Kerry to speak at Bob Jones University?

from the May 05, 2003 edition

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0505/p01s05-uspo.html

Democrats' new steppingstone
South Carolina becomes key for party's hopefuls, who debated there Saturday.

By Liz Marlantes | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

COLUMBIA, S.C. - To a Democrat running for president, South Carolina is a daunting place.

(snip)

Most of the Democratic candidates see economic issues as the clearest way to cement those groups. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean argues flatly in his stump speech that rural white voters need to put divisive social issues aside and recognize that Repub-licans haven't helped them keep their jobs or get health insurance.

Yet the challenges Democrats face were underscored by a small band of protesters across the road from the convention, holding Confederate flags and a sign that read: "Yankees go home."

Indeed, while Democrats may not want to focus on divisive cultural issues, they may find themselves inevitably drawn into the debate: During a "meet-and-greet" at the state fairgrounds, Sen. John Kerry was asked by a supporter if he would come speak at Bob Jones University - a South Carolina school that gained notoriety for banning interracial dating. "I just think it's time for Democrats to come across as Christian," she explains to a reporter standing nearby. (Senator Kerry said he would "love to," though he didn't elaborate as to how he'd approach the event.)

(more)

Wow! He'd "love to"?

The same racist, homophobic, bigoted, Bob Jones university that the chimp and asscroft got such a warm welcome at?

I'm impressed. Go for it, John....don't forget to be real sanctimonious about the Confederate flag while you're there. LOL!

Geez...I gotta send this on to Trippi....

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I think it'd be a good idea. Maybe he can straighten 'em out.

About courting white southern conservatives...so Dean should go. Or is it Dean with all the completely inappropriate soundbites... well, yes.

Candidate acrimony aside, wouldn't it be funny to see Bush try to use the Confederate flag issue against Dean? Bush on an anti-Confederate diatribe is something I'd enjoy seeing. Talk about alienating one's base...

That would be a good one!

Bush dissing the Confederate flag. Hell, he probably has one on his truck! :-)

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LOL.

Foot in mouth?

Funk, you are sure good at dishin' it out...whatsa matter?

BTW...reconsider your last post, OK?

I think I'll read another act of Hamlet (it's as good as I remember it) and turn in.

Apparently, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Won't be long before you're asleep!

Tomorrow is another day. :-)

Edwards holds an event at one of SC biggest slave owners home and Kerry wants to go to Bob Jones University to win over voters? Excuse me, but both of these things are a hell of a lot more racially divisive than what Dean said. Edwards stood inside the home of a slave owner and Confederate finacial backer who was such a loathesome bigot that when he got elected to Washington by his state, the US government refused to allow him to take the seat. Kerry wants to speak at a University that discriminates and segregates, which only sends the message that he approves and condones such policies. What a bunch of hypocrites. And Gepfart had ought to be more concerned about all the hate groups that have taken root in his home state than he is about what goes on in the south. These guys are clueless and they forget about where they have been and what they have said when they dish out ridiculous criticism.

You never know he could be calling them on their shit you know. I think theres another thing about Bob Jones that you must consider too, its anti Catholic as they get, and you know whos a Catholic, thats right Kerry. This school likely is anti gay as well, if youre gonna start to say that Kerry is anti gay I am really gonna have to eyeball. Sigh I am so sick of this flag shit really, I dont give a damn and I dont like that flag.

until he realized that everyone else was either "more Jewish" than him or had "more Jewish ties" than him. And of course, we all know that Kerry has an image to keep up of being more of this and more of that than everyone else, so he announced that he's really a jew in Irish Catholic clothing. :D

Yeah I know I am younger than Kerry but its nothing really, listen I once thought I was Serbian and Czech instead of Slovenian and Slovak, theres a big difference. I dont care really, and dont give a damn. Loads of people have mixed backgrounds like me for instance. Hes definely still Catholic.

their religion around lightly based on politics. He is catholic with and very fascinating background. I am Catholic, but I have Jewish ancestry. Are you suggesting that now I am denouncing my Catholicism by admitting this. I have native American too, so am who am I pandering to, white people or native americans. Geesh, you get more and more ridiculous all the time.

I know what you mean cindy.

The quote "love to" is to words of a sentence... notice it's not "I'd love to" and this IS the CSM that's quoting him... my money is on the quote actually being closer to "love to poke my eyes out with a red hot grapefruit spoon" rather than "love to speak at BJU"

Is the CSM fair and balanced too?

Also noted...

All candidates do and say things that can be taken out of context and twisted, parsed, sliced, and diced.

Scanctimoniousness usually has vicious blowback. Just ask the Pigboy or Bill Bennett. :-)

fairness. That was years ago -- during the Viet Nam war, actually -- but as far as I know, it's still a fine paper. Back then, it was a first class source of info on what was happening in Southeast Asia (and, indeed, the rest of the world.)

I agree that it's unlikely that John Kerry has any enthusiasm for speaking at Bob Jones, except in the sense that he could have some fun, perhaps expound on the excellent Catholic teachings on social responsibility to the anti-Catholic BJUers!

But when a supporter says to a candidate, "I wish you'd speak at BJU and show them that Democrats are Christians" the only polite response is something like "I'd love to." I don't know that Bob Jones would even allow a Catholic speaker on campus.

Kerry like you and I is a Catholic. I am not sure either how they would receive us papists maybe he will give em a taste of their own medicine.

Love to?

If he actually does it, then we'll discuss it as an issue. For now, it is just too tempting to attack him for his holier-than-thou attitude. Better to wait and see if this molehill becomes a mountain.

That's funny. :7

This sounds to me like a case of Kerry's mouth saying something before his brain fully engaged the question. It happens to all of us.

I for one will be astonished if he speaks at Bob Jones. There have GOT to be other religious colleges and schools in South Carolina that would love to host a candidate's appearance. Bob Jones is just too wing nutty.

about the wrongheadedness of their agenda.

Why don't you post that part?

I really am glad hes doing this, I hope he gives them hell for their anti gay bigotry well their anti everything bigotry. Those stupid idiots.

.

Take that as an honor Senator though heh.

Or is it just more BS from you?

I posted a quote...you post nothing on the record.

Try again.

Why is it that you know a woman asked Kerry to speak there, but, you are woefully ignoring what occurred after. Jones said it on Larry King.

I am not willing to take your word for it, blm.

How about posting one link to the "all over the news story"?

It would be better for you to start slamming GW Bush
instead of all of our party candidates, it does nothing
good and the impression it gives out is bad.

n/t

and if he did we shouldn't demagouge it like the others are trying to demagouge Dean.

...greatly. Racism and bigotry are fed and nurtured by our mealy-mouthed responses to the institutions that support them.

I bet BJ has no love for my fellow "papist" Mr. Kerry.

it wouldn't be in him to go there in any way that would suggest he agrees with the bigotry associated with them, because he is as committed to equality as anyone.

Dean '04...America's hope

.

but you already know that