Kerry's "I made a mistake" line did more than end the flip-flop issue

[maine_raptor]

It also contrasted very nicely with Bush's refusal to admit mistakes at all. It (admitting a mistake in talking about the 87 billion vote) was a minor point that caused no real harm, but, as Kerry pointed out in that same sentence, brought into sharp focus Bush's stubborn-headiness.

Bush may talk about steady and strong determination, but folks living in the real world know it takes a real man (or woman) to admit an error. And in doing so that person will rise in stature.

Kerry did very well with that comment.

[Parche]

1. Kerry

He did a fantastic job
I wish though, he would have explained his vote on the $87 billion
that in fact he was going to vote for it, until they changed
the bill and could no longer guarantee that it was going to be a loan to Iraq, instead of a giveaway.
The uneducated part of the American people need to hear that
so it sinks in, that Bush is lying when he says Kerry flip flops

[RafterMan]

12. I agree he could have explained it better

but I'm glad he didn't bring up that "loan" BS.

Charging Iraq for the invasion would have been even more digraceful than the invasion itself.

[Borgnine]

2. Agreed.

If Bush and his people bring up flip-flopping any more, it will just make them seem even more sad and pathetic. The issue has been BURIED.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. Buried? It is their theme and will be hammered even more

Come on, reality check and pronto. Bush defaulted to that mixed messages line virtually every response even when inappropriate. He must have thought flip-flop sounded less presidential than mixed messages.

The Republicans are vicious masters at using a clip and misrepresnting it in combinations with others. I'm worried Kerry handed them a perfect opportunity last night. That "I made a mistake talking about Iraq, the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?" reply may have worked in Kerry's favor last night. But immediately I imagined Rove slicing out merely the "made a mistake in invading Iraq" segment, and then playing it relentlessly alongside Kerry comments that appear to support the invasion.

The flip-flopping charge is all they have and Kerry will face it every day. He still needs to explain the $87 billion vote much more effectively. It's also likely Rove will put out a commercial with Kerry's weak ABC interview response dismissing the "voted for it, voted against it" comment as a latenight error while tired, when really it happened at a midday rally.

[PatsFan2004]

14. * is already using this in new speeches today

Yes, the Repugs are vicious masters of the sound bite. * is already twisting the "talk" mistake into something else on the campaign trail.

[LuminousX]

3. Real boats rock.

Show me a steady ship and I will show you someone who is covering up mistakes.

Bush's refusal to admit error is lemming logic.

[Paulie]

9. Yep

I loved that quote in Heretics of Dune.... Dar and Tar! :D

[indie_voter]

4. Loved the you can be "certain and wrong" comment. nt

[Demit]

7. that was a strong statement. It should resonate with people. I hope Kerry

hits that again and again. We've ALL known somebody who was JUST SO SURE something was right...until...they were shown to be wrong.

[strizi64]

5. To admit a failure

makes a big man, one with guts. Not to admit even when the failures are clear like Bush did, makes a whimp out of a man within seconds. And the whimp is getting more silly with every day until he finaly will have to admit. JK has my full respect, THAT's a real leader!

[coalition_unwilling]

6. I was out demonstrating last night, so only heard snippets

But, from what I heard, this particular exchange was absolutely brilliant on Kerry's part -- admit the mistake (how Kerry 'talked' about the war) and then contrast it with Bush's far larger mistake (invading\occupying Iraq incompetently).

I thought Kerry overall (from what I did hear) sounded quite 'commanding', whereas Bush sounded his usual petulant and whining self.

[Kimber Scott]

8. I thought it was perfect. Now I'm waiting for Bush and Cheney to go

out on the trail and say - in their whiniest voice - "Ooohh... my opponent says, 'I made a mistake.' He admits he's a mistake-maker and he thinks he can run this country? You can't run this country and be a mistake-maker. You have to be steady and strong. You have to have resolve. You have to stay the course. That's what makes the world better. People know where I stand and that makes the world better! I'm not a mistake-maker!"

[VOX]

11. When I first heard him say this, my reaction was, "Don't give them...

anything." But as it settled in, I realized that it was the perfect thing to say.

Kerry was simply outstanding last night.

[Roachman]

13. I disagree

I understand what people are saying and I agree that he needed to make this point somewhere, but not where he did.

Remember, the average voter is hearing this line over and over again, and it COULD NOT have been a mistake. Kerry's quote was taken out of context, not a mistake. I wish he would have said that it was deliberately and maliciously taken out of context (even if he hadn't said it that strongly) and put it back into context.

I agree he needed to show that flip-flopping is sometimes the right thing to do given the facts of the world, but I wish he had picked another place to make a stand.

[Jack_Dawson]

15. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[newyawker99]

17. Hi Roachman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Sparkly]

16. And Chimp admitted his openness to "flip-flopping"

Well, I think—listen, I fully agree that one should shift tactics, and we will, in Iraq.