Wish to hell Kerry had addressed the "Massachusetts Liberal" crack

[PlanetBev]

He could have pointed out that cheap cracks like this is what divides this country. That the president is president of all 50 states, not 49. He could have reminded Bush that Massachusetts was one of the fist states and without Massachusetts patriots fighing the Revolutionary War, we might still be a monarchy. And, that the Boston Tea Party took place in Boston, not in Crawford, Texas.

And one more thing, Mr. President. If you look up the word liberal in the dictionary, it's defined as tolerant. If you are against liberalism, you must be intolerant.

Although I think this "liberal" smear has finally run out of gas, I am still waiting after all these years for someone to step up to the plate and take it on.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Why?

Kerry's plan was to out-class the fool in the ill-fitting suit. I think he did that very well each time.

Bush smirked, he made snide remarks and wisecracks, and pulled out the snarky retorts. Kerry, at the most, smiled indulgently.

Kerry looked like a President. Bush looked like rush-week freshman who got his frat spanking on the wrong end.

--bkl

[fishwax]

2. Those cracks were almost as lame and desparate as *'s "jokes"

Particularly when bush tried to repeat that kerry's out of the mainstream, despite the fact that every national poll has him running around 45% or higher.

I thought Kerry handled them well.

[RoyGBiv]

3. I understand your sentiment ...

But, it's a loser position to take.

Remember Michael Dukakis. He tried to tackle the "Massachusetts Liberal" label head-on, and no matter how articulate, and correct, he was, his words died on the vine while his polls numbers crashed.

Kerry has stayed away from it, not even really acknowledging it. It's better political strategy, no matter how annoying it might be.

[Dees]

4. If liberal means

Believing in Social Security, Medicare, genuine war on poverty, public education, environmental controls, energy conservation and research, support for working men and women, support collective bargaining, real support for small business, college option for all,
fair taxation, regulation of corporations, health care access for all, energy independence, honoring the Constitution, freedom of religion and speech, zero tolerance for racism and discrimination, using war as an absolute last resort, being truthful to the American public, closing the wealth gap and job creation....by all means call me liberal. Hear me John?

Oh yes...being fiscally reponsible

[secular_warrior]

11. Exactly. Modern Liberalism is a very mainstream, center-left ideology

that bares little resemblence to the utopian liberalism of McGovern or even Dukakis.

Modern liberalism (I'm not talking about the DLC, which is center-right) is very responsible and concerned with results as much as it with "the dream".

Today, most Democrats consider themselves moderate liberals. By calling ourselves "moderates" it sounds weak, as though we're embarrased of ourselves or of other members in our party.

We need to take back the word so that it applies to the moderate liberals and lefties alike. Using one label is what conservatives did, even though they range from moderate to far right. Using one label helps build party unity and strength. We will never escape the label, nor should we want to.

[pmbryant]

5. It's an extremely weak attack that is best ignored

Extremely few people will be swayed by the "Massachusetts liberal" remark, especially in a face-to-face debate like this, where they can see and hear the real person in front of them.

Kerry was right to ignore that and make his points on his own, without being defensive.

Peter

[intheflow]

6. Bush is a "New England-ist"

who deinies his own family history.

Dubya's whole family comes from that region, who is he kidding? Grampa Prescott Bush was a Connecticut Senator, Dubya spent his youthful summers on the shores of Maine, attended Harvard in Boston and went to Yale in Connecticut with Daddy's and Grandaddy's help.

At least Kerry got into Yale and the Federal government by his own efforts and without denying his family history.

[MsUnderstood]

7. I came into the topic to disagree

But you make some good points.

Reminds me of COWARD OF THE COUNTY where the song says "please dont think I'm weak I didn't turn the other cheek--sometimes you gotta fight when you're a Dem. . ."

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. Yes, would have been good had he stood up for the honor of that

great state with righteous indignation. JK did great but this was an opportunity missed.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Schieffer Did By Asking About The "Divider" Question

The liberal thing fell on its face and made Bush look petty.

[secular_warrior]

10. I was very disappointed he didn't either

We need to take back the word and stand up for what we are.