Better they're going after Kerry in homestretch than any of the candidates

[beaconess]

who are running hard in the battleground states.

Kerry is a red herring - as long as the Republican slime machine is using up all of its juice on him, that means less ammo (and time) to go after the people in the races that really matter.

I think this is a one-day story - especially if Dems stay focused and don't fall into the trap of getting all worked up over it. If the Republicans are so desperate that they are now reduced to trying to beat up on a guy whose not even in the race, we're in good shape and need to just keep pressing on.

[AlinPA]

1. That story helps keep the focus on Iraq; not gay marriage, God in schools,

creationism, burning flags, guns, taxes, and other things the Rs would rather talk about.

[karynnj]

2. Good point -

Last Friday, it was wall to wall reading of Webb's novels, that were well reguarded when reviewed. Before that it was the CONSTANT free replay of the sexy blond in the Ford ad. There were incredibly obnoxious comments on McGaskill on talk radio. Any of these or any new ones could hurt candidates. Kerry is not on the ballot.

Any candidate asked could say Kerry was commenting on the lack of planning on Bush's part that got us into the war. Carville's comment that Kerry mangled a joke, Bush mangled a war (though he really mangled 2 wars) is as good an answer as any.

What is clear is the Republicans are looking for any senetance that can be misinterpreted. They have made an issue of it with nearly EVERY prominent Democrat, from Dean,to Kerry, Gore, to Hillary (plantation, RW conspiracy (which I agree with!)), to Reid (We killed the Patriot Act) to Dick Durbin (saying he compared soldiers to Nazis.) All of these people are top statesman - whose comments if rationally commented had reasonable explanations.

Yet the Republicans say outrageous things ALL THE TIME.

[beaconess]

3. Exactly - if Kerry had said the joke exactly right, they STILL would have

dogged him out.

It's ridiculous for people to assume that this attack was caused by Kerry misspeaking. If Kerry had gotten the joke right and clearly attacked Bush, the Republican slime machine would still have gone after him since every bit of criticism of Bush is immediately morphed into criticism of the troops and proof that Democrats hate America and want the terrorists to wim.