I'm real tired of the "Kerry didn't care enough to vote on Medicare"

[jpgray]

Along with Ted Kennedy, he was a big proponent of the filibuster. Why didn't the filibuster work? Because of something called a cloture vote. If the majority vote "yes" for the cloture, debate ends and a vote is given on the decision--the filibuster ceases to be a possibility.

The Republicans needed 60 votes, and due to defecting Democrats, we couldn't put up the 41 to shut them down and filibuster the Medicare bill. Did Kerry vote for this cloture vote? Yes, and he voted the way Ted Kennedy and other filibuster supporters voted--"NO". Since the cloture passed, debate was ended, and therefore so too was the chance for a filibuster. At this point, Kerry's vote did not make a difference in the proceedings--the chance to stop the bill was the filibuster, and that was crushed by the cloture. The Republicans had an ample majority, so Kerry did not "abandon" Medicare to go campaign--he fought for it in the only vote that mattered.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Pretty close to the top of the all-time most bogus argument list.

the idea that "Kerry didn't care enough to vote on Medicare", that is.

[lastliberalintexas]

2. Get used to it

And take it as a compliment to your candidate. I think Kerry is now seen as the frontrunner again, which is great for his campaign. Unfortunately, it means that y'all will have to put up with the kind of crap we Dean supporters have heard for the past month. They're both strong, though, and they can handle it.

[Monte Carlo]

3. He led the filibuster to stop that bill.

Though he didn't stick around to vote on it and formalize a loss. Too many Democrats will focus on the negative.

[bigtree]

4. John Kerry's Floor Speech Fighting Medicare Bill

John Kerry returned to Washington to join his colleagues in filibustering a Medicare bill that is little more than a boondoggle for the big pharmaceutical companies.
http://www.johnkerry.com/video/112303_floor_real_modem.ram

[bain_sidhe]

5. Didn't he also vote for

the "procedural" bill that the Medicare bill was out of order because it busted the cap agreed to in the budget bill?

I don't remember exactly who voted what way on that one, but I do remember if it had passed, they never would have HAD to try to fillibuster the Medicare bill. It would have had to have been sent back to committee for re-writing to either come in under the cap, or specify what would be reduced in order to pay for it.

(P.S., yes, I'm a Clark supporter, but I like Kerry too. He's my second choice.)

[jpgray]

6. Yes, he also voted on the budgetary "point of order" that ALMOST passed

61 to 39, I believe it was. So close!

[KittyWampus]

7. Kerry Wasn't There For The Vote. Period. And He's Missed 60% Of His Votes

Kerry was NOT THERE FOR THE VOTE. His vote is NOT ON the historical record. And if Kerry doesn't want the Truth told then he should NOT have left.

Too bad Kerry is more concerned with running for President than doing the job he was elected to do.

[KittyWampus]

8. P.S. I'm Real Tired Of Kerry's Campaign Calling Clark A Republican

and maligning Clark in flyers and on his webpage.

[jpgray]

11. Well, I don't like negative campaigns, and Clark isn't a Republican

But I think that Kerry is getting unfairly burned for giving up on the Medicare vote when he gave speeches and fought hard for the two votes that the Dems had a chance on.

[jpgray]

9. That's silly

It's like saying the PR is more important than the actual results.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Nothing like completely ignoring the facts presented

is there? lol

I wonder how persuasive your argument is to someone whose mind is not already made up?

[KittyWampus]

12. Facts Aren't Important When You Smear Someone Like Kerry Did Clark

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. You say 'Fact aren't Important' and based on your posts, you believe that.

It seems.

[bigtree]

14. I watched the full debate.

I was strongly opposed to the actions of the Republicans.

Sen. Kerry was there. He fought against this bill all of the way.

Hell, I even walked away when we lost the cloture vote. After that cloture vote succeeded, which Sen. Kerry voted against, there was no chance that the bill would fail. I knew it, and so did the rest of those in observance. That's the way it works. That's the process.

It's slithering low-down sophistry to suggest that Sen. Kerry didn't do all that he could to defeat this bill; in committee and on the floor of the Senate. What a tactic! Good luck with that.