From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...

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Very Presidential, Mr. Kerry

March 11, 2004

Bloggers were all over this within hours yesterday. Today, the Washington Post plays ketchup, so it must be real. In what's being called by some an "unguarded moment," Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry told factory workers in Chicago yesterday that Republicans were "the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen."

What I really like is this defense from a Kerry flack:

Earlier, Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the Democratic candidate had no regrets about his characterizations of the opposition. "Not at all," she said. "There's been a pretty high level of Republican attack machine working for the last four years for the sole purpose of smearing the Democrats. We're trying to make this campaign about issues; Republicans are making it about attacks."

Funny, here I thought it was mostly the other way around.

Anyway, classic Democratic reasoning: the individual is never responsible, larger forces are.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at March 11, 2004 07:27 AM


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Comments:

Perhaps John Kerry's famous sound bite of "Bring it ON!" should have been "I'll bring it on!".

Posted by: Jack at March 11, 2004 09:19 AM

The election is in November, right? And it's now March, right? I just can't wait for more manufactured moments devoid of content and substance by the Kerry campaign in April, May, June, July, August, September or October. Pick your month when everyone except political junkies stop paying attention.

Posted by: Gary B at March 11, 2004 10:06 AM

Well, I have to wonder, what exactly does it mean to be "presidential." I was bemoaning to a friend this morning, that what the Democrats need is a guy like Harry Truman: a student of history, a hard worker, someone willing to stand by his decisions come what may and someone willing to take chances. Of course, Mr. Truman also promised to punch the nose of a music critic who had written a scathing review of Truman's daughter's piano skills - or lack thereof.
I regret that John Kerry had to be "caught in the act" and then have one of his people try to argue away his responsibility for what he said. And my regret is based on the fact that, one, I think he was accurate in what he said and, two, because I support his run for the presidency. But it is akin to the flap of when, during an interview with Rolling Stone, Senator Kerry said that President Bush had "(screwed) up." (You know the word, but I can't put it here.) Was that presidential? Well, it depends on what your definition of "being presidential" encompasses. I think the damage comes when Kerry's people try to explain it away. He needs to "own" what he says and just work without a script. But then again, I could be wrong.

Posted by: Terry Parkhurst at March 11, 2004 11:39 AM


Kerry is the typical cretin and his demeanor reflects the classic inane posture that reigns within the ultra liberal wing of the democratic party who have no substance or genuine ideas of moving this country forward. They are in panic and must try to bury Kerry's voting record which will catch up to him despite the medias attempts to shelter him.

Posted by: Ted Kwapien at March 12, 2004 02:12 PM

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