Do you think John Kerry should start attending funerals

[CatWoman]

of the soldiers killed in Iraq?

Powerful imagery, IMO.

Bush has yet to attend a SINGLE funeral.

[molly]

1. It might be viewed as a political ploy at this point?

[JI7]

5. yes, so only if invited

there is more chance of him being invited now since he will be the nominee of a major party. but no need to use it for political gain. and kerry has his own experience in t his area. he can speak about his own experience unlike bush.

[Goldmund]

2. If he were president, yes.

Especially if he were the one who sent them there to die.

But this way, it's using dead bodies in a political campaign for political purposes -- I think Kerry should leave that up to *.

[JI7]

3. not unless he is invited

it will be seen as political if he just started going now. but watch kerry on memorial day and veterans day. i have seen him in the past speak during those times and it IS very powerful. he always has to hold back tears in those times though.

[bowens43]

4. IMO no.

It would look like what it would be, a ploy to get votes.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Unless at the express invitation of the family of the deceased,

absolutely not. And even then, with the utmost discretion.

It could easily be played as a crass campaign stunt, using a casket as a soap box.

[Dookus]

7. I agree with everyone else

it would be exploiting their deaths. He is not (yet) the CiC, and unless specifically invited, should stay away.

[DuctapeFatwa]

8. Since he supports the crusade, it would be counter-productive

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. No.

The campaign should remind people that Bush is hiding the cost of the war, but not in an exploitative way.

[littlejoe]

10. Absolutely not. It would be a very unseemly political gambit.

Unless, of course he has been attending funerals all along, which I don't believe he has done.

[Zolok]

12. He already has attended a few funerals for servicemen killed in Iraq

If he has been invited, then he goes...these are mostly Massachusetts servicemen you understand.
Teddy Kennedy has also shown up at some of these...neither man wishes to make anything of their attendence.
It's too late for Bush to go to any funerals and have it seen as anything else but an election stunt. So the damage has already been done to his candidacy....cold comfort to the dead and their loved ones I realize....

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[DoNotRefill]

11. Absolutely not.

If he had been attending funerals before he "locked up" the nomination, it would be one thing. Starting now would cause a HUGE backlash.