Clinton: Kerry running smart campaign

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former President Clinton said Thursday that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is smart not to comment daily on every development in Iraq because "he recognizes that he's not the president."

Clinton also said his memoirs, due out weeks before this summer's Democratic National Convention, won't steal Kerry's spotlight and will only help the party.

Speaking at his office in Harlem, Clinton said he didn't think Kerry was running "too safe a campaign." Some political strategists have suggested Kerry is failing to exploit increasing skepticism about President Bush's handling of the war, as violence in Iraq escalates and more details emerge about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

"He's the candidate for president, he's not somebody that's supposed to give day-by-day commentary on events," Clinton said. "He's made quite clear what he believes about the major issues in the news today, and I think he's shown a certain reticence."


http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/27/clinton.kerry.ap/index.html

Kerry IS tough - and smart.The meat grinder(RW haters) is trying to goad him into telling them HIS plans, because frankly, they have one.Their best original thoughts are scare tactics.Listen to Bush's radio addresses on Saturdays - it's like listening to a radio broadcast from Orwell's"1984".The terr'wrists this,on 9/11 that and a they will be defeated thrown in here and there.Oh yea anyway Kerry's plan for Iraq is pretty much now becoming Bush's"new" policy;UN,NATO.Now when the haters say Kerry wants to play "kissy face"w/the UN well look who's talking.And when they ask"What's Kerry's idea?"Big Dogs'hey he isn't the president...yet,and doesn't have to comment,and shouldn't.

One would hope he would have something to say about something.

For crying out loud, if now is not the time to speak, then when is it ever?

He is criticising Bush admin everyday and offering alternatives.

It is not as if he is out in Crawford falling off a bike or clearing brush.

You will find reports of his comments and speeches on Yahoo News, or check the news section of www.johnkerry.com.

I understand that there is no daylight to be seen 'twixt the Bush-Kerry positions.

I know you are working with a pretty broad brush, but their are lots of differences between Bush and Kerry positions.

At any rate, when JK says he will internationalize and GWB says he will internationalize, it is similar to the analogy in my header. . .GWB just can't hit the high notes.

I think Clinton's comments are right on. I think that the criticism of Kerry's "safe approach" is unwarranted and is probably seeded on the right. They'd like it if he said lots of things about current events, then they could accuse him of being "inappropriate" or "flip-flopping" if the news changed.

He's been clear about his positions, and alas, it's true that he not the president right now (this to end sometime soon!). If he spoke out more, he'd be accused of interfering with a wartime administration.

I've appreciated the fact that his pronouncements of foreign affairs have been hopeful, and "big picture". He's got the correct ideas for bringing respect back to our country. Lord knows, we need it now.

And, of course, there's the old adage, "when your opponent is digging himself into a hole, don't get in his way.

great post cyn2.

in Nazi Germany. It might entail running the risk of someone spinning your words!

When has Clinton been right since Bush was perched on the throne? The time when he said we should just move away from the contrived reasons to invade Iraq, because everyone "makes mistakes". Keep in mind, his wife dutifully fell in line to support this mess- and she has her own political ambitions to consider.

What would Clinton know? All he has done is win TWO presidential elections?

:shrug:

I'll take Gore, thank you, who had to run with Clinton's scandals on his back and still won the popular vote.

Kerry needs to listen to Gore, not Clinton. In fact, if the ticket was Gore-Dean this election would be a breeze. Bush would be history and his gang of thuggish neo-cons would be held accountable for their crimes. Gore-Dean- those are Democrats who at least stand for something, make a stand and aren't quivering in the corner when not trying to triangulate off the junta's scams.

you must be right.

It would be silly to listen to someone who won twice with overwhelming margins. I mean what would HE know about winning?

Re: impeachment? Surely you cannot be advocating that was a grand moment for the rule of law when the gops did that can you? Is that why you brought that up?

Rather, I think the impeachment was a victory for forces of hatred and repression but that's just me. What would I know ...

and of course, supporting this criminal and illegal war is such a high moment in the cause of goodness and decency.

interfering with your practical political judgement. You may not consider the victories overwhelming but one thing is certain: neither was close enough to steal.

BTW, I think Clinton and Gore have good advice to offer Kerry.

but he opted out. That was his decision.

It's about timing...Kerry won't disappoint us. I think when the convention comes around he will come out swinging.

When bad things are going down, let your opponent have space to do them.

right wing more fodder? This will just energize the RW base whereas, if they didn't have Clinton's book to target, a lot of them would just sit out this next election because they are pissed at Bush. I hope Clinton changes his mind.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

he's afraid it might hurt him politically, then there will be little opposition to Bush's destructive policies and, because the refusal to speak out and argue against him, he will win the election.

He's a tough opponent.

He had enough rope by now?

with approvsl ratings in the low-to-mid-40s. And I suspect he hasn't hit rock bottom.

running neck in neck.

It is as if Kerry presents himself on the same wavelength as Bush, but more capable. It is NOT as if he challenges Bush on much.

Is our media really so yellow that any murmur of the truth will be the political death knell, causing uncharismatic politicians to play it safe by being yellow-bellied?

I took the time to watch all of Kerry's ads on his website yesterday. I don't watch broadcast t.v., and very little cable.. so I have yet to see any political ads. I was really impressed with the message and style of Kerry's ads... I was a Howard Dean loyalist, who supports Kerry now that he's our nominee. I feel so much better about that, after seeing the ads. I do wish he'd address the issues of small business owners specifically and strongly... that is a group of people who often have a more liberal social leaning, but vote Republican because they believe that the GOP is more friendly to the small business owner.

I don't think anything counts until after Labor Day.

The people who follow the news now are the ones that have already decided who they're going to vote for.

The swing voters don't pay any attention to all this stuff. Of course, that's good and bad.

Quite frankly it is hard to compete with the "Bush Show" right now.