Kerry says White House commits 'character assassination' against Clarke

[Octafish]

Kerry says White House commits 'character assassination' against Clarke

By Nedra Pickler
ASSOCIATED PRESS
12:31 p.m. March 27, 2004

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John Kerry said the White House is committing character assassination with its treatment of former counterterror chief Richard Clarke to avoid responding to questions about national security that Clarke raised.

"I don't think people want questions about character; I think they want questions about our security to be answered," Kerry said. "That's what this is about."

Kerry also said Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's national security adviser, should testify in public before the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"If Condoleezza Rice can find time to do '60 Minutes' on television before the American people, she ought to find 60 minutes to speak to the commission under oath," Kerry said. "We're talking about the security of our country."

CONTINUED…

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/federal/20040327-1231-kerry.html

[ChompySnack]

1. He shoots, he scores

It's so easy against these liars.

[mouse7]

9. Getting like shooting ducks in a barrel, huh?

Not a lot of "mental gymnastics" forced upon critics of Dumbya and the neo-cons anymore.

[frylock]

14. it's like political judo..

use the weight of your opponent's bullshit to toss them on their ass.

[htuttle]

17. Gotten more like Aikido lately

Don't even need to touch them. Just move out of the way, and they go flying all on their own...

But next November? They will learn the lesson of Ed Gruberman...:evilgrin:

[Pax Argent]

24. BOOT TO THE HEAD!! - Amen

I loved that bit! Ed Gruberman was the prototypical Freeper.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. All right!

Dems are standing up and telling it like it is! My guess is that Condasleeza will wind up having to testify publicly, and, hopefully, under oath.

[ChompySnack]

5. If it is public, it must be under oath

according to the rules of the committee

[snappydresser]

3. Give 'em Hell, Kerry!!!

BOOYAH!!!

[Octafish]

28. That's got a nice ring to it.

Here's where the Bush Organized Crime Family fears all this is heading: The FBI. Once Louis Freeh is on trial and staring at 50 years-to-life, he'll sing like a bird. Until then, here's a little more for Poppy, Smirk, Sneer and Turd Blossom to consider...

"Do you think," says a White House antiterrorism official, "that if Dick Clarke had known that the FBI had in custody a foreigner who couldn't speak English, who was trying to fly a plane in midair, he wouldn't have done something?"

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020527/story2.html

BTW: A hearty welcome to DU, snappydresser!

[Old and In the Way]

4. Ain't that the truth.

Clear enough for you, George?

[Octafish]

29. To connect any dots, Bush needs to know the date, hour, location...

... weather conditions, if the look-out gives the all clear, etc. Otherwise, who could've known? Besides a 5-year-old?

"If our administration (sic) had intelligence that terrorists were going to hijack an airliner on Sept. 11 and fly it into the World Trade Center we would have acted on it." -- Gov. George W. Bush

Hey, crazy moron! What else do you need? Your CIA briefing was entitled: "Bin Laden Set to Strike in the US."

[TheFarseer]

6. I can see the spin on this now

Repubs will first say that dems are saying Bush tried to assasinate Clarke, then will say that we said Bush did assasinate Clarke and that's crazy because he's still alive. Their spin is just out of control, that's the jist of it.

[ck4829]

7. Right on

Kerry knows what he is talking about. And to think the Conservatives will say he will mess up the war on terror, he knows that Security is far more important than looking good and it is becoming more clear every day that Bush and Rice are trying to cover for something that was obviously their fault.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi ck4829!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ck4829]

26. Thanks

I love it here. This place is great, I have so many ideas and it feels great to be able to debate them intelligently here.

[AspenRose]

8. Damn Straight

"If Condoleezza Rice can find time to do '60 Minutes' on television before the American people, she ought to find 60 minutes to speak to the commission under oath," Kerry said. "We're talking about the security of our country."


Dr. Rice...get ready for your close-up

[frank frankly]

10. great soundbite! wonderful wonderful WONDERFUL

way to go, JK!

[Octafish]

34. "Character Assassination Mode."

Kerry's a politician, lawyer, D.A., anti-war protestor, USN C.O., and Skull and Bones. The guy's careful with his words. If he says something, he means it. Kerry's answered Bush's smears with more than a shot across the bow, Kerry's launched a salvo.

Here's another 16-incher:

On Clarke, Kerry said: "Every time somebody comes up and says something that this White House doesn't like, they don't answer the questions about it or show you the truth about it. They go into character assassination mode."

Besides Clarke, Kerry cited the examples of former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Medicare accountant Richard Foster.

Source, Japan Times

Kerry Slams Whte House Attack on Clarke

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=293101

[ezee]

11. Kerry

hits a hole in one! good for you Kerry!

[Dogmudgeon]

12. Let the Cons say all they want ...

... but the American people know what's up. John Kerry is now giving a voice to their concerns, after decades of Democratic silence.

It took a long time, and the efforts of many people, but the popular tide has turned. My hope is that it is strong enough to permanently beach the evil Leviathan that is the Neo-Con movement.

The fight's just started, but we've already won it where it counts, in the hearts and minds of the American people. From here on in, I'm optimistic that what remains will all be footnotes.

--bkl
Hoping against hope.

[sandnsea]

13. "character assassination mode"

Oooh, this is very good:

"On Clarke, Kerry said: "Every time somebody comes up and says something that this White House doesn't like, they don't answer the questions about it or show you the truth about it. They go into character assassination mode."

Besides Clarke, Kerry cited the examples of former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Medicare accountant Richard Foster."

[Maat]

16. We will never see Condi testfiy.....the Rethugs are terrified ...

that she will crack like an egg -- and tell all.

[Octafish]

27. 9-11 Whistleblowers-get-screwed data dump

An excellent GD post by Minstrel Boy brings up a lot of people who've certainly felt the effects of "character assassination mode."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1293947&mesg_id=1293947

[Democat]

15. Unfortunately, beause of the media, the right wing is having success

Most headlines now seem to be about Clarke and his credibility rather than about Bush.

The right wing media continues to protect Bush.

The main story here should be Bush's credibility, not Clarke's.

[keopeli]

19. I see it differently

The media coddles to the middle...the average joe...whoever that is. Average Joe has supported Bush*. Now, it's split. So, the media can have it both ways as long as they are playing both stories. What's most important is that Bush* is not yet off the hook. Until then, average Joe will only become more undecided.

That's a step in the right direction, eh?

Keo

[nostamj]

18. he's getting better writers...

this:

"If Condoleezza Rice can find time to do '60 Minutes' on television before the American people, she ought to find 60 minutes to speak to the commission under oath," Kerry said.

is just perfect.

[joeunderdog]

23. As a Mass constituent of Sen Kerry,

I wanna know where this is coming from. He was guilty as charged in being a pol who hasn't taken hard stands for most of his years as a senator. It always bugged me about him. He was just potential, not finished product, and always talked like a politician instead of making bold statements that could offend people.

Then, he fires his presidential campaign advisor, trims his eyebrows and takes the gloves off! This guy is saying all the right things. He is pounding the Shrub into a corner and they can't back up any faster. I'm loving it. He's galvanizing the Dems and they are getting bolder and more critical by the day. This is just what this country (world) needs right now.

Kerry in 04!

[Octafish]

30. What you said: "This is just what this country (world) needs right now."

BTW: Kerry did stand up early in his career and they tried to chop him down. He didn't back down. But, to survive and prosper, he's had to stay quiet. Now he can make noise. Imagine what he can do as President?

For starters, he'd end the BFEE once and for all.

God Speed John Kerry!

[koopie57]

39. on c-span they

are showing an old Dick Cavette show from 1971 where Kerry and John O'Neill (sp) are debating the Vietnam War. (Does anyone know where a thread for this is?). But I think you are right Octafish, he may have just kept a low profile and learned how to be the most effective.

[rumguy]

20. I'm breathless

wow, friggin' awesome!

[Octafish]

31. Hold on, rumguy!

To sink the BFEE means we're going to need you and all hands!

Like The Magistrate says:

"Let's get those Bush bastards!"

[kentuck]

21. Great timing !

Good job, JFK !

[Octafish]

33. Bush has got to be going through a case of Depends a day.

A real bed-wetting bastard,
The Little Turd from Crawford.

[David Zephyr]

22. Yes!

Oh, yeah!

[truthisfreedom]

32. sounds like he came back from vacation fully refreshed. i bet bush wishes

he could take a little month-long vacation right now and cool his jets. keep the pressure on, Kerry! woohoo!

[nolabels]

35. In the debate why rice cannot come before the commission

They site executive privilege / separation of branches. My take is the first branch of the government (WE THE PEOPLE) should take charge. The * and company should be inundated with with the question "Why did you fail US?"

This is about National security, it concerns everybody and we have a right to know

[Octafish]

36. When neo-Confederates say "Government IS the problem..."

... We the People need to point out that, in the United States, The People IS the government.

And that brings us to what is the problem. The neo-Cons have declared war on the American people. Those who oppose them are the enemy and will be destroyed. Those they need will be enslaved. Of course, that which they want they will take.

Where's all this going? Bush wants a space program so he can build an escape vehicle for use once the world is uninhabitable. Until then, they have their jungle redoubts in Brazil and Uraguay, probably Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, too.

To prevent this from happening requires awareness on the part of the American people. We need a new chief executive, an honest man with an honest Attorney General. Then we'll be able to get the Grand Jury investigation going. You can lead the questioning. I want to drive the paddy wagon.

[nolabels]

37. Neo-Confederates say "Government IS the problem except when.........

they are the one's who have usurped the reigns of government. That's the time they claim it on par with their own personal god. At that time they claim that they personally speak for both.

They would really would have an impossible task if that personal thing did take place, the one of personal responsibility, they have failed this one, unabridged.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

38. Excellent

Kerry steps up!

[JusticeForAll]

40. GO! GO! GO!

Keep this sucker in the news until the cabal breaks.

[Catfight]

41. Now it's time to be even more presidential and turn the tables

Kerry should say this country deserves to have a credible, honest, open to the public government, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE! He just needs to use his positive attitude to show how the Bu$h administration has failed to be upfront, honest and forthright with Americans.

The speech writers should be delirious with all this great information. I know I would be! jingoism vs. heroism!

[ElementaryPenguin]

42. You are SO right, Catfight!!

Sure hope the Kerry camp is astute enough to recognize this! HJUe

:bounce: