John Kerry's Floor Speech on Karl Rove's 9/11 Remarks

[wicket]

From Light Up the Darkness:

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1139

"Mr. President, None of us will ever forget the hours after September 11th, the calls to our families, the evacuations, the images on television -- and then the remarkable response of the American people as we came together as one to answer the attack against our homeland.

"We drew strength when our firefighters ran up the stairs and risked their lives, so that others might live. When rescuers rushed into smoke and fire at the Pentagon. When the men and women of Flight 93 sacrificed themselves to save our nation's Capitol. When flags were hanging from front porches all across America, and strangers became friends. It brought out the best in all of us.

"That spirit of our country should never be reduced to a cheap and divisive political applause line from anyone who speaks for the President of the United States. I am proud that after September 11th all our people rallied to President Bush's call for unity to meet the danger. There were no Democrats. There were no Republicans. There were only Americans. That's why is hard to believe that last night the most senior advisor to the President of the United States is twisting those days of unity to divide us, that rather than focusing attention on finding Osama Bin Laden and smashing Al Queda, he is instead challenging the patriotism of Americans every bit as committed to fighting terror as he is.

"For Karl Rove to equate Democratic policy on terror to "indictments" and "therapy" is an outrageous attempt to divide the nation at just the moment we must be unified. Just days after 9/11 the Senate voted 98-0 and the House voted 420-1 to authorize President Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against terror. After the bipartisan vote, President Bush said, I quote: "I am gratified that the Congress has united so powerfully by taking this action. It sends a clear message - our people are together, and we will prevail."

"Karl Rove also said last night, quote: "No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals."

"Well, I think a lot more needs to be said about Karl Rove's motives, because they're not the people's motives, and if the President really believed his own words of unity, then he should fire Karl Rove. If the President of the United States knows the meaning of his own words, he should listen to the plea of Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband when the Twin Towers came crashing down: she said, "if you're going to use 9/11, use it to make this nation safer than it was on 9/11.

"And that's not being done. If you're going to use 9/11, if you're going to be impassioned about the lives lost on 9/11, then do so by making us safer."

"Karl Rove doesn't owe me an apology, he doesn't owe Democrats an apology, he owes her an apology -- he owes an apology to every one of those families who paid the ultimate price on September 11th.

"Millions of Americans across our country are questioning whether this Administration is making us safe. Kristen Breitweiser wants to tell her daughter that she'll grow up in a country safer than on the day her father was taken from her.

"Mothers and fathers spend sleepless nights worrying about sons and daughters in humvees in Iraq that aren't protected. They're asking Washington for honesty and results and leadership, not political division.

"Before Karl Rove delivers another political assault, he needs to think about those families. The 9-11 Commission has given us a path to follow, endorsed by Democrats, Republicans, and the 9-11 families. Implement the recommendations of that commission. We shouldn't be letting ninety-five percent of container ships come into our ports without ever being physically inspected. We shouldn't be leaving our nuclear and chemical plants without enough protection.

"Until they've done the work of making America safe, don't dare question the patriotism of Americans who offer a better direction. Before wrapping themselves in the memory of September 11th, and shutting their eyes and ears to the truth, they should remember what America is really all about -- that leadership isn't insult or intimidation, it's the strength of making America safe -- they should remember what their responsibility is to every American -- and start to do the work of living up to it."

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Wow, he hasnt even delivered all of it yet!

[LittleClarkie]

3. Those are the prepared remarks

Let's see if he deviates from them and interjects some off the cuff anger.

[babylonsister]

2. Wow!

:wow: How'd you do that? It's now a read-a-long!

[Cha]

4. good ol' rat cheese fed rove..

he gave the Dems the chance to invoke 9/11!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. John Kerry and I agree 100% on one thing:

There are only Americans

[ihaveaquestion]

6. Sen Tim Johnson SD

Asking Kerry about Rove's understanding that there are Democratic soldiers, including his own son, included in Rove's comments.

[ihaveaquestion]

9. Kerry's response...

"Rove has insulted every Democrat in country."

"Owes apology to your (Tim Johnson's) son and every other Democrat" (paraphrased)

[still_one]

7. Where the hell was he in 2004 when they attacked his military service?

Kerry brought up his military service at the Democratic convention, then when attacked by the swift puke asses essentially said nothing

[KittyWampus]

11. Hmm, He's Attacking Rove/GOP But YOU"RE Attacking Him

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

[still_one]

22. because if he showed that kind of passion in the campaign

WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE NOW!!!

[ihaveaquestion]

14. A strategic error, granted.

Get over it, find something constructive to do (hopefully to oust GW) and move on.

[still_one]

23. No I won't get over it

Because he failed to deliver that kind of passion in 2004, the future of this country is in peril

[ihaveaquestion]

30. Blaming Kerry for repugs ruining the country isn't helpful or constructive

[still_one]

32. I am Not blaming Kerry for that

I am blaming him for losing the election

There was no excuse for him to lose it

[ihaveaquestion]

35. But... That "future of the country is in peril" is not Kerry's fault.

Shrub, Rove, Cheney etc. are responsible for that. Give Kerry a break. It's not his job to save the world. He's doing the best he can with what he has. He was elected and made the best of it. Who elected him? Democrats did. I voted for Clark, BTW. It may be that Democrats are doomed no matter what they do - this article makes a good case for that Why the Democrats Will Keep Losing

Right now it's a matter of focus. If you can focus your anger and attention on the real criminals and the electoral system, more may get done.

[still_one]

39. It was an emotional reaction

and I do focus my anger on the real criminals, and I too was for Clark in the primarys but voted for Kerry in the general election

Anyway, I am over my emotional outburst now so lets see if the democrats can unify like they did on bolton

united we stand, divided we are screwed

[ihaveaquestion]

40. Understood - All Together Now - Go Howie, Go! Get us Control of Congress!

After that the White House. After that, well, who knows?

:toast:

[still_one]

42. we definitely agree on that one

maybe Dean will embolden the Congress

Kerry's speech was definitely right on

[seabeyond]

26. he made a mistake, it was august he couldnt spend money

in apr swift boat came up, took one afternoon for them to be dismissed. bush cheated adn held his convention until sept. he was able to continue spending money and collecting, it was dishonest adn wrong and bush got away with it

kerry was held back by his people, he should have done what his gut said

he made a mistake

shoot em

[Senior citizen]

31. When you say held back by "his people," are you referring to

his political consultants, to the DLC, or to his frat brothers?

[paulk]

41. his consultants

at that point the media was already gearing up to attack the proposed move of the convention date... to accuse Kerry of somehow "cheating", even though Bush did "cheat" by holding the Repulican convention later.. There was, of course, no mention of this in the press.

Why would his frat brothers be involved in his campaign?

:crazy:


go ahead - tell us all about it.
I know you want to....

[Tamarin]

8. Fire Karl Rove! eom

[Burried News]

10. Refuse to give up the floor John, make them drag you out..

Catapault the truth.

[BurtWorm]

12. Very polite.

It could use a little less politeness.

I, for one, am impatient for someone to say, "I don't believe this 'president' has our best interests at heart, I'm sorry to say. I won't believe it until I see evidence of it, evidence like demanding the resignation of Karl Rove. But I know we will not see that, because this 'president' needs Karl Rove, like a junkie needs a needle."

[Tiggeroshii]

13. I don'd think he delivered it quite like that...

Maybe changed it a little....

[sattahipdeep]

15. Should Karl Rove resign for insulting me?

Goss recently said he has an "excellent" idea where Osama bin Laden is hiding

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0621/dailyUpdate.html

Should Karl Rove resign for insulting me? Sure. But
Im more interested in the resignation of any Bush
administration official who knows where bin Laden is and
argues against going to get him.

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/2005/06/004069.html

Free Forever....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1332757

[fooj]

16. What burns me up is that the Repukes just moved right along...

completely ignoring what had just been said! You mean to tell me that there isn't ONE FUCKING REPUBLICAN SENATOR who in his/her heart of hearts know what Kerry/Johnson just articulated isn't ABSOLUTELY TRUE? These bastards make me want to hurl!

I DEMAND AN APOLOGY! While I'm at it, I DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM EVERY REPUKE SENATOR IN THOSE CHAMBERS!

peace.

[Disturbed]

17. Impeachment the entire stinkin' Bush Regime!!!

Dems on the Defensive.

This is Rove's game. He isn't a genius. He is scum that has figured out how to attack his enemey. No.1 Rule. Attack the strong points of the enemey. Dems are weak and appease, for the most part. They are quesy with Offense and cave in when pressured. Of course, I am not saying that all Dems are like that but wouldn't you agree that it's a general case?

Dems should frame the issues. Go on the offensive and never apologize. Come back with even a strong Offensive when attacked even by their own.

Do not ask Rove for an apology. Go on the Offensive.

The Bush Regime prepared for a savage War On Iraq BEFORE the 911 Attack.
The Bush Regime used the 911 Attack as a reason to illegally invade Iraq and lied to Congress about WMDs. Impeachment is required!

[evolvenow]

29. Agree Disturbed. WAR CRIMINAL CLUB TO THE HAGUE, NOW! R*VE is OSB,

that's my opinion. If OSB is even alive, which I very much doubt, he was on dialysis years ago, the man in the CIA MSM videos that always are aired at pivotal moments does not look anything like him. OSB is R*ve propaganda to blame an invisible enemy, to go and occupy and fight endless illegal wars on innocent people. R*ve and his Murdering OLD MEN need to be locked up. HE is not intelligent, he is a MURDERER and should be indicted for WAR CRIMES, IMMEDIATELY, ALL OF THEM.

Kerry is brave and intelligent and Conyer's and the 122 that signed the DSM petition.

THE REST OF THEM ARE KILLERS WITH EXPENSE ACCOUNTS. R*ve is one of the worst, like a nast third grader with nothing to say, so he bullies and lashes out with idiotic remarks that have killed over 122,000 people FOR NO GOOD REASON other than GREED.

LOCK THEM UP,THE WORLD NEEDS TO LOCK THEM UP NOW!

For anyone that has not followed the murder of every important person AGAINST WAR, like the assassination of Kennedy, Martin Luther King, etc. does not understand that there are thugs running things, Kerry WAS ELECTED in the Stealection, Gore was elcected. This had nothing to do with campaigns, it was rigged, stolen , hacked. I believe Kerry's family was threatened with death if he mad a stink over the FACT that he was elected.

The B*shco regime is PURE EVIL based on Profit and Power and eventually they wil fall, I hope it is soon.

[blm]

18. They don't think any of us will back Kerry and Johnson up the way Repubs

do for their vile scum reps.

We should jump on this with one clear voice - Fire Rove.

[fooj]

24. Yep. ONE UNITED,CLEAR VOICE!

peace.

[dogday]

19. I thought you would be smarter than this Karl

stupid move, not his style, makes me worry....

[GeekMonkey]

20. You go President Kerry!

[Senior citizen]

21. I'm glad Kerry is starting to attempt to try to redeem himself.

I'm still paying down the credit card debts I ran up sending him money that he didn't use in his campaign or for recounts.

If not for him, I'd have a little more money in my monthly food budget. Not that I'm starving or malnourished or anything, but even a little bit of hunger tends to make me cranky and unforgiving.

On edit: Maybe what he really needs to do is to skip a meal or two and THEN get up to talk. It can definitely make a difference.

[LittleClarkie]

27. I spent money I didn't have as well

If you, and I, are alittle cash strapped, we were the ones who decided to give. It wasn't because of Kerry. WE decided to give.

Kerry gave more money to the DNC than had ever been given before. He gave a million more when Dean became the chairman to welcome him. He gave to the DCCC. He gave to Christine Gregoire in Washington and to the Dems in the runoff elections in Lousiana. Not to mention that there is still, STILL a lawsuit pending in Ohio for the purposes of getting at the truth.

And don't you think that maybe, possibly, 17000 lawyers had to eat at some point?

Do the facts matter? Or is bitching and moaning more fun than the truth, or moving on and finding a course of action for the situation we find ourselves in NOW, not six months ago.

[Senior citizen]

36. No, it wasn't because of Kerry, it was because of Bush*

And I think KKKarl approved Bush* frat-brother Kerry to run only if he promised to keep his promises to KKKarl and break his promises to us. 17,000 lawyers had signed up, but they were NOT deployed. What good is a lawsuit to get at the truth long after the LIES have killed innocent people to enrich Halliburton? Sorry, LittleClarkie, but you don't ask me for money for one thing, spend it for something else, and come back and ask me for more. If I'd wanted to give to the DNC, I'd have given to the DNC. If I'd wanted to donate money to someone who promised to concede early, I wouldn't have donated to Kerry because he had promised NOT TO.

Why haven't Kerry and Boxer done the sort of things that Conyers and Waters have done? Because they're more powerful? Because they have more money? Because it wouldn't be polite? Because they're still taking corporate campaign donations? Because they still think that Bush* can be bipartisan and they want to work WITH him, not against him? I'm not the only one who holds Kerry responsible for the situation we find ourselves in NOW.

I was disgusted when Gore kept counting electoral votes instead of stepping down from the podium, signing the CBC petition, and acting like the man we elected. I was disgusted when Kerry conceded instead of announcing, "There are many votes in still dispute and I will not concede until every last one of them is counted and verified--my attorneys are filing for recounts as we speak."

THAT'S what I donated for. And I got burned. The country got burned. And Iraq REALLY got burned. I kept hoping against hope that because he'd been able to see the unjustness of the Viet Nam war, he'd be able to see the unjustness of the Iraq war. Well, he STILL doesn't seem to see it. If I'm so much smarter than he is, he should be donating money to me.

[second edition]

25. Rove needs to go! Enough of his misinformation,lies and

using 9/11 for political gain. I suppose the repub comeback will be to call Kerry a sore loser and to get over it. It's too bad someone can't speak the truth like Kerry, and not be personally attacked for it by these creeps.

[Fight_n_back]

28. In other words

"I fucking TOLD YOU SO!"

It must be hard for him to not take out big ads in papers saying that.

[Placebo]

33. Right on, Kerry!

[rodeodance]

34. shame to waste all this time, ink and effort on a f** little pig!!

[ecstatic]

37. wtf? can't he keep it short and not sweet?

We need some soundbites to work with. He is WAY too longwinded!

[TayTay]

38. How about....

At the very very least he should apologize, but he ought to be fired.

Works for me.