Reply #67: Kerry was my senator then (as Obama, oddly, is now) ... [View All]

[frazzled]

And I'm afraid you are wrong about Kerry's stance in early 2003. I remember it well, because on the eve of the war, March 17 (I remember because my birthday is the next day, and I was depressed that shock and awe was about to start any moment), Kerry issued a statement that fully supported the imminent invasion, and what is worse, the Bush-doctrine rationale behind it: he said that it was the president's duty to protect the long-term national security interests of the country. (This was shocking to me, because I firmly believed, and believe still, that we never, ever go to war unless there is an immediate threat--not for kick-the-can-down-the-road "long-term" interests--that is the basis of international law). I remember also that in June I attended a backyard party for him in New Hampshire, and spoke to him directly about this statement.

I didn't support Kerry in the primaries that year because of this issue and because I didn't think he'd make a good candidate, but I knew he'd be an excellent president, and when it was over I hauled my ass up to Dover, N.H. and stood with a group of Dean and Clark supporters on the streets to do sign-visibility for Kerry, and, after moving to Illinois, did phone banking for him. I gave him my full support, and learned to put aside my reservations about his political tactics.

I feel the same way about Obama: I'm not happy about some of the recent positions he's taken, but I have no doubt that he will make an excellent president, who will attempt to reverse not only many of the policies this administration has pushed through, but to change the discourse about the role of government in America in a major shift towards more progressive stances.