I published a piece in the Spectator about the Democrats for Bloomberg issue within the College Democrats. Specifically, I was very critical of Seth Flaxman (their then Membership Director and current President) and his slogan that, as College Democrats, "We should stop ‘just talking’ about politics and focus on getting good Democrats elected. Less talk and more activism.”
In response, Seth Flaxman accused me of twisting his quote out of context. As he wrote:
I thought the quote of mine he used in his editorial was clear: “We need to do more than just talk about issues and work on getting good Democrats elected.”
Notice anything wrong?
Well, if you didn't, the quote he refers to is not the same as the quote I used in my piece. My quote I took from an earlier spec article about the Mayoral race. The quote used by Flaxman does not show up in that article, or in mine. Basically, he changed his own message in his response, perhaps hoping that nobody would realize. There is a difference between "stop 'just talking'" and "do more than just talking," and that's an awfully big typo to happen just by mistake. He ignores his latter part of the quote, "the less talk" part, entirely too.
I could, of course, discuss the myriad of other points in Flaxman's response that were lacking, and if comments ask for it perhaps I will. But I think its just another case in which Democrats twist what they actually said after they are challenged on it. Where's the accountability again? Certainly, not with the College Democrats.
Although I would certainly like to meet Mr. Flaxman. Too bad I didn't see his response until now.
Last semester, I published a piece in the Spectator about the Democrats for Bloomberg issue within the College Democrats. Specifically, I was very critical of Seth Flaxman (their then Membership Director and current President) and his slogan that, as College Democrats, "We should stop ‘just talking’ about politics and focus on getting good Democrats elected. Less talk and more activism.”
In response, Seth Flaxman accused me of twisting his quote out of context. As he wrote:
I thought the quote of mine he used in his editorial was clear: “We need to do more than just talk about issues and work on getting good Democrats elected.”
Notice anything wrong?
Well, if you didn't, the quote he refers to is not the same as the quote I used in my piece. My quote I took from an earlier spec article about the Mayoral race. The quote used by Flaxman does not show up in that article, or in mine. Basically, he changed his own message in his response, perhaps hoping that nobody would realize. There is a difference between "stop 'just talking'" and "do more than just talking," and that's an awfully big typo to happen just by mistake. He ignores his latter part of the quote, "the less talk" part, entirely too.
I could, of course, discuss the myriad of other points in Flaxman's response that were lacking, and if comments ask for it perhaps I will. But I think its just another case in which Democrats twist what they actually said after they are challenged on it. Where's the accountability again? Certainly, not with the College Democrats.
Although I would certainly like to meet Mr. Flaxman. Too bad I didn't see his response until now.
posted by Dennis at
1:19 AM
3 Comments:
How would you address this contention:
"If Mr. Schmelzer is so concerned about SGB campaign regulations, maybe his group shouldn’t claim on their Web site to “be right at the center of the re-election efforts for Mayor Bloomberg” and should stop distributing official campaign materials to its membership."
By
Anonymous, at 2:09 PM
Wow, that was HILARIOUS! No, it actually wasn't. Too bad there really is no significant difference between "stop 'just talking'" and "do more than just talk", otherwise that whole piece of shit story might have been worth reading. Oh well, better luck next time!
By
Anonymous, at 3:11 PM
As far as Anonymous' question, the Bloomberg material was the material from Students for Bloomberg, which our members asked us to post. Notice how the line that Seth quotes is from the Bloomberg '05 button on the site, and not from the main CR page.
None of our members have ever asked us to create a "Republicans for Ferrer" or similar group, or we would have extended them the same courtesy. The Executive Board has, however, recognized a Republicans for Spitzer group, founded by Prabal Saxena, and once they send material that will be posted too.
And we have distributed the campaign literature for many more candidates than Bloomberg at meetings. For the most part, any that have asked and had the support of our members. Had Mr. Flaxman been to any of our meetings, he would know that. Republicans for Spitzer will likely hand out material as well.
There is a huge difference between promoting the efforts of all individual members and promoting the efforts of some above others. The CRs have not picked and chosen in that fashion, but the Democrats have. That's what Mr. Flaxman misses. A political group will never shy away from handing out campaign materials to people that may be interested, but how it is done is at question.
I hope that is sufficient of a response, although if its not I'd be willing to talk about it more. Let me know.
------------------
As far as Dustin:
Saying that one should STOP talking - followed immediately by a slogan calling for "less talk" - and do MORE than talk is completely difference. One suggests there is room for a full discussion along with activism, while the other suggests that members should shut up so that they can go and be active more. It suggests that talking is somehow at odds with activism, a notion that I reject. Activism should be all about having conversations, starting on campus and spiraling outwards.
I would hope that the Democrats on this campus talk more and are more active. The two can both be done. Too bad, however, Mr. Flaxman has not struck that message.
And no matter how small the difference, deliberately changing a quote that was the basis of an argument is deceptive. If its not so different, Dustin, then please explain why Mr. Flaxman felt the need to change them.
In politics, small distinctions can be everything. Every word counts. As does Poland. ;)
By
Dennis, at 8:51 PM
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