The bottom line on the Kerry thing

[ShaneGR]

Couple million American military families were told one week from the election that the only reason they're in the predicimant they're in is..... because they're stupid and uneducacted.

His response was agressive, and I wish he'd been that forceful in 2004.

It probably didn't "sway" voters from D to R but it might fire up some of the Republican base to actually show up and vote R so it could swing some races.

In the end, STFU. I appreciate your candidacy in 2004. I appreciate your service in the Senate. I appreciate your courage in combat. You are a great American. We all agree with what you are saying. But now would be the time to PLEASE DISAPPEAR until after the election is over.

Sincerely,

Shane

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. Way To Blame The Victim. n/t

[ShaneGR]

5. I don't think I'm blaming anyone

We don't need the distraction.

[Terri S]

21. interesting...

you know, I'd like to assume most people are intelligent, but to see so many, knowing Kerry's past, knowing his continuous support of veterans and the troops, believe the spin rather than the obvious truth... it's truly amazing.

Worse still to have people say he should STFU!! Should Clinton have STFU with Chris Wallace? Is standing up for the truth somehow a losing strategy in elections? What twilight zone episode is this??

[rzemanfl]

2. I disagree, but you are entitled. n/t

[emulatorloo]

3. RoveCO drug Kerry into this mess -- and Kerry did great today

Why are you buying the BULLSHIT rove distortion that Kerry insulted the troops.

Kerry insulted Bush, the Repug Screaming Monkeys are lying again.

[Bok_Tukalo]

4. What he said was rude

Sometimes that happens.

[oasis]

10. It was only rude to those who drank the Kool Aid and bought the WH spin.

[Bok_Tukalo]

12. Not really

Not trying to argue but I disagree. In my opinion what he said was rude. I understand the joke he was trying to make and if it were John Stewart or Bill Maher (although they would have set it up and done a better job of making the point), I could see it as dark humor.

But not from a United States senator.

[oasis]

15. Saying that Bush's ineptitude landed us in Iraq, is not rude, no matter

who says it.

Many here believe, rightly, that invading Iraq without fully studying the possible consequenses, was a mistake.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. It was not rude...

Anybody with half a brain could tell that he was talking about Bush and not the troops. I can't believe all you good Democrats' gullibility on this issue. I heard what he said, and it was clear to me who he was talking about. This is White House spin, 100 percent.

[MadMaddie]

6. Shane....have you have tried to make a joke or a jab at

someone and fucked it up....Kerry did that...his jab was at the President not the troops...the media has once again selectively parsed the tape....

Kerry came back and explained what he tried to do...

Kerry needed to stand up just as Clinton needed to stand up.....it's is late but we should not complain about it....this is the fight that we should have had years ago...

[oasis]

7. Kerry can't fire up the Rethug base without firing up the Dem base as well.

In that scenario, Dems win.

[LittleClarkie]

8. Would you like him to take his money with him?

Or can the party keep that?

Nobody complained when he sent out email after email seeking funds for Dems all over the country.

That was okay.

No one has complained up to now when he traveled all over the country, campaigning for Dems.

That was okay.

And how come no Republicans ever have to STFU. Several of them have said some pretty heinous things that none of them ever take back.

[ginnyinWI]

9. no, no, no!

What he said wasn't wrong--but the GOP took it and deliberately misunderstood it! Argh.

It was a joke about BUSH!
If you don't believe this, and think he'd insult the troops, you don't know a thing about Kerry.

[KSU Wildcat]

16. If it was a joke....

nobody is laughing. In trying to make him self look presidential, he is about to drag the Democrats down. Shame on him....

[Strelnikov_]

18. Thank You For Your Concern n/t

[mitchtv]

23. OOOOOOOOOO i'm scaaaaaaarrrrrrreeeed!!!!

Puleese
booga booga boo

[Redstone]

11. Horseshit. He's speaking up and telling the truth. So he should shut up?

Hey, THAT'll help the Dems win elections, won't it? Just shut up, all of us. War? What war?

Sad to see a DUer swallow the Republican Koolaid. And then say, "Master, may I have more?"

Redstone

[bluestateguy]

13. This will be over in a day or two

maybe even less depending on what comes up in the news.

The racy lines Jim Webb wrote in his book and the MJ Fox ad were supposed to create big backlashes. They did not.

[bbgrunt]

14. I got fired up hearing someone tell the truth for a change!!

[Strelnikov_]

17. "You Get STUCK In Iraq" As In Chimpy

Once it is taken in context, it is apparent what he was talking about.

I think this backfires big time for the Reich as this reality trickles out over the next few days.

The joke is going to be on them.

Then, the questions will begin as to how they can take a statement out of context and turn it into a smear involving the enlisted military.

[hughee99]

24. Yes, if taken in this context

it's pretty clear. The problem is that context wasn't provided at the time of the "joke". If he had said in the original statement "... LIKE BUSH, you get stuck in Iraq", there would be no controversy. Is I understand it, this was in the notes for the speech he made (a specific reference to *), but he didn't read that part. Since the statement, as actually delivered, is more ambiguous, is anyone surprised that the repukes interpret it to mean what will make Kerry look the worst?

They'll play the clip all over the place (at least for the next 24 hours). Does anyone think that most media outlets will be clear about the specific context? I don't think that after the clip plays, someone will explain that while it's not clear from the clip, Kerry later stated that he was referring to *. Someone interested enough can find this out, but how many actually will? Despite how Kerry intended this, it will be used to rally the repuke voters. I don't see how this is going to backfire on them.

[Strelnikov_]

25. Then You Are Saying We Are To The Point That They Can Take

a clip out of context, and never be called on it?

If so, then we are done.

The statement was part of a dialog on administration screw ups. This was day one. If they continue to press the issue, the context will come out (that is, break through the media fire wall), and the 'joke' will then be on them.

[hughee99]

29. They can take the clip out of context...

It's made all the easier because the context that needs to be there (the specific reference to *) is not in the clip. The context is already out there, but the clarification came out AFTER the statement was made. Lots of people will hear the clip, but a lot fewer will hear the context. People who were already planning to vote for Democrats will not vote differently because of this. People who were already planning to vote repuke won't be swayed by this either. I don't think this will be the deciding difference (one way or the other) for those who were already planning to vote but haven't decided who their going to vote for yet. IMHO, this will probably help GOTV for those people who normally vote repuke, but have been turned off by recent repuke scandals and were planning to stay home.

As far as the backlash goes, I just don't see anyone saying "I was going to vote repuke, but after what they did with Kerry's statement, I'm going to vote Democratic now." This sort of stuff has happened before, if they haven't been outraged enough about it by now to vote Democratic, this won't change their minds either.

[ProSense]

19. You should see what the freepers

who have descended on Senator Kerry's blog are saying:

Summary:

How dare you insult our CIC!

This will certainly cost your party votes!

I can name worse presidents than Bush!


GOP desperation creep. Democrats who fall for this shit must have been asleep the past three years!

[BootinUp]

20. sometimes expressing your opinion

is challenged by the mob. Don't let it get you down, others do agree with you, like me for example.

[johnnie]

26. It was obvious who he was talking about

I can't believe I see so many people here falling right in step with the pukes. Kerry basically called bush an idiot and he is right. It doesn't take a genius to know what he meant.

[RoyGBiv]

27. Horse. Shit.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[NoodleyAppendage]

Kerry is "stupid and uneducated" in the ways of modern media and spin.

Verbal fuck up days before a critical election...isn't there an adage about "not handing your opponent the gun with which to shoot you?"

J

[prolesunited]

28. Well, as long as you've weighed in

the case is closed. :eyes: