Gephardt's endorsement of Kerry made me proud to be a Democrat

[kerryistheanswer]

Seeing Kerry and Gephardt side by side was a great site. While I don't agree with some of Gephardt's policies, I have a great deal of respect for him as man - someone who has fought hard for his labor constituency all his life. He's a great man and I hope he plays a key role in Kerry's administration.

Gephardt has been through quite a bit over his political career and he's handled defeat with grace. His endorsement is a HUGE boost because unlike Al Gore, Dick Gephardt has been a life long populist.

I would vote for a Kerry-Gephardt ticket, though I'd prefer a Kerry-Edwards or Kerry-Feinstein.

Show the Gep some love!

[Bonobo]

1. Why should it surprise you?

A consumate insider handing theball to a consumate insider?

Not too surprising, is it really? He wasn't going to endorse Dean or Clark or Kucinich.

Res Ipsa Loquitor.

[Paulie]

2. Exactly.

Insider to Insider. Pat on the Back.

[capriccio]

3. Suggestion

Maybe you folks could create Outsider Underground?

[Paulie]

4. Better Suggestion

How about we stand for something this time? The more we show ourselves to be different on substance, the more choice people have, the more likely we'll WIN.

[kerryistheanswer]

5. I respectfully disagree

As someone who has been in the minority in this country on a wide range of issues, I've come to realize that while Americans are tolerant, they are not radical or profound enough to turn this country into what I want it to be.

I don't want four more years of Bush. I'm not going to make a statement with my vote in 2004. I voted with Nadar in 2000 but I lived in NYC. I'm in DC now - which again is not representative of the country.

We don't need to send them a message, we need to send a president.

Peace.

[janx]

7. For the record, I *didn't* vote for Nader in 2000 because I

knew what we were up against.

And you don't have to be a radical to support someone other than the Kerry/Gephardt power elites. That seems to me to be a drastic oversimplification.

[blm]

11. Exposing government corruption is a consumate insider move to you?

I don't THINK so.

[revcarol]

6. If Kerry wins the nomination, labor will probably stay home.

Pro NAFTA, FAST TRACK, WTO give the world to the big corporations man.

Thanks geppy, for betraying labor.

[Leilani]

9. Not if the ticket is Kerry/Gephardt

According to news in the last few hrs. labor will be out for Kerry in Michigan.

Does anyone smell a deal?

[blm]

12. Kerry received the most votes from labor in Iowa. Gep was 2nd. Dean3rd.

Kerry does best with labor voters on his own merits. He doesn't have to make deals.

[revcarol]

18. Link?

Proof?
Labor doesn't usually like to cut its own throat.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. Here's the link.

They just don't agree with you, that doesn't mean they are 'cutting their own throats'


Among voters that describe themselves as 'union households', Kerry received 29% of the vote, Edwards received 22% of the vote, Gephardt received 22% of the vote, Dean received 19% of the vote.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/IA/index.html

[bigwillq]

8. Gep's endorsement of Kerry made me want to

puke

[kerryistheanswer]

10. And how did Gore's endorsement of Dean make you feel?

Like a big time MOlly Shannon superstar I suppose.

[janx]

13. When Gore appeared to tell us he wasn't going to run,

he told us that he'd back one of the candidates eventually. I didn't see anyone complaining then.

Then, when he kept his word and backed one of them, the supporters of all of the other candidates conveniently forgot that Gore was keeping his promise. You'd have thought the sky was tumbling down upon us...

[bigwillq]

16. Although I'm a Dean supporter I wasn't thrilled by the Gore

endorsement. I think that was the beginning of the Dean slide. I saw nothing good come out of that endorsement.

[DrFunkenstein]

20. I Say Go With It

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. Label that photo:

"Brothers in the IWR" or
"Brothers in the patriot Act" or
"Brothers in Homeland Security" or
"Brothers in an Iowa kamikaze mission" or
"Brothers in NCLB" or ........

[agingdem]

14. Don't agree with...

Kerry/Feinstein...did you mean Kerry/Feingold?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. Rep. Dick Gephardt on his Endorsement of John Kerry for President

February 06, 2004

For Immediate Release
Warren, MI

Representative Dick Gephardt issued the following statement today announcing his endorsement of Senator John Kerry for President of the United States.

"On the campaign trail, I often said my campaign was not about me, it’s about us. My campaign – and the support of those who stood with me – was always about bringing the issues of jobs, economic security, health care, and core Democratic values to the White House. I’m here today with John Kerry because he’s deeply committed to these issues.

"These are serious times that demand a leader who can go toe-to-toe with George Bush on national security issues, who will defeat George Bush in November, and who is ready to meet the awesome challenges of the Presidency. That leader is John Kerry and that’s why I’m proud to endorse him for President of the United States.

"Over the course of the campaign, I realized that John and I share a commitment to the middle class families of America, a focus on creating good jobs, improving the quality of our schools, protecting our environment and pursuing a trade policy that is fair for American workers and workers abroad.

"Most importantly, I know that John Kerry is committed to the mission that was central to my campaign: making health care a right, not a privilege, and making it affordable for all Americans.

"For 35 years, John Kerry has stood up to the powerful interests. He stood up to Richard Nixon on the Vietnam War, he stood up to George Bush on tax cuts for the wealthy, and I know he’ll take on the special interests and fulfill Harry Truman’s dream of guaranteed health care for all Americans.

"This is the most important campaign in my lifetime. We must win the White House. Each of the Democratic candidates would be far preferable to the current occupant of the White House, but John Kerry is best qualified to be the nominee of our party because of his courage under fire, because of his experience, because of his ideals, and because he can defeat George Bush.

"I’ve know John Kerry for many years. But, you know more about somebody watching them day in and day out under the spotlight and pressures of the campaign trail. The conclusion I’ve drawn from that experience is clear: John Kerry is the leader our party and our nation need for the 21st Century."

Press Release: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0206b.html

[anti-NAFTA]

17. It did that to you? It made ME shake my head.

Gephardt is a great man who represented the left wing of the Democratic Party. He was the only candidate who I could say with certainty that he is a true, serious leftist (excluding Kucinich, but his pseudo-religious, pothead spiritualism turned me off). Kerry is a centrist. I was ashamed for being a Gephardt supporter.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Maybe you should re-examine your assumptions.

What is it about Kerry that makes you label him a 'centrist'?

[DrFunkenstein]

21. Kind of A Weird Take On Things

According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Representative Gephardt voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 76 percent of the Representatives.

According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Senator Kerry voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 87 percent of the Senators.

http://www.vote-smart.org

[anti-NAFTA]

23. Two Problems with that.

1. Senators tend to be more centrist than Reps, so you're judging by a different standard.

2. The only thing that defines leftist is economic issues. Being anti-war does not make you a liberal. Buchanan is anti-war; Novak was lukewarm on it. The test of a leftist is whether he will stand up for the rights of the worker and for diminishing the gap in wealth.

[loyalsister]

25. Misogyny is generally considered right wing

First Gep voted to overturn Clinton's veto of the PBA bill. Then he was consistant and voted for Shrub's version of the bill. These bills had no exception for the health of the woman. Gep is as misogynistic as Jerry Fallwell IMO.
I really really hope the nominee doesn't choose him for a running mate!

[John_H]

26. I love Gep, but JK's not dumb enough to choose him as VP, is he?

If he wins the nom?

[dansolo]

27. No longer standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bush?

Gephardt's appearance at the Rose Garden, and his maneuvering behind the back of Democratic Leadership to strike a deal with Bush about the IWR, had soured me from him permanently.

[mikehiggins]

28. I'm glad to see Dick still around but we've all seen how helptul

endorsements are proving this year.

If Kerry does get the nomination, however, Dick would be a terrible VP choice. Kerry would do better with Dean or Clark or Edwards or Gov. Richardson or any of a dozen others.