If Bush labels Kerry a Massachusetts Liberal tonight, I wish he would

[Fla Dem]

answer the challenge and squash this liberal bashing in its tracks. It's been going on since Ronald Reagan and needs to be answered once and for all.

If Bush brings up the M/L label in any context tonight Kerry should look us in the eye(via the camera) and say:

As far as being a Liberal, as my opponent so frequently likes to label me, then

Yes, I support our troops in hostile environments all over the world and believe we should provide them with the equipment they need to be safe and do their jobs. Not send them into war ill equipped as this president did.

I believe we should not send our young men and women into combat until every other avenue has been explored to resolve issues, unlike this president who rushed to war and now over 1000 American soldiers are dead.

I believe we should not reduce their hazardous duty pay like this administration has done, and in fact raise it so military families are not living below the poverty line.

I believe we should fully cover their medical expenses and not cut it like this administration has done.

I believe we should improve the on base educational support for military dependents, not cut it like this administration has done.

I believe we should extend unemployment benefits for those workers who have lost their jobs because of the the Bush administration handling of the economy, not cut it like this administration has done.

I believe in a balanced budget, as I voted for in 1996(?), instead of an administration that has taken a $5 trillion surplus and turned into a $5 trillion national debt.

I believe in giving tax cuts to the middle class, not the top 2% of wage earners and the multi-billion dollar corporations as this administration has done.

I believe the government should be able to negotiate the lowest price possible for prescription drugs for our seniors, instead of giving the drug companies a blank check to charge the government any amount they want.

I believe if employees are required to work beyond their normal work schedule, they should be paid overtime, unlike this administration who eliminated overtime pay for millions of middle class workers.

I believe in creating a strong and safe homeland by making sure we have enough police and firemen trained and well equipped to protect us and respond to emergencies, unlike this administration that has cut the funding to 1st responders.

I believe we will be a stronger and safer homeland only when we are inspecting more than only 10% of the cargo that is coming into American ports, as is the current level under this administration.

So yes, I do believe and support all of these issues, and if that makes me a Liberal, then so be it. I'm proud of the label.

There's more that I could have listed, abortion, equal pay for women, the environment, health care, outsourcing jobs, etc, but you get the point. and he's only got 90 seconds to respond. I'm sure some of you have other points he could make that are more forceful, but that's what I'd like to see him do to kill this whole negative liberal label tactic of the repugs.

(edited for spelling)

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. GTMA!

From earlier this morning! :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1049465&mesg_id=1049563

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Kick

Ronald "BEASTIALITY EXPERIMENT GONE ARWY" REAGAN should talk: he and his Facsist GOONS thought that Vietnam was a good war! That is the "Conservative" mentality!

:wtf:

:eyes:

[southern democrat]

3. I'd rather be a Mass. liberal than a Texas fool.

[daydreamer]

4. Bush is more liberal

He should say Bush is a borrow and spend liberal. His proposals cost 3 trillions while Kerry's cost 2 trillions. Go figure.

[archineas]

5. my retort would be...

"the president seems intent on labelling me using an "L" word, but given his statements about 'not into nation building', 'bringing unity to government' (insert shrubbie flip-flops here), there's an "L" word i could use to describe him, but i'm not going to stoop to the level of name-calling, as the office of the presidency requires more diginified, mature and respectful behavior than name calling."

j, who think kerry oughta just call him a "lying sack of trash", but knows that won't happen...

[Fla Dem]

6. Good reply, but I do think we need to address the liberal label.

The repugs have demeaned it so much in the last 20 years, to a lot of moderates and undecideds it has a negative connotation, because the repugs have been able to define it, not us.

[RB TexLa]

7. Labels, Labels, Labels

The silliness of these labels is only surpassed by the embarrassment of the reason they are still used so blanketly. That being the American publics non caring about what goes on in government, and love for "us/them, right/wrong, good/evil" thinking. It plays to simplicity, and of course in a campaign that is what you strive for, the simpler the message the more people there are that will understand it and remember it. The two lines that Kerry and Bush have been ridiculed about during the debates are "It's hard work, I'm working hard," and "I have a plan for (insert problem here)." Now granted both Bush and Kerry can go into much more detail about their "plans" and "hard work," but the bulk of the American public isn't going to listen. There are very few people that do not have a leaning either one of three ways, Democratic, Republican, or anti-two parties. The ones that lean toward a party or an ideology listen and nod their heads when they hear about either a "plan" or "hard work," that's all they really have to hear, they aren't going to a website to read the plans or find out what hard work is being done. They will just remember there is a "plan" or that there is "hard work." The liberal label is used very well by the Republicans when they need to tap into a simple thought of "good vs. bad" in peoples minds. This is for people who feel they should vote, not because they are involved, but because they think it is the right thing to do, or that they are mad about something, jobs, Iraq, whatever. The ones in the leaning toward Republican get reminded that no matter what this guy says about jobs, health care, what your children will have to pay to take care of all the borrowing, or about the war, no matter how much sense what he say makes, you have to remember "liberal."

[ArkDem]

8. That answer would do wonders to convince independents

who are still awake by the end of it.