Stupid Globe oped

[MBS]

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/06/12/kerrys_oreilly_factor/

I just sent a letter in response, taking EOR to task for claiming that JK endorsed Obama "out of political ambition." :grr: :grr::nuke::nuke:
I wrote that "I don't call this political ambition; I call this political courage and integrity". If they publish it, I'll let you know. (I'm not holding my breath).

[Mass]

1. EOR is an idiot. Nothing new there. I just wished that Kerry's campaign manager did not outpass him

as an idiot.

Did he really need to insist on how much Clinton's supporters are passionate for a columnist who has made a living saying that Kerry was not popular? :grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::nuke:

[wisteria]

2. She is having a good time at Kerry's expense. If she really thought O'Reilly was a viable candidate

she wouldn't give him the time of day. After all, would she or anyone else at the Globe really want O'Reilly representing them? I think not.

[ladym55]

3. Has Venocchi EVER said anything nice about Kerry?

I make it a point not to read her. To me she is snarky.

When JK endorsed Obama, it was very early, and it was very risky. Obama was NOT yet a front runner and the Clintons aren't exactly known for their ability to forgive.

I'm here in Mass. for the next 10 days so I'll be looking for your letter in the Globe!!

[MBS]

4. In my letter, I made the same point about the risk he took

no response from the Globe yet, though. If it doesn't happen in the next few days, I'll post the letter here, so you guys at least can read it.

[MBS]

5. looks like they're going to print it : )

so maybe Wed? Thurs?

[Noisy Democrat]

6. Congrats! You rock! n/t

[karynnj]

7. Congratulations - you are great at this!

[MBS]

8. it's in today's paper

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2008/06/18/endorsement_shows_political_courage/

or at least a version of it.My original version didn't say O'Reilly was wrong; it said he was dead wrong. And they took out my concluding sentence, which reminded readers how much JK had done, and continues to do for the state and the country. And they generally tweaked my wording. So here's the Globe version FWIW:

KERRY CHALLENGED
Endorsement shows political courage

June 18, 2008RE "KERRY'S O'Reilly factor": Ed O'Reilly has it wrong when he claims that Senator John Kerry endorsed Barack Obama for "his own political ambition." Kerry endorsed Obama early, just after the New Hampshire primary. Kerry surely knew that he would pay a political price for that endorsement, at a time when Obama was still the underdog, when no other Senate colleagues except Dick Durbin of Illinois had endorsed Obama, and when both the Massachusetts Democratic political establishment and the state's Democratic voters clearly favored Hillary Clinton.

What's more, Kerry backed up that endorsement with tireless, effective, gutsy campaigning for Obama, in Massachusetts and across the country. I don't call this political ambition; I call it political courage and integrity.

good thing I wrote this, because this is the OTHER letter they published:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2008/06/18/senators_nod_to_obama_is_not_crux/

Senator's nod to Obama is not crux


JOAN VENNOCHI seems to think that those of us who worked to put Ed O'Reilly on the ballot for the Democratic senatorial primary were disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters seeking to punish Senator John Kerry for his endorsement of Barack Obama before the Massachusetts presidential primary in February ("Kerry's O'Reilly factor," Op-ed, June 12). That's news to me. I had initially supported John Edwards for president, and after he withdrew, I ended up voting (albeit somewhat reluctantly) for Obama.


No, I support O'Reilly for the Senate because of his forthright opposition to the Iraq war, and for his strong support for the right of same-sex couples to marry. Kerry, by contrast, has waffled and dissembled on both issues, reminding me of Hillary Clinton in his arrogant inability to admit he was ever wrong about anything. Thus, when I was contacted by Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, I enthusiastically agreed to circulate nominating petitions for O'Reilly. Most of my friends whom I asked were also happy to sign.

Kerry has not had a primary challenge since he was first elected to the Senate 24 years ago. It's about time!

Sigh.Personally, I think this letter deserves an answer. The comparison of HRC to Kerry . .Good God. :wtf::puke::grr:

Why do people refuse to see this man?:grr:

[Mass]

9. Now, this is somebody with a total absence fo logical abilities.

So, he supports O'R because of same-sex marriage and the IWR, but does support Edwards above Obama even though Edwards has worse position than Obama on both issues? May be he need to clean his neurons because it does not work fine. And I like the notion that he waffled.

And Kerry cannot admit he is wrong. Whoa, what an uninformed person.

Now, if this is THIS John Kyper, I suspect that Kerry lack of enthusiasm on gay marriage is what he motivates him. I can understand that, but endorsing Edwards is still an absurdity on this respect.

http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/biok2/kype1.html

Congrats for your letter. Clear and to the point.

[karynnj]

12. You are so right - it was not just HRC voters she angered

I think that PDA flirted with endorsing Edwards - I'm not sure if they did but there was stuff on DU where they praised him.

From DU, I suspect that these are might be 2004 Dean people who became 2008 Edwards people. There was something beyond strange in all the threads calling Kerry's renouncing his vote - a month before Edwards insufficient and the vague "I was wrong" of Edwards, perfect. (Edwards even lied in that op-ed speaking later of WMD, when in an OCT 2003 Hardball he said he never believed there were WMD, but thought that Saddam was a threat that needed removed.)

If this person really cared about waffling - all he had to do was look at Edwards. Was there anything he was consistent on.

[Mass]

13. I may be wrong, but,given the profile, this person issue is probably more gay marriage,

which still does not explain why he supports Edwards.

Kerry is far from being the only MA politician who voted for the IWR. None other has an opposition. However, he is the only DC politician who has come openly in support of civil unions and against gay marriage, to my knowledge, and, since, he has not made a clear statement that he has changed his mind (not that I would want to make one for pure political reasons!!!). It hurts him with some people and is largely exploited with others.

[MBS]

15. Yes, the 2004 Dean people and many of the 2008 Edwards people

feel like the same crowd. In fact, I have several friends who fit that scenario exactly.

Not synonymous categories, but strongly overlapping, I think. At least in MA.

[karynnj]

10. Your letter is great - the other the worst of the Edwards people

How do support Edwards, cheerleader of the war through 2003 and co-sponsor of the resolution and say Kerry waffled. Kerry was FAR more consistent than Edwards. He, like many Edwards people, ignore that Kerry has said the vote was wrong millions of times - more often than JRE - not to mention JRE was FOR THE WAR, Kerry never was and "the war is immoral is stronger than "I was wrong" casually thrown out in an op-ed. Not to mention, that Edwards - even in 2006 -was not brave enough to publicly back Kerry/Feingold, which led to the current Democratic position.

[MBS]

11. FWIW, here was my original(unpublished)

It would have been nice at least to have my very last sentence included.
Because we ARE lucky to have him in Washington.

Ed O’Reilly has it dead wrong when he claims that John Kerry endorsed Obama for “his own political ambition.” John Kerry endorsed Obama early, just after the New Hampshire primary. Kerry surely knew that he would pay a political price for that early endorsement, at a time when Obama was still the underdog, when no other Senate colleagues except Illinois Senator Dick Durbin had endorsed Obama, and when both the Massachusetts Democratic political establishment and Massachusetts Democratic voters clearly favored Hillary Clinton. Not only did Kerry make his endorsement despite the clear political risk to himself; he has backed up that endorsement with tireless, effective, gutsy campaigning for Obama, in Massachusetts and across the country. I don’t call this “political ambition”; I call this political courage and integrity.
John Kerry is one of the most progressive, hard-working, clear-thinking, compassionate, and knowledgeable members of the Senate, someone who continues to walk the walk for the environment, for veterans, for small business, for our democracy, and for us. We are lucky to have Sen. Kerry representing us in Washington; I will proudly vote for him in both the primary and general election.

[beachmom]

14. Great letter, MBS, although I understand why they edited.

They just truncated it to the one topic -- Kerry's endorsement of Obama. And I think you made a compelling case, for which even many Kerry critics may read your letter and acknowledge that you have a point.

I am sure you can in the future do a letter in response to the crap out there in Mass. that Kerry is somehow not doing enough in the Senate or for Mass.