Bush sides with Blagojevich (D); Kerry sides with Topinka (R) Oy Vey!

[wndycty]

It seems like the national and Illinois politicians have to do a better job of message coordination. This is not about partisanship or ideology its about strategy and spin. Bush in an effort to boost his economic record contradicts the Republican nominee for Governor in Illinois on the issue of job creation. Kerry in an effort to bash Bush indirectly slams the job creation record of the Democratic incumbent for Governor. We can argue the points any day, however it seems to me that Bush should check to see what his candidate has said before he makes his claims and knowing that Bush was in town to campaign for the Republican nominee who had attacked the Democrat's jobs record Kerry should have coordinated with Blago. It just goes to show, at the end of the day all politicians are looking out only for themselves.

-snip-
In a bit of topsy-turvy politics, Bush touted the health of the state's economy by echoing Blagojevich in noting the state led the nation for job creation in April. And Bush's 2004 presidential opponent, U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), appeared to side with Topinka's criticism of the Democratic governor on the issue of job creation.

"The president praises the optimism of Illinois businesses, yet more of the state's businesses closed their doors in 2004 than new businesses were opened," Kerry said in a statement.
-snip-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060707bush,1,2763047.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Say what you want, but Kerry needs to know that when he attacks jobs in Illinois, he is indirectly attacking a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR! This shit is just sloppy.

-snip-
WASHINGTON, July 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, President Bush held a press conference following a breakfast meeting with Chicago business leaders. Following is a statement from Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship:

"Today President Bush missed yet another opportunity to actually do something to help small businesses. The president praises the optimism of Illinois businesses, yet more of the state's businesses closed their doors in 2004 than new businesses were opened. Instead of doing something to address sky-high gas prices, expensive loans and outsourced jobs, this president is holding photo ops touting his policies that are failing small businesses.

"Not once today did President Bush talk about fostering entrepreneurship for every sector of our society. If Washington is going to help small businesses thrive, we have to invest in the innovative ideas and hard work of all small firms, including those owned by minorities, women and veterans. It's common-sense that's long overdue."
-snip-

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=68897

Before being blindsided by Kerry, Blago made this observation:

CHICAGO Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) responded with pointed humor to President Bush's appearance today at a fund-raiser for his Republican opponent.
The governor says he wants to thank Bush for mentioning Illinois' record in job creation in a speech earlier today.

Last month, G-O-P candidate Judy Baar Topinka questioned the numbers when the governor released figures showing Illinois leading the nation in monthly job growth.
-snip-

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=5125151&nav=1sW7

[calmblueocean]

1. I do get where Kerry's coming from here.

I think the idea is that the president, through his policies, creates a general rate of job growth, and governors can only work with what they're given. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, so to speak. And I do have to say that leading the nation in job growth "for the month of April" is a pretty weak statistic.

But I agree that this was sloppily handled. They should've attempted to coordinate a unified message. Kerry should've focused on amplifying Blagojevich's positions, or at least framed his criticisms in such a way that laid the blame for anemic job growth on President Bush's doorstep.

[wndycty]

2. Yup, but my concern is not about policy or the facts its about . . .

. . .coordination and strategy. Simply put, Kerry had to be mindful about what Bush was doing in Illinois. When Bush praised the job growth in Illinois he gave Blago a boost and took an issue away from Topinka, when Kerry chimed in he did not necessarily hurt Blago but he did water down what would have been an opportunity to one up Judy. Now its a wash. In a closely matched race you need to exploit every opportunity you can.

[AX10]

3. Simply put, Kerry's words can be used against Blagojovich now.

[wndycty]

5. Yeah but I doubt Kerry will impact Blago as much as Bush will Topinka

:kick:

[blm]

4. Kerry's been riding Bush about inattention to small business concerns for

5 years now. He is being conpletely consistent and honest in his criticisms that Bush is to blame for his lack of small business policy while he bends over backwards for big business concerns.

[wndycty]

6. Consistency has nothing to do with it. . .

. . .the facts are irrelevant as it relates to this. He has a TON of opportunities to bash Bush and I want him to take them, HOWEVER he needs to be mindful when those criticisms can have a negative impact on a Democrat in a tight race for re-election. Kerry is not wrong, he just needs to look at the big picture of how his actions impact other Democrats.

[blm]

7. His responsibility as the Dem leader on Small Businesses is to the FACTS

and to the American people.

Blago should finesse the facts to his benefit and place most blame on Bush's national inattention, while pointing out that his state policies have prevented a much worse scenario.

Come on - this is an easy one - no panic necessary.

[wndycty]

8. Regardless of how he fucks over other Democrats. . .

. . .very good. There are 365 days a year to bash Bush and 4 times as many opportunities. A team player knows when to pull the trigger and when not to pull the trigger.

[blm]

9. Did you read my post - Blago can handle it to his advantage in an honest

way, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist.

[wndycty]

11. He should not have to. . .

. . .besides are you familiar with what is going on Illinois? Blago has a ton of self inflicted wounds (his fault) so he is in the fight for his life. While he brought that on his self he does not need to be dealing with Kerry fucking him over, so that he has a leg up in 2008. NOTE TO KERRY AND EVERY DEMOCRAT WHO IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT: Without major Democratic victories in 2006 we are in trouble in 2008 also every Dem running for the nomination needs as many Democratic allies as possible.

[blm]

14. Kerry is not fucking him over - he's addressing a nationwide problem that

Bush happens to be LYING about. That's his job as head of the Small Business watchdogs.

[sandnsea]

19. Is Blago running on a strong economy?

How stupid would that be if more small businesses have closed than opened? He should jump right on the Republicans abandonment of small business assistance, that's a huge area where we ought to be picking up votes. That's one way to offset the white "values voters" wedge issues. The thing they really care about is their monetary value and many of them are small business owners. Blago and Illinois Democrats need to use this to their advantage. Kerry gave them a gift if they aren't to pig-headed to pick it up.

[karynnj]

22. He was speaking of federal small business issues

and that was part of what Bush spoke on. He did not attack the Governor. The Chicago Tribune is, as usual coloring it that way. This says nothing about the 2 candidates for Governor.

[wndycty]

23. You can parse it anyway you want. . .

. . .THIS IS POLITICS, NOT POLICY. Whether Kerry was right or not is IRRELEVANT, he put the Governor in an awkward position so that he can score political points for his own agenda. Its as simple as that.

[blm]

27. Kerry's own agenda? He's been hounding Bush on bad policy for small

businesses for over FIVE YEARS. It's a thankless task of his as small business concerns garner little attention or glory, but SOMEBODY has to do it.

Why didn't you attack him for all the dozens of other counters he made against Bush's policies that were hurting small business? Weren't those part of 'his own agenda' that you would like us to believe?

[karynnj]

34. It' s not politics as much as policy

Kerry has issued at least 20 or 30 comments on Small Buissnesses. He is the leading Democrat on this and this was a major speech requiring some Democrat to respond - which Kerry did with facts. Kerry has been on this committee for over 21 years.

I haven't seen you post that Edwards shouldn't make statements on poverty in states with Democratic governors. I commend him for doing it - though you could say it is for 2008.

[GreenInNC]

10. Sometimes you just have to shut up

Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut and this was one of them. Kerry should have just kept quiet.

[wndycty]

12. Yes, if Kerry could have stood down for ONE NEWS CYLCE

Give Blago his opportunity to gloat and then release the statement. More importantly I bet the only markets in which Kerry's comments got any play were in Illinois so he fucks over Rod yet picks up no significant national buzz. Not good, selfish and sloppy.

[karynnj]

36. Democratic policy ha been to respond IN THE NEWS cycle

on every major speech. Although the speech was in Chicago, it was a national speech on small businesses. Kerry is the top Democrat on this. He gave an excellent reply pointing out lies. If this were any other Democrat, you wouldn't have written this.

[kerrygoddess]

13. Hold on

Bush was not just addressing the economy and business leaders in Chicago but the entire country by making it a public press conference.

Even if more jobs were created in Illinois that does not underscore what Kerry said about this - "more of the state's businesses closed their doors in 2004 than new businesses were opened."

I'm a small business owner - my company wholesales products to other small busineses. I can't even begin to count how many of my former clients have gone out of business. Bush doesn't give a rat's ass about small business - he cares about large corporations.

if Illinios has created more jobs, it is in the large corporate arena not small business. It is a fact that the Bush administration has cut funding to minority, women and veteran owned businesses. Kerry has been fighting this and he is on the right side of this issue.

The Chicage Tribune loves to slam Kerry, good for you - you bought the right wing talking points against him - hook, line and sinker.

As a small business owner, Kerry is on the money about what is hurting small businesses. If you don't own one or work for one, most likely you have no clue what folks like me are struggling with - Kerry does because he talks to folks like me about small businesses all the time.

He's heard my story about what business is going through. His concern is for the small businesses across the country - he wasn't singling out Illinois or what the Governor there has done to create jobs. The only reference Kerry made to jobs was the outsourcing reference - he did not say a word about jobs in Illinios.

[mikelgb]

15. When did stating facts become attacking?

politicians should not 'get together' and formulate spin they should speak on the facts as they know them without regard to political consequences

[wndycty]

16. It was careless and wreckless. . .

. . .simply put. There is a closely contested election in Illinois and while Bush bashing is always appreciated a good and responsible national Democrat would be wise not to say things that can be twisted as being critical of the Democratic incumbent. Its pretty simple. John Kerry is not a bad man, in this instance however he conducted himself in a wreckless manner.

[TayTay]

20. By all means, Democrats shouldn't talk truth.

It might be an Inconvenient Truth and make people uncomfortable. It's much better not to stand for anything and to blindly say whatever is good for the Party.

Gawd, isn't that what we are fighting against?

You're wrong on this one. Bush has consistently fucked over small business people with a special emphasis on women and minorities. Maybe this doesn't bother you, but I know people who have been impacted by this.

Why are you arguing that principle doesn't matter? That is a loser's attitude.

[wndycty]

21. You miss my point, I'm not talking about whether or not its true. . .

. . .I'm just talking about strategy and coordination. I'm sorry that you miss that.

[TayTay]

28. No, I got the fact that truth is irrelevant to your discussion

It's about strategy, not about substance or standing on any long-held principles. It's not about what has been loearing in 20+ years of being on the Small Business Committee, it's about whether or not telling the truth is advantageous to a particular candidate and if people should not talk about relity when it might ruffle feathers.

No, I got it. Truth has it's place, that place is just not in a campaign sometimes. It's inconvenient. It get that.

[LittleClarkie]

33. If standing up for the Dem would have been strategy and coordination

and you're saying in your OP that he's only out for himself, then wouldn't being strategic be looking out for oneself. It would seem that he's looking out for the interests he's been charged with, which is the Small Business Committee for which he is ranking Dem.

I have issues with the motives you assign. And your take on this only reinforces my perception of Kerry as a truth teller. How is that somehow now wrong?

[karynnj]

24. Kerry was not reckless

Would you want Edwards to avoid speaking about poverty in Illinois and in every state with a Democratic governor or in each major city with a Democratic mayor? I wouldn't - the problem is nationwide - as is the small business issue.

[wndycty]

25. On the day that the Republican President is in town on behalf of the . . .

. . .Republican nominee for Governor and the Republican President says something that to the benefit of the Democratic incumbent, which the Democratic incumbent then seeks to exploit only to be blind sided by the Democratic senator from MA. . .er uh yes.

There is nothing wrong with what Kerry said, HOWEVER THERE IS A TON WRONG with his timing and strategy. Kerry is not on the ballot in Illinois in 2006, the Democratic incumbent is.

[karynnj]

35. The Democrats respond to EVERY major Bush speech

The media ASKS for a response each time. Bush's message that small businesses are doing well under him is not true - and Kerry is the pointsman. That message if not countered with facts helps Republicans everywhere.

[WildEyedLiberal]

17. As an Illinois resident I don't agree

Jobs have been hemorrhaging from this state since the late 90s. Decatur lost 30,000 + jobs over the past several years with the closures of Firestone and other manufacturing companies, and the jobs that are left are losing benefits and wages. Ask anyone who lives outside the metro Chicago area - the past several years have NOT been kind to Illinois. Is it Blago's fault? No, but that doesn't change the fact that the job situation in Illinois is dire. Kerry stated the facts - under Bush, Illinois has lost jobs and what jobs we have are fast becoming cheap McJobs with shit pay and no benefits. Blago can certainly blame Bush and George Ryan for the state of Illinois now, but it's not going to do him any good to paint this pollyanna picture of jobs in Illinois which ignores the reality. Ignoring the very real plight of workers downstate is not going to help him win votes.

[sandnsea]

18. This is about small business, right??

I totally get your point and can see that maybe a call to Blagojevich's office might have helped to create a coordinated message.

BUT, I can't see that Kerry spoke about job creation, he spoke about small business as the lead Democrat on the Small Business Committee. It's within his area of expertise and I would think Blagojevich would be calling bullshit on Bush/Republican economic policies too. And I can't see that any other Democrat spoke out against that pile of shit Bush spewed out in Chicago either.

[wndycty]

26. But you are missing. . .

. . .what Bush said DIRECTLY contradicted what the Republican nominee for Governor said in an attempt to bash Blagojevich. Blago jumped all over it to show how Topinka and Bush are not on the same page and while Bush may have been in town to stump for Topinka he and her have a different take on the Illinois economy. Kerry is looking out for Kerry, damn the impact on the Illinois Governor's race.

[blm]

29. Did you make that claim at ANY OTHER TIME when Kerry attacked Bush's small

business policies? There were dozens of times he has done so, and every time Bush tried to lie about his policies for small business. I didn't see any of your posts claiming he had an agenda then.

[sandnsea]

30. Blago's talking jobs

Kerry's talking commitment to small business. It is possible for some businesses to be expanding, creating more jobs - while small business is not getting the federal assistance they're supposed to get.

Democrats need to watch for Bush to do more of this and respond accordingly. It's foolish for Blagojevich to let Bush use him to tout a strong economy. Blagojevich should be saying how much worse it would have been with a Republican governor and point to states that prove that point. People know there's something wrong with these economic numbers and any Democrat who is running on the Bush economy is an idiot.

[Cocoa]

31. I can't imagine Kerry's statement hurting Blagojevich

I understand what you're saying, but I can't see this having any effect on anyone's vote.

[LittleClarkie]

32. How is this political? It seems anti-political to me.

He is in the appropriate position as ranking Dem of the Small Business committee to have a valid opinion on job creation. He's not been afraid before to stand up for what he believes, even when it was a fellow Democrat who was caught up in the bank scandal he was investigating. That is part of what made him unpopular amongst his fellows.

I fail to see how going against a fellow Dem is politically advantageous. If the Dem has sucked in job creation (I don't know if he has) then Kerry should voice his opinion of such.

And another thing. We're usually looking for Dems to go against Bush. Now we're not? I'm confused.

I guess how political it is depends on how good a job the Dem Gov has been doing.

But I don't think it can be forgotten that Kerry's been doing a pretty good job thus far in supporting fellow Dems for re-election. I'm reluctant to assign ulterior motives to this statement. I suppose they can always be assumed, but then you can turn most anything into something untoward if you want to.

[Mass]

37. Much ado about nothing.

I dont know why you find necessary to blow that out of proportion. Kerry attacked Bush on the economy. If you find the economy is great, feel free.

If what Kerry said hurts Blago, it would mean that Blago is a weak candidate.