So, why isn't anyone jumping on Jon Tester?

[wyldwolf]

"Sen. Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid," said Montana Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat trying to unseat GOP Sen. Conrad Burns. "He owes our troops and their families an apology."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/nation/4302629.html

[wakeme2008]

1. Been there done that

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=1286&mesg_id=1295

[Clark2008]

2. Honestly?

Because he's not Southern and because he's not black.

DUers sometimes have a hard time understanding Southerners - and a VERY hard time understanding that all Southerners aren't A.) Stupid or B.) As liberal as they are - but still are Democrats.

[wyldwolf]

4. ...or because he's a darling of the netroots?

I recall the sheer ecstacy 'round here when he got the nom and he wasn't DLC.

[Clark2008]

8. I don't know about that.

I think it's a general misconception of the red and purple states that a lot of blue staters have.

When one considers that Ford was Kerry's campaign chairman in Tennessee, one SHOULD figure that Kerry and Ford KNEW what they were doing when Ford answered this question: creating a division from which the Corker campaign couldn't nitpick.

Pretty simple to me.

What Ford said was really milquetoasty - Cardin and Tester said much worse.

[Joe Chi Minh]

Tester must be some piece of work. A crypto neocon.

As thick as two short planks.

[BootinUp]

3. I thought this was over.

Kerry apologized. You just enjoy a good knock out drag down fight? :)

[wyldwolf]

6. Well, there are so many Ford/Hillary hate threads...

... but we actually have a quote on Tester. So what gives?

[MADem]

5. What, the five people in Montana? Only kidding.....!!!!

What good would it do? Why do you want us to CONTINUE an idiotic exercise in gnawing on our own?

If it's not good to jump on Ford, it ain't good to jump on Tester.

All politics is LOCAL. Leave it. The tempest is passing. Only operatives will want to fan the flames after today.

[WestHoustonDem]

7. I sure hope Tester gets removed from Kerry's site:

http://www.johnkerry.com/action/youdecide/

[DURHAM D]

9. I called his office - told them I was very disappointed.

Gave them my name so they could check and see that I had been sending him donations since early in the primary. I am really, really disappointed - I was a big fan. No more. His request for Kerry to apologize to the troops was at best poor staffing and sadly may indicate something about Jon's character.

[sandnsea]

10. Tester's got no national press

Harold Ford does. Tester hasn't come out against gay marriage, against abortion, and just about every other issue most Democrats support.

People can try to pretend it's race - but it's his politics. Just another in a long line of disappointments, plain and simple. Good for the "D" if he wins - but he's not going to be good for the Democratic Party or the country.

[wyldwolf]

11. uh... so? Isn't the point John Kerry?

Tester hasn't come out against gay marriage, against abortion, and just about every other issue most Democrats support.

That is a very dubious claim regarding gay marriage

[sandnsea]

12. No, it's the whole package

Ford gets a cover - 'not your daddy's democratic party' - then he comes out with statements on all sorts of things that don't affect him at all, like NJ gay marriage - then he leads the pack in taking a swipe at John Kerry. That's all about Harold Ford - that's what you asked about, right?

[wyldwolf]

13. are you saying it is OK for Tester to do this or it just aint't as bad?

and honestly - Ford didn't name the piece Newsweek did on him, nor did he arrange to have it done.

[sandnsea]

14. Oh god no

I'm saying there isn't as much outrage because with Tester, it isn't one more in a long line of outrages. I'm pissed at any Democratic candidate who has done this and just blasted a state candidate in an email list. I don't set up different standards for different people.

[wyldwolf]

15. well, then, the way I'm seeing it is...

..because Ford outrages you and Tester doesn't, somehow Tester isn't tainted with the "Dis John Kerry" label.

[sandnsea]

16. No, it's the Hillary Lap Dog Label

That clear it up for you?

[wyldwolf]

18. actually, no it doesn't

Should not both men be equally condemned?

Seems some on DU are either ignoring Tester's remark out of convenience, or believe since he isn't a "heretic" like Ford, he should be cut some slack.

[sandnsea]

20. Tester isn't a Hillary Lap Dog. Period. n/t

[wyldwolf]

22. yes, you've made your feelings on that known.

So you position is Tester should be cut some slack because "he isn't a Hillary lapdog?"

[sandnsea]

24. That's why he is cut some slack

He hasn't made a habit of going out of his way to assault traditional Democratic values. He hasn't made a habit of sucking up to the Clintons and I suspect he won't because they don't represent any of the change he's seeking. That's why he isn't being beaten about like Ford has. It's really not complicated.

[wyldwolf]

25. ok.

:)

[madfloridian]

17. Some are.

Some of us called his office. Some of us called Claire McAskill's office as well.

But if they want DSCC or DCCC money they have to do what they are told.

[wyldwolf]

19. so you're implication is the DSCC or DCCC blackmailed them?

[wisteria]

21. I e-mailed him with my thought about him being a coward. n/t

[Ediacara]

23. Because it didn't make the news

I think it's rather telling that you had to find his comments in the Houston Chronicle... I just looked at all the dailies in Montana: not there. His statements aren't even on his website. It hasn't made the evening news as far as I can tell.

So.... I think you have your answer.

[CrispyQ]

26. Well, I'm disappointed in that statement of his,

however, I cut him some slack for this statement of his:

"I don't want to weaken the patriot act; I want to get rid of it!"