ABC: Kerry stepped back from Kennedy's "fraud" remarks on Iraq today

[RichM]

For those who didn't see it: George Will tried to maneuver Kerry into agreeing or disagreeing with Kennedy's "fraud made in Texas" remarks from a few weeks ago. Kerry tried to assert in more diplomatic language that the war was launched on dubious or invalid grounds - but refused to bluntly say "Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with Sen. Kennedy's remarks."

I realize that Will was trying to box him into saying this, & that it is always tempting to avoid giving Will what he wants. But in this case, I would have much preferred to hear a resoundingly clear "Yes."

The effect of backing down on language is important, IMO. If you are willing to beat a retreat on language, you are showing that you fear your opponent's strength. One effect of Kerry's choice of language today is that it isolates Kennedy's statement -- which was left dangling & lonely by most other Democrats in any case. Another effect is to blunt an important truth: the war IS and WAS a fraud. It should be described with words like "fraud, gangsterism, lies, and corruption" -- NOT with innocuous phrases like "flawed policy." Why use more polite language to obscure this? Why give Bush that cover?

Though one could defend Kerry's strategy here as being "moderate" and "pragmatic," to me, it's just one more example of Democratic Party cowardice & weasling.

[blm]

1. ABC is saying this, or you?

Your subject is implying that ABC is reporting this, but, it appears to be your own analysis.

This article has a completely different take on Kerry's appearance than yours:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry said on Sunday President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney should apologize for misleading the American people about the war in Iraq and called the international fighting force there a "fraud."

Kerry criticized Bush and Cheney for justifying the war, in part, by saying Iraq was "on the road" to building nuclear weapons, which the senator said has been proven not to be true.

He also slammed the administration for not working adequately with the international community to win backing for the war and not building the broad military coalition in Iraq that was promised. "I'm asserting very clearly that they misled America," Kerry said on ABC's "This Week" news program. "I think the president and Vice President Cheney should be apologizing to America," he added.

Kerry said the shortage of international troops fighting in Iraq created a "fraudulent coalition" because the forces are mainly from the United States and the United Kingdom, and there was not enough participation from other countries.

Kerry said the Bush administration should be faulted for rushing to war with Iraq "without a plan for the peace," and now asking U.S. taxpayers to pay $87 billion to rebuild Iraq and maintain troops "This administration did not have a plan, still does not have an adequate plan for how you minimize the cost to Americans and minimize the threat to our troops," he said.

Kerry said he was "inclined" to vote against the president's $87 billion package that is being considered by Congress, if he can't convince lawmakers to make changes to the funding proposal.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=10&u=/nm/politics_kerry_iraq_dc

[RichM]

5. I'm saying it. I only wrote "ABC" to refer to the Stephanopoulos show.

There wasn't enough space in the subject line to make the whole thing clear. Sorry.

Do I care what a Reuters article says about it? Only as a matter of curiosity, to see how they spin it. Don't we know by now that what the mainstream media say is largely divorced from reality? According to them, after all, GW Bush is a "strong leader," and Arnold performed "remarkably well" in his one televised debate.

[blm]

14. No one who saw that show seems to agree with your version.

You really colored it most unfavorably and at odds with other posts on the same appearance.

Maybe folks should see it for themselves on Kerry's a/v page at his site.

www,johnkerry.com

[oasis]

15. They can look it up on:

www.johnkerry.com

[blm]

17. oops...thanks for correcting that.

Dang typos!

[polpilot]

2. Kerry merely enabled Bush to confuse the issue with voters and make

the case that the Iraqi War wasn't Bush's fault. Just Kerry being Kerry. Remember that Kerry recently described Chimpy as 'a good man trying to do good things'. Hard hitting Kerry looking 'presidential' and 'Bush-Like' as usual.

Dean '04...The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party.

[George_Bonanza]

6. Dean says he tends to trust the president

[w4rma]

7. That is a misquote. (n/t)

[retyred]

16. 'a good man trying to do good things'?

Kerry said THIS? About "flightsuit"?

Do you have a link?



CLARK FOR PRESIDENT
"I'm going to give them the TRUTH and they'll THINK it's hell."
So I Built This Web Site
Read The Book

[impeach the gop]

3. that standard procedure for all of the except

Kucinnich, and Big Al!

I don't why all the fuss about these guys that get all the attention and air time on the news. They don't speak for us. They speak for themselves. It won't ever change.

Kucinnich needs our support, and we need his attitude that it's the "People" stupid. I got no doubt
he isn't the coward that Liberman and gephart and wishy washy and ify as the rest of the dlc-right of thre
Democratic Party that belongs to US. In case somebody needs a reminder :-)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IndianaGreen]

8. I saw the entire thing in context

and while Kerry declined to specifically use the term fraud, as Kennedy had, he did say that the Bush regime had misled the nation about WMD.

Close enough for government work!

George Will was a total asshole, not to mention that he is a chickenhawk!

[RichM]

9. Yes, IG, I understand this idea. But what about the psychological effect

of backing down on the language, that I commented on above? Doesn't this reluctance to endorse the tough language of Kennedy show subservience & docility? Doesn't it show an unwillingness to really pull out all the stops, and fight a serious, no-holds-barred fight? (Literally, backing down on the language is the exact opposite of "no holds barred," no?)

[maha]

10. Senator Kerry, don't be a wuss.

It was fraud. Say it.

[KoKo]

11. Kerry had every chance of being wildly popular if he'd dealt with his vote

which actually was a very restrained vote when he gave it. But, since he refuses to budge....it makes it impossible for someone like me to look at him again. And, I've tried and tried. Nope.....he's either got bad advisors or bad political instincts. It's not up to me to help him along. But, he's had enough warning of where he needs to be.

[mlawson]

13. That's right. Why couldn't he admit that his vote was in error?

He could have blamed the vote on being misled by the bush regime last year. But he didn't, and his explanation was very vague and confusing, I thought.

But if he is going to be our nominee, he needs to get it right.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. grrrrrrrrr i thought dems were taking their calcium suppliments ...bad boy

Kerry