Democrats Feared Kerry And Took Him Off Iran-Contra

[DrFunkenstein]

Suddenly, Kerry's theories didn't seem so far-fetched. He hoped this would be his moment to help lead the investigation into this extraordinary episode. The Iran-contra scandal was the top story in town, and there was worried talk in the halls of Congress that the United States might suffer another failed presidency.

But when congressional leaders chose the members of the elite Iran-contra committee, Kerry was left off. Those selected were consensus-politicians, not bomb-throwers.

The feeling among a disappointed Kerry and his staff was that the committee members were chosen to put a lid on things. "He was told early on they were not going to put him on it," Winer recalls. "He was too junior and too controversial . . .. They were concerned about the survival of the republic."

Even some Democrats "thought John was a little hotter than they would like," says Rosenblith.

As a consolation prize, the Democratic leadership gave Kerry chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations and a charter to dig into the contra-drug connection.

While disappointed, Kerry stuck with his investigation and the subcommittee published a report in 1989 that concluded the CIA and other US agencies had turned a blind eye to drug trafficking occurring on the fringes of the contra network.

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml

[PurityOfEssence]

1. Hey, the guy's got moxie, and he's got a moral compass

That's not my problem. My problem is electability and priorities.

Great picture, by the way.

He's taken an awful lot of undeserved heat over the course of this campaign, and he's due for some more. Soon, it will be past, and hopefully we're all a lot better for the exchange of fire.

[XanaDUer]

2. Yes, he was insisting on impeachment

just think how much we would all be if that had been a success...sigh.

[oasis]

3. Hopefully this information will penetrate a few thick skulls around here.

Who knows? :shrug:

[scarletwoman]

4. I have an honest question:

It seems to me that he was in position to know quite well what kind of criminals have been re-installed in our government by bush*II. Long before the campaigns I wondered about this.

Why wasn't he out there telling U.S. citizens the TRUTH from the get-go?

I don't wish to be offensive here, I feel the same about nearly ALL the mainstream Dems. It just seems that given Kerry's Iran/Contra hearings involvement, he would KNOW just how sleazey this maladministration was likely to get as they accumulated more power.

sw

[fearnobush]

5. Timing is everything.

In this business, knowing when to hold em' and fold em' is key. These are the kind of people who become very fortunate after our public officials have tragic accidents right before their elections.

[scarletwoman]

6. Thanks for your answer.

I can appreciate that angle, but for me it doesn't quite cover the whole picture.

In any case, I WILL vote Dem in the general election no matter what.

sw

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. I had posted before

His investigations into BCCI implicated Clark Clifford who was a long time friend of Jackie O and was in Jimmy Carter's administration. When this turn of events occurred he became persona non grata with Dems. He got calls from high level Dems including Jackie O.

IRan Contra ended up being pulled from him when the hearings came about and of course BOTH issues were summarily dropped by Clinton. Following this time we also had the Freeway Rickie Ross story and the other info by Gary Mark at the San Jose Mercury News which was mostly a matter of editing but was enough to create holes in the story and allowed for plausible deniability by the CIA thereby allowing the story to be discredited in the media not to really surface again until the internet got it going again.

Some will interpret that as a complete sell - out and one certainly CAN draw that conclusion. One could also draw the conclusion that he was silenced and couldn't make the difference he wished to make if he DID end up marginalized and discredited.

I am actively choosing the latter and there's not much that has appeared in this forum to date that changes it...most of which are conspiracy theories with no verification and O MY GOD a few letters being written on behalf of campaign contributors who also happened to be employers in his state.

[blm]

8. Back then he was called a "phony" and a "conspiracy theory nut"

by the GOP and their press whores. He endured.

I have no doubt he has lived to fight another day.

Kerry is as progressive as they come. I liken a certain amount of his more measured political moments to an undercover agent playing along till he has the enemy dead to rights.

You don't rack up a 95% lifetime liberal rating over 19 years unless you really are a liberal.

[frank frankly]

9. that is the kerry i see now

we may be getting a real leader
a real good leader