The importance of being honest and informed

[genius]

Earlier I posted an article from the man Bush most needs to fear, the man who proved Gore won Florida. Instead of discussing what honest approach we could use to encourage people to understand where Kerry was coming from when he made some bad decisions, I saw baseless attacks on Palast and the type of reactions one would expect from Bush supporters who had been told some honest facts about Bush. I expect better from Democrats and I believe that Democrats can persuade more people to vote for Kerry if they are open to looking at his weaknesses and explain in a rational fashion why these weaknesses should not dissuade people from voting for Kerry. If we come across as like ignorant, close-minded followers, no one will listen to us.


For instance, Kerry blew the war vote. That cannot be denied - except by someone who is good at fabrications. The primary race was expected to be between Kerry and Gore. Kerry could have influenced the result beyond his vote. Yet he went along with Bush and set a negative example. Each Senate vote counted. I saw Kerry shortly before the war started. He said very honestly that he was against the war - not from the microphone so that the crowd could hear it - but to a person at the front of the crowd. He said it quietly. I could hear the regret in his voice when he said he was against the war. The crowd had heckled him more than approved of him that night. I think that if he had told the whole crowd what he was feeling, he would have captivated them and won them over. I think others at the front were moved by his comment and by the sad tone in which he said it. Because of hearing that comment, I did not hold his vote against him the way many others did. As a result, he wound up my second choice. People do make mistakes. When they admit them, they are usually forgiven. I know he wants to maintain a certain image but maybe the image he is trying to maintain is hurting him. No one in Congress (except Dennis and the progressive caucus) seems to be able to see the future. Kerry's best defense is that he thought he was doing the right thing when he voted, not just for the war, but for the bills that wound up hurting so many poor people and kids and that he will do better and reverse these situations. He probably did not read the bills and didn't realize their impact. Read John Dean's book to find out why Kerry should have read the war resolution. Being honest won't turn the right-wingers away from him. It will get them to see how bad the conservative approaches are. Letting our side know that he will improve will unite the Democrats and win him the election.

[Albert Einstein]

1. You're right, the reaction to Palast's article was pretty disgusting

I think there are a lot of people here who purposely close their minds.

[Eloriel]

2. Boy, I couldn't disagree more with this line:

Kerry's best defense is that he thought he was doing the right thing when he voted (for the war)...


Sorry, he HAS no defense for voting for the war. The one and only reason he did it was spineless poll-watching with his presidential bid firmly in mind. Or, if not, then he's not very bright, not very well-informed, too gung-ho militaristic, and all-in-all not the right man for the Top Job after all. I'd just as soon have him right there, hoisted on his own petard, not being able to tell the truth about the whole thing or even renounce the war itself, as hear yet another fucking lie.

[Albert Einstein]

3. Kerry's vote was pretty spineless

Now that he's our nominee, what should we do? We want those who feel his vote was spineless to vote against Bush. Genius's suggestions were good. Perhaps, we could say he was spineless and stupid but he's learned and he won't be spineless and stupid again. Those who feel as Palast and you are too well educated to fall for the attempts to hide the stuff through unification of the party.

[seabeyond]

4. genius, i agree and it is how i like to live

i saw a gop video last nite of comments kerry has made on iraq from '91 to present day. he cannot take those words back anymore than bush can in f911

i also dont want to present a version of why kerry voted when his own words say something else. makes me look unaware and dismisses what i say to people if i am proven wrong. there were people bothered with this video. dont like it on this site cause it shows something of kerry.

didnt make me want kerry any less, it did tell me kerry is going to have to drawn the line, that was then, things were up. this is now. dont know how, but not in dishonesty. dishonesty is too easy to see. why we dont learn we can not get away with it i dont know

[Eloriel]

5. Boy I coudln't disagree more with this line:

Kerry's best defense is that he thought he was doing the right thing when he voted (for the war)...

Sorry, he HAS no defense for voting for the war. The one and only reason he did it was spineless poll-watching with his presidential bid firmly in mind. Or, if not, then he's not very bright, not very well-informed, too gung-ho militaristic, and all-in-all not the right man for the Top Job after all. I'd just as soon have him right there, hoisted on his own petard, not being able to tell the truth about the whole thing or even renounce the war itself, as hear yet another fucking lie from him on the subject.