Kerry on Senate floor: Calls on GOP Senators to condemn Boehner's remarks.

[blm]

Tells them to stand up for truth.


KERRY: “Enough has been written about the comments made yesterday by House Majority Leader John Boehner.

I’m not interested in asking Mr. Boehner for a clarification or a retraction or even an apology. His statement was very clear, and equally despicable. His words are beyond redemption.

“They are, however, sadly, what we’ve come to expect in politics today.

What I am asking, today, is for the Senate to be the Senate. We talk here about ‘my friend’ from across the aisle. We talk about the traditions of the Senate. We talk about civility. But in the last years, I’ve seen things happen here that never would’ve happened in the Senate that I joined in 1985.

We’ve come a long way since the days when Bob Dole and George Mitchell refused to campaign against each other. I’ve seen colleagues say in the cloakroom that they thought it was wrong to see the courage of their friend Max Cleland attacked, but on the floor of the Senate – silence.

I think there are good people here who still long for civility. I’ve heard it. I heard the junior Senator from Oregon say just this summer, ‘My soul cries out for something more dignified.’ My friend from Arizona just this spring said that ‘self-expression sometimes overwhelms our civility.’

This is one of those times – but it is much more. I’m asking for my 54 Republican colleagues across the aisle, to stand up not just for civility, but for truth, and to come here and condemn Mr. Boehner’s remarks in no uncertain terms if they disagree with them.

That is a test of the kind of place we’ve become and the kind of politics we’ll tolerate. It’s a test of the character of the United States Senate, and I think every American would benefit from hearing where each and every Republican stands on Mr. Boehner’s words just yesterday.”

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. He Has Our Backs....

So, does he actually expect anything to come of this, or does he just feel good speaking out?

I'm sorry, but this is pure SPIN so far as I'm concerned.

Listen......Mr. Kerry......don't waste the time of your constituents by asking for a condemnation/apology/retraction/etc., from ANYONE on the other side of the aisle.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BEHAVE LIKE THE REPUBS GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY? THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES, NOT THE DEMOCRATS, NOT THE MIDDLE CLASS, NOT THE TROOPS....THEMSELVES!!!!!

If you even think there is a 1% Chance of an apology, then I've got this great bridge in New Orleans to sell you.

[Fabio]

5. I strongly disagree with you

I do want a senate, and a house, with an atmosphere of civility and respect.

who cares about what the chances are? i am for doing the right thing.

[AZBlue]

15. I agree.

Let's not lower ourselves to their level.

[blm]

7. Kerry's been using the civility matter to convince GOPs like Warner that

they have to return to old-fashioned debate on important issues.

Now, it's quite likely that Warner will soon be submitting to the senate that civil war in Iraq means that an entirely new War Resolution will be needed and voted on, because interfering in a civil war was never part of the IWR.

Kerry has been wooing Warner carefully for months and with logic, he got Warner to agree last June about the civil war aspect of Iraq - he also knows Warner is like Byrd in that they prefer the senate be handled like days gone by.

You may not see it yet, but I see it coming. Warner is key at this point.

[garthranzz]

10. I'm in N.O. What bridge?

[TayTay]

13. Excuse me? What Boehner said was reprehensible.

I want Democrats to note that, not just let it pass. This is what Sen. Kerry did today. And he called out the Senators who privately moan about how awful and poisonous the atmosphere is, in private, but won't say so in public.

Great statement. You have to call these people out. You have to point out the hypocrisy. To not do so is to invite more attacks.

Turning the other cheek doesn't work with the Rethugs. I applaud Kerry for taking this action.

[Supersedeas]

16. Boehner is just one link in the chain used to bludgeon the public with

Wolf Blitz, Tweety, Norah all repeat the same version of the same message from now till election--then wonder why Dems have such low polling numbers on Terra.

[blm]

17. That's why I'd like to see an ad using George Will's "Kerry is right"

comments and column. Seems the DNC should be able to use it since ABC is public airwaves.

[gkhouston]

18. getting them to stand with him isn't necessarily the point

making them look either craven or sleazy if they don't condemn Boehner is.

[wisteria]

2. This is a very heartfelt plea. It is a shame that Rove/Bush has

reduced the Senate and the House into a playground complete with childish slogans and smears.

[Vadem]

3. I saw him and he was great! Hillary was good, too, in trying to ..

get appropriations for the first responders who are dying of cancer in NY from the toxic air; her bill also covers all the States where first responders were injured in some way during 9/11. She gave two minutes of her time so Kerry could make that statement. (This is not to say, at this point, that I am for Hillary for Pres. in 2008; if she is the nominee, of course, I will support her).

[Riddler]

4. The problem is not what Kerry or any other Dem says in response

to the vitriole spewed out by the repukes, it's the fact that whenever one of the repuke's says something disgusting, all the news networks play it ad nauseam to make sure the point is hammered home. Then when Kerry or anyone else calls them on it, it gets very little or no airplay.

[blm]

6. BINGO!!! Media has been doing this since impeachment, and 2000, and

post 9-11 dropped all pretense of being news organizations and went into full on protect Bush mode. It took a category 5 hurricane to spin some of them back a bit, but most are still on full protection duty.

[MasonJar]

8. Thank you, John and Hillary for standing up for what is right

against ever-increasing vitriolic Republican desperation. The Princeton report today was both enlightening and depressing. The profs study demonstrated how easy it was in a manner of minutes to rig the machines. This time we have to take to the streets if the pugs cheat again. Look at the San Diego scandal in light of this new evidence. Those scum took the machines home overnight and sometimes for several nights. I really fail to see how these pugs live with themselves.

[CarlVK]

9. LOL! Albeit a bit late....

[seabeyond]

12. oh f* that. that is so old and tired adn all the friggin time. what 24

hours wasnt fast enough for you

[Cameron27]

11. What more can Kerry do?

This was a very impressive speech. He's challenging the republicans to uphold (joke) the character of the senate. Maybe a few republicans will act, unlikely, but there's a chance. At least it's in the senate record, and being posted on the internet.

Is he supposed to sit back and NOT speak because there's a corrupt bunch of republican thugs who sit on the opposite side of the aisle?

Kerry did a good thing.

[Auntie Bush]

14. "Kerry did a good thing." Damn right!