Democrats Turn Out to Embrace Kerry in Brooklyn (NYT)

[Octafish]

February 29, 2004

Democrats Turn Out to Embrace Kerry in Brooklyn

By DAVID M. HALBFINGER

Senator John Kerry won the support of former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo of New York and Mr. Cuomo's son Andrew last night, and accepted the embrace of the Brooklyn Democratic organization. But his most ringing endorsement came from a 22-year-old high-school dropout named Michael Parker.

"I was one of those people you'd like to call a statistic," Mr. Parker said, his composure breaking several times, as he spoke to 500 people at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights.

Mr. Parker said he was among thousands of young people in his East Harlem neighborhood who had given up on education and were falling through the cracks.

Then, he said, he joined YouthBuild — a Harlem program that Mr. Kerry became aware of in 1992 and helped expand nationally — and turned his life around.

"He's a cool brother," Mr. Parker said of the lanky, blue-suited senator sitting next to him.

CONTINUED...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/29/politics/campaign/29KERR.html

[mountainvue]

1. Great article.

Thanks Octafish!

[Octafish]

6. You're welcome, mountainvue!

Many of those who see John Kerry in person are surprised to discover he's not the stereotype long presented by The New York Times and its sister The Boston Globe. The guy is personable. And people in the one-on-one Q&As discover Kerry really does care for them and wants to do something to help them. I heard him say he learned compassion from his parents: his mother emphasized the importance of helping those less fortunate and his father emphasized the importance of public service and the role of government in improving the quality of life of the nation. He said it better than I remembered, too.

[deadliving]

2. Beautiful. Kerry is God

Not only is he a war hero but he is the most electable and the one real man to force Bush out of office. Kerry is God

[GalleryGod]

5. Welcome to DU!

:think: Took you a lonnnnnnnnnnng time to find us?:wtf:

[Octafish]

7. We're all God.

That's what Jesus said.

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?

- - John 10:34 (Jesus made reference to Psalm 82)

A hearty welcome to DU, deadliving! Interesting moniker you have there... very Tantric, which is a good thing. May it lead to many happy discussions about our true nature.

[BeatleBoot]

3. He's a very cool brother

He believes in us.

And I believe in him.

He's a straight shooter.

[Octafish]

8. Kerry didn't leave the Green Beret behind...

... despite all the heavy fire from shore, and being wounded, he held on to the fellow who was blown off another boat that was struck by an RPG from shore. Kerry pulled that guy up.

You know he won't leave the rest of America behind, unlike certain unelected morons we know. The reason? Kerry knows we're all in the same boat, together.

John Kerry has been tested under fire, literally, and come through every time. Here's a nice article from last week's NYT:


For Kerry, Bonds Forged With Wartime Crews Hold Strong

By JOHN KIFNER
The New York Times
Published: February 24, 2004

EXERPT...

A Green Beret lieutenant, Jim Rassman, was in the river, ducking underwater as bullets from both shores slapped the river.

"We turned around with the engines screaming against each other — one full astern, the other full forward — and then charged the several hundred yards back into the ambush," Mr. Sandusky's Navy skipper, Lt. j.g. John Kerry, wrote in his war diary. "Everyone on board must have been firing to keep the sniper heads down."

Another explosion had injured Mr. Kerry's right arm. But he ran forward to the bow, reached over with his good arm and pulled Lieutenant Rassman — weighted down with wet clothes, equipment and heavy boots — to safety.

"It was a brave thing to do," Mr. Sandusky said. "We had been in firefights with John before. We already knew he has unfailing instincts. We owe him our lives, and he owes us his. We were a boat crew. We were tight."


CONTINUED...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/campaign/24COMB.html?ex=1078203600&en=30110cc30f54a615&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[blm]

10. It's Kerry's character that won the Fire Fighters' endorsement, too.

They felt he was the one they trusted to understand what they go through every day in their jobs.

[mobuto]

11. No it isn't

I support Senator Kerry, and I agree that this election will come down to character, but that's not the reason Schaitberger endorsed him.

[Octafish]

12. Thanks for the reminder, blm!

Kerry ordered his jet to return to the US over the Pacific, when he heard about the tragedy that befell the Boston Fire Department. The firefighters know who has been there for them.

They also know who has not:

FIRE FIGHTERS GIVE BUSH FAILING GRADE ON ANNIVERSARY OF CREATION OF DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY

President Bush’s Homeland Security Funding Cuts Hurt Emergency Response of Fire & Rescue as March 1 Anniversary Approaches

WASHINGTON, DC – The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO (IAFF), Harold Schaitberger, issued the following statement today on the ability of fire and rescue workers to respond to the emergency needs of communities across America one year after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

“The creation of the Department of Homeland Security was a step in the right direction. But one year after its creation, our nation’s fire fighters and emergency medical personnel are still operating with too few staff, outdated equipment and the need for training to appropriately and safely respond to all of the emergencies, disasters and possible acts of terrorism we need to be prepared for today.

The result is that our communities are more vulnerable because of Bush’s failure in Homeland Security.

“Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, being a fire fighter or emergency medical provider in America has taken on a new dimension. We must now be prepared to respond to terrorist attacks of mass destruction – whether it be a plane crashing into a building, a dirty bomb, or the release of a chemical or biological agent into the atmosphere. At the same time, we’re seeing a rise in exposures from infectious diseases, especially new and emerging pathogens, hazardous material and special operation responses, natural disasters, and an inexplicable increase in the incidence of assaults on first responders.

CONTINUED...

http://daily.iaff.org/022704press.htm

[fearnobush]

4. Kerry Rocks

Just sent this to all the media whores.

[Octafish]

9. Thanks, fearnobush!

Much appreciated. Knowledge is power and that's why the Smirking Moron wants to keep it all to his advisors who CAN read newspapers.

More evidence of the Mighty Whorelitzer of the BFEE: saw a Hitchen's C-SPAN replay the other day, and wow, I was completely not shocked at how much of a presstitute the guy had become. He wasn't just pro-Bush, he pretended to be "fair and balanced" and talked about how much of a "Marxist" he still was and so on, but he still came across as a frightened man, one who's livelihood, existence and family safety depend on toadying up to the Bush Organized Crime Family. The media whores, for the most part (Hi, Helen!), are scared of these turds.

Why? The Truth is mightier than the sword. And that's what's going to get them all kicked out of office and into Leavenworth.