Why The MoveOn Vote Recalls Kerry's "Botched" Joke

[DrFunkenstein]

Before the 2006 elections, the GOP was struggling with an unpopular war, an economic boost that few outside of the boardrooms could notice, and a stretch of corruption charges as far as the eye could earmark.

All of Bush's political capital was spent on pushing through Social Security reform and the Harriet Myers bid. And it wasn't like the gay marriage amendment was going anywhere anytime soon.

The GOP was dead in the water and looking at another 12-15 years in the wilderness.

So what was their response? Attack Sen. Kerry's comedic timing.

It was sad. It was pathetic. And, yes, Hillary did embrace it with all the love she can muster for someone standing in her way.

So we flash forward to the present.

The Attorney General has dragged out an unwinnable battle, Scooter Libby won't go away, Republican Senators can't stay clear of brothels and airport mens' rooms, the conservative base is visibly appalled by their Presidential nominees, and Iraq is still waiting to turn that corner into its last death throes.

So what is their response?

Attack yet another painfully bad joke.

Yes, the "betray us" number was about as clever as shooting yourself in the groin. But although I find it well deserves reproach, the lady that is the Grand Ole Party doth protest a bit much.

But besides the very real comedy of watching Republicans feign indignation, it heartens me - and should you - that it reveals the sorry shape that the GOP is in right now.

We are talking about getting our troops out of a hornet's nest, they are talking about a lame joke. Unless some major and competely unforeseeable event comes down the road, the Republicans may be in the political wilderness even longer than they initially thought.

And they know it.

[Chipper Chat]

1. GOP stalwart Pat Peale: What, me worry?

"More joke fodder please dems. I'll turn it into gold."

[jimshoes]

2. We shouldn't make fun of

kael rove's mom like that. ...........just kidding, what a swine, no offence to all the good and decent swine out there.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. i swear to god

nothing gets me more upset than photos of that fat fucking c*nt with her shit eating grin and purple fucking bandaid making fun of a war hero.

fucking troll.

[Chipper Chat]

8. Here's another GOPPER '04

Ready to stick it to the Young Republicans.

I don't think their '08 convention will be such a joyous time.

[jmp]

3. Did the GOP schedule the vote?

Or was that the Democratic leadership?

[karynnj]

4. Nice analogy - but I am more concerned

It also lays the groundwork for perpetuating the old lie that the Democrats care less about the military. The NYT, in an article that Judith Miller could have written, frames the Democrats vote against the Cornyn amendment to be motivated by not wanting to explicitly criticize MoveOn.org - rather than also condemning the attacks, such as those on Kerry and Cleland. (The article does not mention them or SBVT)

This syncs with Bush's comments, that Democrats are afraid to condemn MoveOn.org.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/us/politics/21moveon.html?_r=1&ref=washington&oref=slogin

[flpoljunkie]

5. With the MoveOn ad, they got NOTHING!

[Apollo11]

6. Kerry told an unfunny joke on an unfunny topic very badly in public

Kerry thought that it was possible to get a laugh out of the horrific situation in Iraq. Bad idea.

Kerry thought it was a smart thing to do to try and tell a joke about the situation in Iraq. Bad move.

He thought it would be a good idea to tell his joke in public in front of the TV cameras. Bad move.

He then messed up his own joke so it was not clear to anyone who or what the target was. Bad mistake.

How can anyone expect for even one second that the media would not pick up on what Kerry said???? :eyes:

Don't blame the media for doing what the media have always done.

That's like blaming a dog for chasing a ball.

[blm]

9. Keep up the distortion of Kerry.

Nixon, Reagan, Bush1, Bush2, Dubai and all who benefit from closed government all thank you.

They KNOW that many on the left will never be stalwart enough to back up any lawmaker under incessant attack by the newsmedia that distorts them.

[karynnj]

10. Kerry's "joke" was not a joke in that sense

it was simply a different way to say what he said in 2004 about Bush not planning for the war. The comment went pretty much unnoticed by several CA DUers who were there. The crowd did not react to it as an attempt to get a laugh out of Iraq. This was Kerry, a very serious person far more at ease speaking from his heart trying to be what our idiotic society wants - a snarkier version of himself. Though applauded here on other comments, it was a mistake. The sad thing about that comment was that it is one of the few cases of Kerry not appearing as the calm, intelligent, thoughtful, diplomatic leader with the integrity, compassion and honesty to lead this country. The Republicans had slimed Kerry continuously for 4 years, but they had nothing to use to counter the few that he was a serious man who routinely takes the high road.

It was clearly would have been better to simply speak of it in the sincere, high ground way he did throughout 2004. However, he got the intended text, that was distributed ahead of time, out within hours. The problem was that the echo chamber chose to distort EVEN THE MISSTATEMENT.

Every candidate running has made at least one or more gaffes that if echoed would be the same. The other fact is that the internal polling showed that the emphasis on the joke did not help Bush - it may have hurt him. The people for the Democrats improved beyond what people expected a week and a half before. (there were too many things happening to claim it helped the Democrats by the repeated refrain "stuck in Iraq".)