Kerry: Brown Supporters 'Way Over The Line', Reminiscent Of '08 Palin Rallies

[Mass]

Kerry certainly did his part of the job on this one.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/kerry-brown-supporters-way-over-the-line-reminiscent-of-08-palin-rallies.php

Kerry: Brown Supporters 'Way Over The Line', Reminiscent Of '08 Palin Rallies
Morgan Cohen | January 18, 2010, 4:05PM

Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) office released a statement today describing the "threatening tactics" used by Scott Brown supporters in the final days of the special election in Massachusetts. Read the full text after the jump:

At a press conference today, U.S. Sen. John Kerry called on Scott Brown to tell his out of state supporters to put an end to the bullying and intimidation tactics of the past few days.
...

"I'm no stranger to hard fought campaigns, but what we've seen in the past few days is way over the line and reminiscent of the dangerous atmosphere of Sarah Palin's 2008 campaign rallies. This is not how democracy works in Massachusetts. Scott Brown needs to speak up and get his out of state tea party supporters under control. In Massachusetts, we fight hard and win elections on the issues and on our differences, not with bullying and threats," said Senator John Kerry.

"He stoked the fires himself - smirking at threats against the Attorney General, busing scores of paid 'supporters' into his events, and standing by while his supporters call his opponents 'Nazis.' But what we've seen over the past two weeks is these out of state supporters coming in and engaging in tactics we've never seen here before. Now, as Election Day approaches, it's become increasingly clear that Scott Brown has lost control of his campaign, and we are calling on him to tell his out of state supporters to stand down," said Coakley spokesman Corey Welford.

[Blaukraut]

1. Good for JK! This needs to go out to our local media, too. n/t

[karynnj]

2. His points are great and they are really over the line

That said, I wish he would have referred to "tea partyers"rather than "tea bagger" - I know the right used the term first, but now they seem to be spreading the idea that it was a lefty blog term and offensive. (I don't think JK or Schumer did anything wrong, but there could be some that will forget it was there word when they sent all the tea bags.

[karynnj]

6. Sorry, the use of that word was in an email, not in Kerry's comments here

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/kerry-tea-baggers-are-revved-up-about-ma-senate-race----but-its-not-too-late.php

(I suspect it was not the Senator who actually wrote this.)

[Mass]

3. I have to remember that, whatever happens tomorrow, this guy will still be my senator.

:loveya:

[Blaukraut]

4. That's right. We do not have to claim that other one as ours

I plan on ignoring him as much as possible, and then fight to put his ass back on the curb in '12, where it belongs.

[MBS]

5. wonderful, and right on the money.

Thanks, Sen. Kerry, for speaking some plain, clear truth. :dem: :yourock:
(In case people haven't seen William Rivers Pitt's eloquent essay on the general topic of Palin, Limbaugh, et al, it's pertinent here:http://www.truthout.org/the-scum-earth56138)

[MBS]

7. now a story on the Boston globe website, too

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/kerry_decries_a.html

Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry is calling on Republican Scott Brown, who is waging a surging campaign against Democrat Martha Coakley, to curb his supporters, saying that they have engaged in "bullying and threats" in recent days and that some of them are from out-of-state.

"I'm no stranger to hard fought campaigns, but what we've seen in the past few days is way over the line and reminiscent of the dangerous atmosphere of Sarah Palin's 2008 campaign rallies. This is not how democracy works in Massachusetts," Kerry said this afternoon in a statement.

"Scott Brown needs to speak up and get his out of state tea party supporters under control. In Massachusetts, we fight hard and win elections on the issues and on our differences, not with bullying and threats," Kerry said. . . . .

more at the link

[wisteria]

8. Um, the Tea baggers are slobering all over themselves with bravado thinking

this is just the beginning of a new movement. Of course, JK is next. Wow, are they over the top. I hope some people got an earful from one of these kooks- that would have to change anyone's mind about voting for Brown.

[ObamaKerryDem]

9. See, this is why I love John Kerry..

..Tell it like it is, Senator! :kick:

It is somewhat encouraging, though, that a lot of these people at the Brown rallies are apparently from out of state. If so, they can't vote, which doesn't do Brown a whole hell of a lot of good in the end. Of course they were brought in on purpose, to try to intimidate Coakley's supporters. I sure hope it doesn't work (though--and I say this knocking on wood, not wanting to jinx anything lol--I have a sense that it won't...)