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Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Democrats » John Kerry Group

Mass

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Fri Jan-25-08 11:50 AM
Original message

Kerry about Obama and Clinton

Click on the link and read. It is good to read a sincere and balanced advocacy for a candidate, stating the facts, but refusing to overreach, even when the reporter tries to get sparks.

I wonder if the audio will be posted later.

http://nationaljournal.com/onair/transcripts/080125_kerry_john.htm

Q: I'd like to introduce Sen. John Kerry, former Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, United States senator now. Welcome, Sen. Kerry.

Kerry: Good morning, glad to be with you. Thank you.

Q: So, senator, you have endorsed Barack Obama, and this week, of course, the campaign was absolutely consumed with these charges and counter-charges, and it seemed to many of us that Obama's message about hope and change was pretty much drowned out. What happened, here?

Kerry: Well, I think you had an abuse of the truth, is what happened. I mean, being an ex-president does not give you license to abuse the truth, and I think that over the last days it's been over the top. Things have been said about Barack Obama's positions that are just plain untrue. It was said in Nevada, it's been said about Social Security, it's been said about Yucca Mountain, and it's been said in South Carolina. I think it's very unfortunate, but I think the voters can see through that. When somebody's coming on strong and they are growing, people get a little frantic, and I think people have seen this sort of franticness in the air, if you will.

My sense is, Barack Obama offers a better opportunity to pull America together than any other candidate in the race. If you look at the fact that the governor of Arizona, a red state, Gov. Janet Napolitano, has endorsed Barack Obama, former governor and now senator, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, red state, has endorsed Barack Obama. The two senators from North Dakota and South Dakota, the Democratic senators, have endorsed Barack Obama. Claire McCaskill, the senator from Missouri, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, was asked the question, "Can a Democrat carry Virginia?" And his answer was, "the right Democrat," and then he endorsed Barack Obama.

So, I think Barack Obama has the ability to pull the nation together, to offer the kind of inspired leadership that we need to tackle some very serious problems, and to make America stronger in the world. And that's why I'm for him.

...

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whometense

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Fri Jan-25-08 11:57 AM
Response to Original message

1. Thanks for this.

I just checked on itunes, and they do have a free podcast, called National Journal On Air. This week's isn't up yet, but I'm sure it will be at some point.

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whometense

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Fri Jan-25-08 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #1

5. By the way, if you're looking for a weekly political roundup

that isn't screaming and redfaced, I just listened to last week's National Journal On Air, and really liked it a lot. Calm, balanced, and intelligent.

And while I'm on the subject, I also love the Slate political gabfest, also a weekly political roundup, only more informal and more opinionated: http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?submit.x=0&submit.y=0&id=3944&qt=gabfest

Once I listened to enough episodes to get a sense of who the people were (usually Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson and David Plotz), it got to be a lot of fun.

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Inuca

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Fri Jan-25-08 12:14 PM
Response to Original message

2. Not overreaching, but very strong

Just one example, about Obama becoming the "black candidate"

"Well, if it happened, I'm not sure that that is accurate at all, and I don't necessarily accept it. But to whatever degree that has been injected here, it has been injected, frankly, by the other campaign, and I think it's unfortunate"

Reading this has lifted up my spirits a bit.

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beachmom

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Fri Jan-25-08 12:14 PM
Response to Original message

3. He called Clinton a liar in nice Senatese.

If you think this isn't going to cause sparks, well, I think it will.

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Inuca

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Fri Jan-25-08 12:59 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. "being an ex-president does not give you license to abuse the truth"

borderline Senatese :-)

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karynnj

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Fri Jan-25-08 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #3

6. That's as strong as any character comment I've heard from Kerry

But if you look at Kerry's effort to stop swiftboating, it's clear they are on opposite sides. It is clear that Clinton has never had a high regard for truth and Kerry does.

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Mass

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Fri Jan-25-08 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. I have to say I read it quickly and missed "abuse the truth",

Definitively strong words that caught the media attention.

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politicasista

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Fri Jan-25-08 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. I think so too

Edited on Fri Jan-25-08 08:38 PM by politicasista

Hope it doesn't cost him the AA vote in MA. The AA vote is one that should not be taken for granted. Plus, lots of AA still have a positive view of the Clinton years. :hide:

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Mass

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Fri Jan-25-08 08:44 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. Because he defended Obama? Not sure I follow. And no, they will not vote for an unknown GOP?

Edited on Fri Jan-25-08 08:46 PM by Mass

I think that the opinion of the Clintons will have taken a hit after this horrible campaign. I can see more and more people saying it will be hard to vote for her now in the general, after her and Bill's sleazy attacks.

Sorry, but I do not follow your reasoning. Yes, the AA vote should not be taken for granted, but it seems to me the only people taking them for granted here are the Clintons.

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beachmom

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Fri Jan-25-08 08:51 PM
Response to Reply #8

10. What the ???? That makes NO SENSE to me. I believe it is CLINTON

who the AA community is pissed off with.

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politicasista

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Fri Jan-25-08 10:10 PM
Response to Reply #10

13. Should have worded that differently

Edited on Fri Jan-25-08 10:34 PM by politicasista

My mom is one of those that is pissed off with the Clintons. My dad is trying to hang in and give Bill the benefit of a doubt even though he likes Obama and thought Kerry's endorsement of him was a "bold" move on Kerry's part to go against the Clintons.

And no, I am not happy with their behavior. However, Bill was here on Monday and there was a standing room only crowd with lots of diverse faces. And where he spoke was at an HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities), which he has been a strong supporter of during his presidency. The university president worked in his administration in his first term. And I just got a call from a woman with Tennesseans for Hillary saying that she is coming to another predominately AA college tomorrow night.

My point is, even though people are pissed at the Clintons right now and for a good reason, they will stop at nothing to get the AA vote. There are some older people that still have a positive view of the Clinton years. I know. I saw them being interviewed Monday night, and I will probably see more. Even though young people like me support Obama, there still are a lot of those that grew up during the 90s that only think of WJC as the "only" Democrat that can win and save us.

I will say that I am glad the Obama campaign has considered doing this same outreach. I guess I am somewhat disappointed that the 2000 and 2004 campaigns didn't think of doing this approach as well. It would have erase the myth that if your the candidate's name isn't Clinton, then he/she is not impressive.

I will stop here cause I know I am not staying off topic and I don't want anyone to think I am defending them or BC presidency.

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TayTay

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Fri Jan-25-08 09:19 PM
Response to Reply #8

11. No, it won't

That is an interesting and definitely not monolithic voting "block" in MA. There are a lot of AA veterans in MA who know and respect what Senator Kerry has done for veterans. There is also a lot more knowledge about who he is and what he has done statewide and nationally to advance programs that benefit AA as well as other members of diverse communities. Some of the strongest Kerry supporters I have ever met have been AA. They know him, they know that he goes out of his way to recruit and hire in all communities in MA. (This is not insignificant. Some people talk a good game, but when you look at their staff, it's very uniform. This is not so with Sen. Kerry and this is widely known and appreciated. He has very close ties here.)

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MBS

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Fri Jan-25-08 09:51 PM
Response to Reply #11

12. After JK's last Faneuil Hall speech, on the economy, this fall

I was standing around outside, in Quincy Market, watching JK mingle amicably with tourists and the speechgoers. A group of AA (?) students (they looked to be about 17 or 18 years old) wandered into Quincy Market.One of them saw JK,and was immediately galvanized into action: he whipped out his camera, and ran to get close to JK, shouting, "I LOVE JOHN KERRY."

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politicasista

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Fri Jan-25-08 10:11 PM
Response to Reply #11

14. Thanks.

It's nice to know what people think in the real world. :)

I am sorry I won't bring this up again.

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ralbertson

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Sat Jan-26-08 06:17 AM
Response to Reply #14

16. Naw, it's cool, this is a good thing to talk about in here.

"I am sorry I won't bring this up again."

Wrong.

Seriously, we all learn a lot from hearing all kinds of difference voices represented in these conversations, especially when those are quoted voices from people who would never be heard from in DU unless someone else mentioned their questions and concerns in here.

Questions that aren't asked can't be answered. Ideas that aren't heard can't be considered. Views that aren't shown can't be visualized.

Imho, it's a positive plus that you bring these things to this forum and ask us about them, politicasista. In many of your posts you seem to be torn between conflicting messages coming from different directions, because you see & hear things in a nexus that can be hard to reconcile sometimes.

That can be a difficult place to find yourself in, as I'm sure we all know to one degree or another in our own situations. So sometimes you come here asking for answers you can take back to those who are asking you stuff out there. Sometimes you come here to make sure others know what you're hearing out there. And maybe sometimes you come here for reassurance that you really are doing the right thing after all.

Either way, it's all good. That's what we're here for. It's why we hang out in what is by several orders of magnitude the most active politician-oriented forum on DU. This is a very special environment, and it's unique not just in quantity but in quality as well.

And you're part of this group. We're glad you are. So you shouldn't ever have to feel tentative about sharing what you hear and what you see and who you are with us in here, k?

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politicasista

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Sat Jan-26-08 05:22 PM
Response to Reply #16

17. Thanks

Edited on Sat Jan-26-08 05:27 PM by politicasista

I live in the south (near a state that borders Clinton country) and I just don't hear a lot down here, so I am always curious about the real world support. I know a lot of Clinton admires supported Kerry in 2004. :hi:

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JI7

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Sat Jan-26-08 03:27 AM
Response to Original message

15. others are calling out Bill also (thanks prosense)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4200592

i was very happy to see this.

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JI7

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Sun Jan-27-08 03:03 AM
Response to Original message

18. did anyone see this ? Bill is asked about what Kerry said

it's from fox news so could be misleading. but the guy doesn't get it. it has nothing to do with who Kerry supports or what Clinton did for him. but this does show that in Bill's mind he seems to see everything as something personal rather than right/wrong. like his comment about what a great guy he would be to support Obama after everything that Obama campaign had done to him.

<Bill Clinton says he’s “not taking the bait” after Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said in a radio interview Friday that the former president was abusing the truth in his quest to promote his wife’s presidential campaign.

The former president has been under increasing scrutiny for his tireless role in Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign and has drawn protest from rival candidate Sen. Barack Obama — but Bill Clinton pledged restraint Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C., as voters headed to the polls in the state’s Democratic primary.

“I am not taking the bait today,” Clinton said when asked about Kerry’s remarks. “I did what I could to help Sen. Kerry every time he needed me and every time he asked me. … He can support whomever he wants for whatever reason he wants, but there is nothing for me to respond to.”>

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Inuca

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Sun Jan-27-08 08:16 AM
Response to Reply #18

19. I heard it last night

early in the coverage. Keith O was reading it fresh off the presses. Kind of obnoxious, surprise, surprise.

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beachmom

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Sun Jan-27-08 09:13 AM
Response to Reply #18

20. Bill can go suck it. That's all I have to say. n/t

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karynnj

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Sun Jan-27-08 09:49 AM
Response to Reply #18

21. This is just more prove that he doesn't get Kerry and likely never will

He brings it down to Kerry owing him for support in 2004 - even though it was in the general election, in the primaries he was neutral other than saying that HRC and Clark were the only the only Democratic stars. I also remember many comments saying the Kerry camp was unhappy with book release in July 2004 (especially after June was lost because Reagan died.)

He doesn't address at all that Kerry is going against LIES and swiftboating - things the Clinton people feel can be ok, that Kerry vehemently feels is wrong. There were things to respond to.

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ginnyinWI

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Sun Jan-27-08 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #21

22. Bill's the ultimate political animal.

Edited on Sun Jan-27-08 03:05 PM by ginnyinWI

He really doesn't get what it means to be a public servant like Kerry. To him it's all about power and prestige, about hearing "Hail to the Chief" when you walk in the door. It's all about political alliances and political debts. To hell with truth or justice.
I think that the psychological make-up of the guy shows something missing somewhere--and the pattern of promiscuity also fits that profile. He's needy, while in contrast, Kerry is completely whole as a person.

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Luftmensch067

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Sun Jan-27-08 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #22

23. Wow, good analysis, Ginny!

Spot on, I think. And I wish that someday there could be a return to the higher meaning of "political" -- the kind JK and the Kennedys believe in...

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ginnyinWI

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Sun Jan-27-08 03:42 PM
Response to Reply #23

24. That day might be around the corner

;)

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Luftmensch067

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Sun Jan-27-08 04:30 PM
Response to Reply #24

25. I believe it may! n/t

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