When the "Global test" remark starts getting spun...

[HFishbine]

Make sure you are familiar with Kerry's complete answer.

---------------

LEHRER: New question. Two minutes, Senator Kerry.

What is your position on the whole concept of preemptive war?

KERRY: The president always has the right, and always has had the right, for preemptive strike. That was a great doctrine throughout the Cold War. And it was always one of the things we argued about with respect to arms control.

No president, though all of American history, has ever ceded, and nor would I, the right to preempt in any way necessary to protect the United States of America.

But if and when you do it, Jim, you have to do it in a way that passes the test, that passes the global test where your countrymen, your people understand fully why you're doing what you're doing and you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons.

Here we have our own secretary of state who has had to apologize to the world for the presentation he made to the United Nations.

KERRY: I mean, we can remember when President Kennedy in the Cuban missile crisis sent his secretary of state to Paris to meet with DeGaulle. And in the middle of the discussion, to tell them about the missiles in Cuba, he said, "Here, let me show you the photos." And DeGaulle waved them off and said, "No, no, no, no. The word of the president of the United States is good enough for me."

How many leaders in the world today would respond to us, as a result of what we've done, in that way? So what is at test here is the credibility of the United States of America and how we lead the world. And Iran and Iraq are now more dangerous -- Iran and North Korea are now more dangerous.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. No spin yet

It's been close to 15 hours, and still, nothing.

Ominous.

--bkl

[HFishbine]

4. It's starting

With a certain bloviating radio talkshow shill.

[flpoljunkie]

2. As I posted earlier, the "global" test is "legitimacy" at home and abroad.

Good to post as stand alone. Thanks.

[BurtWorm]

3. Excellent post, HFishbine!

:toast:

[HFishbine]

7. I thought it was one of Kerry's better answers

Some pundit last night said Bush had a hard time "unpacking" his sound bites. Kerry did so masterfully in this answer. He didn't just stop with his position but demonstrated the dire consequences of NOT being able to pass the global test.

[BurtWorm]

9. You're absolutely right.

It resonated with me. Republicans can't tolerate the idea that their actions require legitimacy in the eyes of anyone but the good ole boys.

[PotatoBoy]

5. You know what I found really funny..

I totally understood what Kerry meant by this "global test," but in Bush's response, he said he didn't understand what Kerry meant by the global test. Gee, big surprise there!

[DebinTx]

6. Already had one this a.m.

and I responded similarly to what Kerry said.

[MrBenchley]

8. "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind"

in other words....