Kopycat Kerry?

[Larkspur]

http://www.ctnow.com/news/politics/hc-caucus0912.artsep12,1,1994996.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics
2nd article in the Caucus


IF HE DOES IT,
I'LL DO IT

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the wealthiest of the Democratic presidential candidates by far, now says if Howard Dean skips matching funds and breaks the spending cap in the primaries, he will too.

Kerry told the Boston Globe: "If Howard Dean decides to go live outside of it, I'm not going to wait an instant. Decision's made. I'll go outside. Absolutely. I'm not going to disarm."

In June, Dean indicated he would abide by the federal campaign finance laws, but since his fund-raising has grown, the campaign has indicated it might forgo the limits and public financing, which as the Globe points out, could trigger a spending frenzy in New Hampshire where Kerry and Dean are running closely in what is a neighboring state for each of them. The spending limit in New Hampshire is $729,000.

Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, is one of the wealthiest women in the country. Kerry has said in the past he wouldn't use her money unless they were personally attacked.

- Boston Globe

What will Kerry do if Dean makes a gentleman's agreement to follow FEC caps during the primary but bypass them in the general election?

[clar]

1. Oh, Please

By posting this, you're doing Dean no favors. He's not pure as the driven snow on this issue either.

Entitling your post as you did is derisive and childish. All our candidates deserve better treatment than what we've been seeing lately on DU.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LuminousX]

3. It's not a flip-flop

It is a strategic assessment. And any candidate had better do the same if he or she was in Dean's position.

[clar]

4. I just want to know

if you find the original message and title of this thread legitimate criticism or flame bait.

[Larkspur]

6. It was a question

Kerry seems to react to Dean, not be pro-active.

[clar]

10. Sorry, it's flame bait

Kopycat Kerry is derisive. You want to pose a question and engender real debate, try framing it in a non-combative way. I'm tired of rude, derisive, dismissive posts and the subsequent defense of such tactics. All I'm saying, is keep it civil.

[LuminousX]

12. I agree

especially seeing that this topic was already being discussed in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=37220

which has a less hostile headline.

[Egnever]

8. Well let me tell ya!

I think its both!

[LuminousX]

11. Flame Bait

While I believe one of Kerry's problems is he has forgotten he is a leader and doesn't need to worry about what Dean does, that if he would speak with his normal elegant manner, present his ideas to the people, and not allow Dean to define anything he would be rocketing pass Dean at this point.

Kerry should have come out and said his campaign spending decisions are based on what it will take to beat Bush.

[BushGone04]

5. Nothing unreasonable about that

You can't reasonably expect Kerry to unilaterally disarm on this. If Dean isn't going to confine himself to the spending limit, you can't blame Kerry for making the same decision.

And, to answer your question, if Dean makes an agreement such as that, I would imagine and hope that Kerry would agree to do the same.

[Egnever]

9. Quite honestly

this particular line "unilaterally disarm " in relationship to finance makes me want to :puke:

This guy has clearly lost his mind and gone full gung ho GI Joe!

[Egnever]

7. Duh...

Far as I can see kerry has spent his life as a me too guy. Nothing wrong with that really in a senator. He has said "me too" to a lot of good things.

This statement is just plain stupid though

If Howard Dean decides to go live outside of it, I'm not going to wait an instant. Decision's made. I'll go outside. Absolutely. I'm not going to disarm."

Kerry is now basing his campaign on what dean does instead of what bush does?

Gotta agree though this post is pure flaimbait :P

Just thought I would add to the fun long as we are in an obvious bashing thread

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Egnever]

14. Yes!

which of those things did he author?

[LuminousX]

15. A Kerry Quote

"Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean..." that pretty much says it all.

Kerry *is* a leader, but for some reason he has gotten sidetracked. He could very easily be the front runner if he is willing to take a few risks. Dean comes off as a guy at a poker table gambling with the rent money in order to pay off his wife's hospital bill - he is fighting for every hand knowing all it takes is one bad one to wipe him out. That sort of scrappiness is endearing, and also makes people want to forgive him for minor faux pas and his surliness. Kerry is the guy at the table who is trying to be the professional, willing to lose a bit in order to win the big pots later. He is also more likely to withdraw from the game to reenter at a more tactically advantageous time.

I would like to see Kerry get a real stake in the game. Damn straight he should put up a sizeable chunk of ketchup money to run. Then he has something serious to lose and will start fighting the real fight, which is against Bush. Everytime he reacts to Dean, it only empowers Dean. Everytime he reacts to Bush, it raises his appeal to the Democratic base.

The worse thing the opposing Democrats can do is ignore Dean.