Kerry's Long Flight to Say 'Aye' Runs Into a Storm of G.O.P. Delays

[Scairp]

Have I mentioned today how much I hate Jodi Wilgoren? No? God, I really, REALLY hate that bitch!

WASHINGTON, June 22 - How far would a presidential candidate travel in one day to not cast a vote on an issue critical to his campaign? For Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts on Tuesday, the journey was 3,910 miles.

<snip>

"At this time of great sacrifice, it is even more important that we show our veterans that we honor them and respect them, and we have to show them with more than words, we have to show them with our deeds," Senator Kerry said when he finally appeared at 5:40 p.m. after a long afternoon of fruitless negotiations among Senate leaders about the timing of the vote. "At this time of war, our message ought to be loud and clear: When you come home, your country will take care of you, because you took care of us."

<snip>

Steve Schmidt, a spokesman for President Bush's re-election effort, pointed out that Mr. Kerry had missed five other votes on veterans issues these past two years. There was the October 2003 bill for reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, which included $1.8 billion for veterans health benefits (it passed); a November 2003 amendment that would have financed the Department of Veterans Affairs at $122.7 billion (it died); a January spending bill with $91 billion in funding for veterans and housing (adopted); and two March amendments to pump money into veterans medical programs (both rejected).

Over all, according to Mr. Schmidt, Senator Kerry has missed 70 percent of the votes in the current Congress - 64 percent in 2003, and 89 percent this year (not including two roll calls while he was having prostate surgery last January).

<snip>


In an exchange on the Senate floor, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the minority leader, said he had been told Mr. Kerry's presence was the sole reason for the delay, adding, "you would hope that we could keep the campaigns off the Senate floor." In response, Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, said, "I have to take a different view with regard to the situation on Kerry,'' attributing the delay to procedural glitches.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/politics/campaign/23kerry.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[lovedems]

1. A delay or a DeLay?

That guy is capable of trouble anywhere in Washington, not just the House of Reps.

[Warpy]

2. They want Kerry's name off the vote rollcall

so they can blame him for deserting veterans. They scheduled this vote when he was scheduled to appear in NM, a swing state. When he shocked them all by cancelling his appearances and returning for the vote, the transparent delay tactics bagan.

This is sickening. It's GOP filthy politics at their worst. It serves no one, and betrays the veterans, just to make a political point in some damned commercial (which I suspect is already in the can and on the way to be aired).

This filth will stop at nothing. They murdered our leaders. It's time to jail theirs.

[2Design]

3. isn't daschle suppose to be a democrat.....he votes with the rethugs

and this statement is an attack...we need a new democrat from s. dakota is looks like because this one seems to becoming a rethug

Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the minority leader, said he had been told Mr. Kerry's presence was the sole reason for the delay, adding, "you would hope that we could keep the campaigns off the Senate floor."

[Tellurian]

4. Daschle has made himself non player...

He sold out to the RW long ago or lives with a threat hanging over his head.
One way or another, Daschle put himself behind the 8 ball.
He should have resigned years ago.

[xchrom]

5. daschle was talking about the republicans

and the delaying tactic used by them to prevent the vote because kerry was there.
you were confused, right?

[freetobegay]

7. I don't think confused

Just Dem bashing as usual. You wonder why some people are on this board.

[2Design]

9. not confused and not dem bashing.....

this guy voted with those for the fetus as a human.....and I am finding not all dems are dems.....so having a progressive dem would be better than having a dem who is going to vote with the rethugs...

I am sorry that your view of this took you down the road it did.

I like the dems. I don't like dems who are underneath rethugs...

[Scairp]

8. Right

He was dissing the other side of the aisle. He knew what they were doing and didn't hesitate to say so.

[struggle4progress]

6. It's not an attack on Kerry. Daschle is obviously complaining that ...

... the Repubs are putting their desire to screw Kerry's campaign ahead of the good of the country. :grr:

[2Design]

10. ok I did not read that statement in the article that way....it read

as if he was putting down kerry