Reply #61: Reality is perception. [View All]

[davidwparker]

I will agree that Kerry won the debates, he really did deserve the metals, he did a great thing protesting the Viet-nam war -- he earned whatever view he had of it when he left. He's done very good things and I voted for him.

But,

after he was nominated, you didn't hear much from him. Part of that was medical. When he was attacked on his record, he did not defend it. He chose to take the high road with a bunch of rats. The problems that caused was the perception of Kerry, not the reality. Contrast that with our nominee Jim Webb. When Allen's campaign started the swiftboating (1) he immediately shot back with his "guys in glass dude ranches shouldn't cast stones." I don't hear Webb being attacked that way today.

Kerry had a great record and * was a deserter (AWOL over 30 days). Kerry volunteered; * deserted the "champagne division." Nothing was made of this by Kerry. Kerry (officially) lost to the worst president in our history. You can believe what you wish. I believe with all of the negatives of this administration, it shouldn't have been close enough to steal.

Kerry needed to take a wait and see stance on whether to concede. Then join the Greens and Libertarians in the lawsuit. That would have kept it in the press and under scrutiny. His absence was deafening. I don't even buy this behind the scenes efforts. He should have been front and center.

Kerry had a lot going for him and blew it. Please don't confuse large crowds and largest amount of money raised for Kerry love. It was more Bush-hatred. Kerry was painted as weak and then whimpered away. That was the perception.

Perception is reality.