Kerry Convenes Tycoon Tutorial to be Clintonian

by Josh Benson

John Kerry’s economic tutors rate him highly as a student, but admit that the Massachusetts Senator’s message still needs work.

For several months, Mr. Kerry has been coming to New York on a monthly basis not just to raise money, but to talk about it. He has assembled a high-powered team of advisers who he hopes can help him in forming an economic agenda for the 2004 campaign. The meetings, which are organized by financier Roger Altman, have included Gene Sperling and Laura Tyson, both chief economic advisers in the Clinton administration, and investment banker Felix Rohatyn.

Though each campaign consults with experts and informal advisers, participants in the Kerry meetings say that the candidate has, to a greater extent than his rivals, formalized his tutorial discussions. He has presided over regular corporate-style meetings to discuss developments and to plan for the days and weeks ahead. And participants say that Mr. Kerry has been the most aggressive of any of the Democratic candidates in seeking their advice.

"We’d like to see a Democrat win the election," said Alan Blinder, a professor of economics at Princeton University, who has not endorsed any candidate but was approached by Mr. Kerry. "And since Kerry is the one who’s asking, we’re prepared to help."

The general idea of the meetings has been not only to teach Mr. Kerry about the intricacies of making economic policy on the Presidential level, but to help in tailoring his oratory and policy prescriptions to changing events as the race progresses.

But the meetings also serve the function of projecting an image of seriousness on economic issues, which will be at or near the top of voters’ list of priorities going into the elections next year. This is not lost on Mr. Kerry’s campaign officials, who have suggested that his economic advisory group is "Clintonesque" because of the similarities it bears to the groups of smart-people-of-substance convened by former President Clinton before his election in 1992. Nor is the importance of that imagery lost upon the participants themselves.

"What’s exceptional about this is that the other candidates, for the most part, are focused on fund-raising and politics, and Kerry’s got this group of bright lights together to focus on policy," said one of the participants who is a Kerry supporter. "There’s nothing else like this that I know of."

http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=7681

i especially like his plans for the environment. his is working to put together some specific things. john edwards also has some programs to promote like the one for college aid .

towards effective environmental policies for over 30 years. This is no campaign year conversion.

Lots of innovation going on with our candidates.


Cher

eom

I'd like to see EVERY bright mind in the Dem party tapped to put this world straight on course for a full recovery and a better future for all.

Kerry has been doing important groundwork while building a solid foundation for his campaign.

Keep in mind that he has Rand Beers and William Perry working with him to build a case against the chimp's so-called national security. (not to mention... ssshhhhh.....Gary Hart)

Just as Bush surrounded himself with smarty-pants (later revealed to be evil incarnate), perhaps Kerry is surrounding himself with people with bigger smarts and bigger pants.

The smartest Dems we can put together, the brightest bulbs to illuminate the extensive damage of BushInc.

I also like Kerry's idea, which I also had
Where he would take as much as $50 billion and divide it for each
state for their infrastructure, like roads,bridges,schools, etc
Hell, if the republicans can send $100 billion to Iraq,
they can afford $50 for the US

and he plans to WIN on that.

(While beating Bush with the awolstick, just for good measure, heh.)