It's time for Democrats to stop blaming Kerry

[losdiablosgato]

It's time for Democrats to stop blaming Kerry



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WASHINGTON — Democrats have to end their addiction to the Kerry alibi.

They may be publicly castigating their national chairman, Howard Dean. But wherever two or more Democrats are gathered privately, their instinct is to blame John Kerry first. I am fed up (to borrow Bill Safire's coinage) with the nattering nabobs of negativism who make themselves feel good by trashing Kerry.

This habit is dangerous because dissing Kerry is an easy way for Democrats to evade discussion of what the party needs to do to right itself. By focusing on the past, the Kerry alibi allows Democrats to avoid engaging the future. In 2008, the Democrats could nominate a candidate who combines Harry Truman's toughness, JFK's charm and FDR's gifts of leadership — and still face many of the problems Kerry confronted. Blaming everything on Kerry as the supposedly elitist, stiff and indecisive Massachusetts liberal is the Democrats' version of cheap grace.

Please understand: I didn't think Kerry was the ideal Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and don't think he'd be ideal for 2008. I still cringe when the part of my brain prone to nightmares brings back his talk about voting for the $87 billion to finance the Iraq War before he voted against it. Kerry didn't find a clear voice on Iraq until too late and didn't respond quickly enough to the scurrilous attacks of the partisan Swift Boat veterans.

(SKIP)



Ah, but Kerry was this annoying New Englander who couldn't figure out how to talk to regular folks. Kerry didn't invent the Democrats' problems on abortion, their weakness in the South, their troubles with very religious voters. Democratic candidates of the future will have to grapple with the very same challenges. True, Bill Clinton did better on such things. But — with the exception of a certain unfortunate scandal and a certain unfortunate pardon — Clinton did better than most politicians at almost everything.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002324024_dionne10.html

[leesa]

1. I don't blame him, I just don't trust his word.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. It's time for the media

to stop painting Democrats with a broad brush and do their damned job!!!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. It's time for DUers to stop coming up with half baked conspiracy theories

regarding Kerry "throwing" the election.

[second edition]

4. It is time to stop blaming Kerry.

However, as a firm supporter in 2004 and possibly in 2008 I disagree with the assessment that Kerry's 87 million gaff and the Iraq war statements were that significant. He certainly didn't have that slick salesman like quality that some people seem to find so appealing and think is necessary in order to be president. We have had two Presidents with that type of personality and both have had or are having major problems because of the way they side step the issues. I don't recall anyone every writing a bio of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson and mentioning that their slick salesman like qualities are what made them great men. We could of had a great president in Kerry. One who was absolutely dedicated, honest, hardworking, intelligent, knowledgeable and caring. It's a shame people expected him to be able to throw out one liners and schmooze people with lies and distortions. I hope he decides to give a presidential run a shot again. I liked Kerry, he offered more than a comedic empty shell.

[JNelson6563]

5. I saw this pantload in my local paper

Frnakly, as one who is in waist deep in the political happenings in my Congressioanl District, I have never heard one person, in 14 counties, blame Kerry for our situation as it is today.

Like I said, pantload. Step out of the beltway dumbass.

Julie

[katsy]

6. IMO...

I have a great deal of respect and regard for Kerry.

The politics of the past, in the JFK, Truman and FDR eras, no longer apply.

This is the era of mud-slinging (swift boat liars), corporate media, corporate fundies and corporate $$$$.

Campaign strategy aside... I would have been proud to call him Mr. President and believe he would have been a good, if not great President.

If anything can be criticized, it may well be Dem aversion to a populist message. Clinton didn't have this aversion to delivering a populist message and weathered mud-slinging quite well.