What brought you to support Kerry in this election?

[New Earth]

I'll explain how I ended up supporting Kerry. I'm going into depth here, because you will see it's a bit amazing how, considering my thoughts at one point, I came to be emotionally attached, let alone supportive, of John Kerry.

I don't necessarily consider myself a Democrat - I don't think I can classify myself under one party, but I am definately what you can call a Radically Progressive Liberal. I've always admired Ralph Nader's platform on things, especially in 2000 when he was with the Green Party. I had been turned on to him by Bill Maher, who would have him on the show as a guest on numerous occasions. However, in 2000, I knew within seconds of watching and listening to Bush, that there was no way in hell I wanted him to be our President. I thought he was an absolute idiot, and i KNEW if he got into office, we would be at war. So, I began to build my support for Gore, in hopes he'd be elected and NOT Bush. I didn't find anything about Gore that I didn't necessarily like; but there wasn't anything about him that sucked me in on a personal level other than that he was closer to standing for what I believe in politically and socially. (Note, 2000 was the first time I could and did vote in a Presidential Election). I followed the election 'fiasco' of 2000 religiously, 24/7, from beginning to end, in support of Gore. Well, we all know how that ended.

Anyway - back in September, I made a comment on another board (when I knew literally NOTHING about Kerry, I was being unfair):
"i originally was going to vote for Kerry. I just want Bush OUT. But i did this same shit with the last election - i really wanted to vote for Nader but i voted for Gore, b/c again, i disliked Bush.

this year, i think i might vote for Nader. now, the question is, should i vote for someone who i really stand behind on their beliefs, views, agenda, etc? or should i vote for someone i really don't give a shit about (Kerry) just to try and get Bush out of office?"

Now that I look back on it, I can't believe I was so unfair and foolish to say I didn't care about Kerry when I knew nothing about him to begin with. I had never heard him speak, vaguely even knew who he was or what he looked like.

So, I began to talk to others about him, those who supported him, those who didn't, I read up on some of his career history, learned about his role in the Vietnam war, was impressed that his idol was John F. Kennedy, who I had always been attracted to politically (ironic they share the same initials ;) )- and what topped it all for me: the first Presidential Debate, the first time I heard him speak. That was it , I was sold and that was the beginning of the emotion I felt developing toward him. From the second he began to speak, I was glued to the television, watching his movements, listening to the solidity, clarity, and dignity being projected from him - I was beyond impressed, I was amazed, and I thought - this is a Presidential Debate? This man IS a President!!!

As the days went on, and I watched the following debates, my feelings grew even stronger - I now fully, without doubt or regret, supported John Kerry. I defended him relentlessly on discussion boards, sometimes to the point of anger in his defense - something I had never imagined myself to do considering two months before this, I apparently "didn't give a shit about him".

I was determined and convinced that this man should be elected President in 2004. I sobbed uncontrollably while he gave his concession speech - I had never felt such a pain in my gut and emotional trauma as I did at that moment. I cried all day, and woke up the next day feeling like I was living in a nightmare. I have NEVER felt this strongly emotionally for any political leader - at times I don't understand it myself. I still have faith in him, I like to thrive on hope even when it is the last ounce left to feed on.

At this moment, I do still feel there is a chance he will be inaugurated on January 20th, 2005. But IF he is not, I don't see my support for him dwindling for any reason any time soon.

In the words of our now beloved Doohickie:

I BELIEVE!!!!!

[JohnKleeb]

1. you mean I am not the only radical progressive liberal who admires Kerry?

then again I am not surprised, I think Kerry should have been Gore's running mate. What brought me to support John Kerry was the fact that I learned so much about him and frankly loved it.

[GRLMGC]

2. Well

I had been really politically motivated after the 2000 fiasco but as I started college, I had stopped paying attention to the political scene. I hated Bush but I didn't think he could be beat. I had an initial fascination w/ Dean but I wasn't rabid. When Kerry got the nom, I was pissed off because I didn't want anyone who voted for that damned IWR. Basically, I really disliked the guy. As time went on and I saw that it WAS possible to beat Bush, I started paying more attention to Kerry, and I liked what I saw. So basically, I have this strange emotional attachment to a man I don't know but I put all my faith in and the feelings haven't subsided. So when I see someone bashing him harshly and unfairly, I really get mad. I'm very happy for this group.

[merh]

3. I realized how much I wanted John Kerry to be President when

I heard him discussing the selection of judges during the primaries. It was after his speech, when he was shaking hands and chatting with those who came to hear him speak at some school auditorium.

When asked about the judicial appointments, he simply stated that he would appoint judges that believe in and follow the constitution. The way he said it, the look on his face, sold me and I have been his fan ever since.

Thanks Faye for beginning this group! :hi:

John Kerry :yourock:

[sandnsea]

4. Long time Kerry fan

I've been waiting for him to run for President almost as long as I can remember. When Kerrey was running my mom got the two confused and I remember telling her, if it was Kerry from Massachusetts, I could really get behind that! I was so hoping he would be Gore's VP choice too.

Even still, when the primaries came around I wanted to give everybody a fair chance. I listened to everybody speak, I read what their policies, everything. I won't go into all the details, anybody who knew me around here then already knows them anyway. In the end, it was Kerry's IWR speech. Somebody who wanted to proceed cautiously, but proceed just the same. No kneejerk response, a plan, serious thought about the situation. After that, I just kept finding little things here and there that he had done in his career and was more and more impressed. And then came Teresa. Then Chris and Vanessa. And then the rest of the family. And I just decided these were the greatest people for the country and the world that we could hope to ever get and it was the exact time that we needed them too.

I still feel like there's something wrong in the cosmic order that they will not be in the White House. I feel like the sky should be orange and the leaves should be purple. Everything, absolutely everything, points to them winning. I just don't understand how, if there is a God, Bush can be President. It makes no sense to me at all.

[Hans Delbrook]

44. Hey me too!

I felt all along that it was meant to be. I too have been a fan of Kerry for years - since the early 90's.

The shock of his "losing" (if he really did lose)has me almost paralyzed. I just can't believe it. He was clearly "meant" to be President. And that dim-witted phony will get 4 more years to ruin our country. I just don't get it.

[Lizzie Borden]

51. I heard him speak on TV

and he was so passionate and eloquent. He was speaking about the war. I turned to my mom and said, "That guy is gonna run for President one day, and when he does, I'm voting for him." I've been waiting a long long time. I do believe he can bring the country together.

[Tom Kitten]

5. Well it all started in 2000...

...with an intense dislike of Bush...back in 2000 when MWO had a message board I posted once that Bush was already going to be the worst president in US history...and that was my reaction to his shenanigans before he was even inaugurated!

But that's about disliking Bush , not liking Kerry...so here goes!

I saw him in person when he made a stop here during primary season...and that is what sold me. Live, he is even more impressive an individual...he is quite eloquent and obviously extremely intelligent...With his experience in the Senate he knows what goes on and how to persuade others...He was criticized and ridiculed by the knuckle draggers for being "nuanced"...But by being "nuanced" you are able to hear other's concerns and points of view and are thus able to work something out. It's called "diplomacy" and "negotiation"...I just think he is what this country needs now...

[JI7]

6. i wanted Gore to pick him for VP

i first started learning about him around the 2000 elections when Gore was about to make his running mate pick. and of course names leaked out and Kerry's name was the one most in the news and predicted. Kerry had been actively "campaigning" for vp as Edwards did this year, but Kerry ended up not being picked. i was disappointed but i was more than happy to back Gore/Lieberman. but this was around the time i really got to see Kerry and he did so well on tv defending Gore and speaking up for us that i wanted Gore to pick him.

after the 2000 elections i didn't think much of 2004 until 2002 i think. that's when names started coming up. Kerry had always left a positive impression on me but i really wanted to look at others. Edwards was the other one i was most impressed with and most likely would have backed if i hadn't supported Kerry. i watched cspan and other things and paid attention to those considering running and those most likely to run and it was Kerry who i always came back to.

i started learning more about Kerry and i just loved him more everytime. i learned a lot about him from others on DU, and just from watching Kerry himself. while most americans have seen Kerry in the formal podium speeches in public, i saw the cspan appearances where he went into the crowd and would just have conversations with americans. one on one. i saw from the early days in iowa when his crowds were small to the end when they were crowded. if one only saw him give formal speeches they probably could never see how warm and personal he is when he talks to people directly.

[vinessa4freedom]

7. he is a people's president

He does inspire people to emotional attachment. He truly cares about people, the country and serving. I used to be a "no-party" voter. I refused to discuss politics (now I can't seem to shut up). That all changed when I realized my freedom was something I could never take for granted. John Kerry has never forgotten that, and never will.

[Siyahamba]

8. I admit, I would have supported whoever the Democrats chose

But the more I got to know about John Kerry, the more impressed I was. His views on policy are nearly identical to mine. Not only that, I was impressed by how selfless he is. Even though he came from a fairly privledged background, he devoted himself to serving the public, even though he probably could have had a fairly easy life working in the private sector.

[Career Prole]

9. I've been a John Kerry supporter for many moons. Here's why...

In my family I was the oldest of four boys, all born a year apart (yup...Catholics! :eyes: ).
I went into the Navy straight out of high school about the time JK got out of the Navy. We didn't have money for college and I felt better about enlisting in the Navy than getting drafted into the Army.
Thanks to JK, the VVAW, and all those other protesters I made one cruise before the Vietnam war shut down.
Remember all those swift boat liars who bellyached about JK "slandering" them? Sure, I honor their service but they're a damned selfish bunch of jerks.
Thanks to the work of John Kerry and others brave enough to speak out (some of you may even be reading this right now!) I was spared the full tour...and for all I know my life was spared...as well as those of hundreds of others of young men born the same year as me...and my brothers, instead of graduating and shipping out one after the other got to think of much happier futures upon graduation.
Multiply that exact experience across the entire country for my age group and JK spared thousands, maybe tens of thousands.
That's why I have no problem saying that those groups who attacked John Kerry for an imagined "besmirching" of their honor are selfish asses.
Me...all my brothers, all my friends, and every other kid across this country who was our age and without wealth or family influence were saved from a freaking war because of John Kerry, and I for one have never forgotten that debt.
Lieutenant Kerry...I've got your back now.

Rick

[NamVetsWeeLass]

12. Thank you for your service, Rick

Your Post actually brought tears to my eyes. I have had people tell me that Kerry is nothing more than a "Swift Boat (excuse this) Pussy"
and that my Dad fought with the Air Cav. (Yes, he did, 1rst of the 7th) That my dad would be "rolling over in his grave for my support of a Traitor." Well the key words there are "In His Grave." Dad Died without any help from the VA. He knew he had a problem. No one "had" PTSD in 79, so my dad ended the pain. Without people like John Kerry protesting, fighting for vets rights, The realization of what happened in Vietnam may have never came to light. He fought, he has every right ot protest the war. As for the Swift Boat assholes... they were Paid for by Bushco.

Thank you Again, Rick. And, you might have Lieutenant Kerry's back, Like I do, But I have you both Covered!

:yourock:

[Career Prole]

14. Good Lord, your poor Dad...

I'm so sorry for you both. :hug:
For God's sake, if they'd have only listened to him...to ALL of them. First PTSD was just imaginary, then agent orange, then gulf war syndrome, now they're trying to tell people that the suicide rate among soldiers in bush war II is no higher than "normal", and depleted uranium exposure is just another malingerer's holiday waiting 'round the bend.
Your Dad isn't rolling over in his grave, hon. Not at all. He's proud of you, and I'm sure of it.
We look out for our own in the service because as you've noticed the government seems to chafe at that responsibility once the smoke clears. Your Dad would have recognized that JK was "taking care of his own" or I've a feeling his wee lass would have convinced him of it. :)

[NamVetsWeeLass]

15. Yep, I think I would have given him the facts if

he would have been around for this election. I don't think he would have been against John Kerry, Especially with my mouth running about it. He Died when I was little more than a baby, 8, But he hung on everything I said... He told me that "With those Big Brown eyes, you can weasel your way into anything, good thing I have a shotgun for when you get older." Yep, I am a Daddy's girl. Proud of his service, Proud to have a Dad that was Air Cav, Proud to have a Dad that served. He's the reason I am a Nurse, I couldn't help him, but I can help others like him!


Doug, You DEFINATELY ROCKED!!!! Forever Daddy's girl!

[Career Prole]

19. You bet he rocked!!

And I can empathize easily here 'cuz I've got a grown daughter, and I've got another one who's only in the fifth grade.
They own me. :D

[vinessa4freedom]

16. has it been so long that people have forgotten

the sacrifices made for our freedom? Our real freedom, I mean, not the BushCo version.

Rick, thank you for serving. I'm the daughter of of vet, but a WWII vet. My brother enlisted for Nam, but he never had to go. His timing was lucky. He wound up being a career officer, but never had to go to war. I can't imagine the horrors you faced. All I can say is thank you-you have the utmost respect of this American.

NamVetsWeeLass, your Dad was representative of so many people's pain. And still so many vets are ignored, live on the streets, have nothing. We need to take care of the people who have served this country, and I, for one, am glad they have your voice to speak for them. I will remember your Dad in my thoughts, and I am grateful for his service, and ultimate sacrifice.

John Kerry did what was probably the hardest thing in the world for that time. The high road isn't the easiest, but he proved that no matter what the personal cost, he would take the high road. If that isn't the best choice for a president and world leader, I don't know what is.

[Career Prole]

18. Hi V4F! I appreciate your kind words but I faced no horrors.

I was deep-water Navy, a carrier sailor in fact, and had only one wartime cruise thanks to JK and the antiwar movement's efforts.
That's my whole point.

There are guys right here on this board who faced the real horrors and deserve the honor.
NamVetsWeeLass faced more horror from Nam than I did when you get right down to it.

An aircraft carrier is a veritable paradise compared to what the ground troops dealt with but no matter what our jobs were there, JK was key in getting us home sooner and spared thousands of others, American and Vietnamese alike (including my own brothers) from even having to get a haircut and make the trip.

Rick

[vinessa4freedom]

22. and my brother as well

which may be the reason he is here today. Yes, John Kerry showed us the stuff he was made of decades ago-he's still my president (and we all know if they counted votes and not ballots paid for by the regime he would indeed be our president elect by now).

I understand you weren't in the heat Rick, but your service to our country is much appreciated. By the way, my Dad was a sailor as well. He was in the USN Armed Guard, I don't know the name of the ship, I've always referred to it as "the rescue boat." He told stories, but never of the bad stuff-I think he thought he was protecting us.

[Career Prole]

24. It was a timely end to it for us for sure.

Nah...Dads didn't like to talk about the bad stuff because it was "man's work". Times have changed though, and now "Daddy's little girl" might have some pretty nasty war stories of her own. :(
Guess I'm old-fashioned because I don't like it, and when I hear male freepers of military age talking from their living rooms about "nuking" this and "levelling" that, and "We oughta go in there and kill 'em all!" it makes my blood boil because there are women fighting this stupid war who'd probably be overjoyed to go home if Mr. Freeper would take their place.
Yeah...that sounded pretty old-fashioned. Sorry! :eyes:

[vinessa4freedom]

25. forgiven

LOL, I'm right now taking a break from writing a paper on equality between the sexes, how ironic on the timing of your post. My brother thinks the same way, and he and I are constantly having a battle-of-the-sexes.

Just think of it this way, there are some women jerks too, sitting in their living rooms talking about nukes, right along with the men. And there are men who would gladly come home and put the freepers in their place. You're right about the good people and the bad people, just the sexes are interchangeable.

[Career Prole]

26. Believe it or not, this is the first time I've looked at it that way.

And it makes it so much easier to accept! Thanks, really! Such a simple answer too!
:yourock:

[vinessa4freedom]

28. and you didn't even have to read my essay

thanks for being open-minded. :toast:

[Career Prole]

29. I'd be happy to read your essay too!

But after you mentioned freepish women all it took for me was a flashback to the repub convention and purple heart band-aids to make me realize that some women would look damned fine in olive-drab. :D
:toast:

[NamVetsWeeLass]

30. "purple heart band-aids........"

Man, Nothing about that convention was cool. NOTHING. This was a Slap in the face of EVERY WOUNDED VET! I said it before and I will say it again, I don't care if you got injured while flinging paper clips in an office in Saigon, You were there, damnit.

[vinessa4freedom]

31. Right On!

You rock, sister! :yourock:

It does kind of feel like the 60's are happening again. The ignoramuses think not serving at all beats not taking a bullet to the head? What is wrong with them????? JK was in the thick of it, doing his job in a way that W and the oathers would never understand-with courage.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

10. I Absolutely fell in love with him

He is a Vet that came home and protested the war. I didn't come on this lightly, My Dad fought. My Dad died because of that war.

Where was Shrubya? Better yet, where was Cheney?

That was one thing that really hit home with me. HE FOUGHT! Hell even the Big Dog didn't fight, But John Did. He came home and He protested, He had that right, He was there...

He married what amounts to someone I grew up with in Teresa. I grew up in the Pittsburgh Area, Teresa is a good Woman. (on an interesting note, I loved Sen. Heinz too, Republican as he was.) the Heinz family was good for PA, she was as vocal then as she is now.

I watched him give a speech, and his eyes are so Intelligent, so warm and so thoughtful. His eyes took the last objection I had over him.... I am a John Kerry kinda Girl, and I would follow this man off the empire state building if it would help. I haven't ever been that way over someone in politics before... I don't think I ever will be again.

To quote the Big Dog--- When America Called for help, John Kerry said SEND ME!!!!!!

[noamnety]

11. It was arguing on another forum that did it for me

I really know nothing about him in the spring, I was ABB.

But they kept throwing out accusations from Rove, and I would research so I could rebut, and everything I researched revealed something new that I liked.

The 1971 testimony closed the deal for me - I heard it on C-Span and was spellbound. Then I started looking for other more recent speeches, and found a few on his senate website, and found the same principles in them. The IWR speech gave me an understanding of that vote that was never made apparent from media coverage.

I view him as a man who has more integrity, principles, compassion and vision than perhaps any other politician. It isn't just that he was electable, it was that he would have gone down as one of the best presidents in history.

[Eugene]

13. At first because he wasn't Bush. I grew to believe in him

after seeing him in the debates.

:dem:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. i actually looked at his senate records....

he is a real liberal. i love the man.

[Career Prole]

20. The Lioness is a Kerry fan too!

Cool! :hi:

[JohnKleeb]

27. you good for nothin, you person with common sense!

He is, isn't he?

[seito]

21. When he first used the phrase

"Bush Regime"

I believe this was before the primaries. The media went crazy over this and he did not back down. I knew he would be a strong fighter. The more I learned about him, the more I liked.

He has been a hero and an advocate for the people. He stands up for what he believes in and has genuine compassion. He calls it like he sees it. He stands by the decisions that he makes.

To the person that set up this group, thank you.

[Career Prole]

23. Hi! Welcome to DU, Seito!

Yeah, John Kerry's for us regular folks, alright.
That caring always highlighted the main difference between Democrats and republicans to me...empathy.
They'd scoff and say "Kerry doesn't care about working people...he's a millionaire!"
I'd always tell them "You don't have to be poor to care about the poor anymore than you have to be a soldier in harm's way to care about the troops."
That always shut them up, because they just looooove to talk about "supporting the troops" but wouldn't dream of getting involved themselves...something about "other priorities", maybe. :eyes:

[LittleClarkie]

42. Not to mention that his upbringing

was much more middle-class than Bush's. He had rich relatives, true, but his immediate family was not rich.

[Cobalt Violet]

32. I always vote for him when he is running.

If he is on the ballet I vote for him.

[vinessa4freedom]

33. he does make me wish I lived in Mass.

But we do have Senator Clinton. She rocks-one of the few who realizes that New York City isn't the entire state.

As for John Kerry-he is my president.

[Cobalt Violet]

34. I'm so glad that I have Ted Kennedy and John Kerry to vote for.

:-)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. we are envious of you people

and your commonsense...

[JohnKleeb]

40. you got Schumer and Clinton

not as good but still damn good, its all relative, I got Warner and Allen.

[LittleClarkie]

41. I have Feingold and Kohl

Not too shabby.

[JohnKleeb]

46. those are also good, especially Feingold

[vinessa4freedom]

43. you're right...

I just am so lost about this election, and I love my senators. I didn't mean to sound negative about them.

[JohnKleeb]

45. Yeah

just keep things in perspective. It was Schumer who led the fight against making Ashcroft AG and Hiliary doesn't accomondate the Bush adminstration as often as people will believe.

[vinessa4freedom]

47. I saw Hilary

At a small rally on the Saturday before election day. It was here in Rochester, and she made me so proud. She was campaigning for our local Democratic candidates, but also for Kerry/Edwards. She has the most amazing presence-she's strong and intelligent and has this aura of power. The electricity in the room was visible. It sure fired me up-I did about 50 houses in the cold rain (with bronchitis) that day for John Kerry.

[JohnKleeb]

48. good for her, she's a great lady

I was sick during my last canvassing too.

[Der Blaue Engel]

35. When I saw Going Upriver

I was floored by his eloquence. I knew I was watching someone special, a President in the making.

I feel kind of nutty to be taking this thing so hard. All of my friends think I'm having a neurotic episode. My boyfriend even joked about my paranoid obsession a few days after the election when he could see I wasn't letting it go. (At least I don't have to worry about what my family thinks anymore; they're freeper-fundie psychos, and I "divorced" them after 9/11, when not one of them bothered to call or e-mail to see if I'd gotten home okay from a trip to NYC that week.)

[seito]

36. "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake"

How many men did he save that day?

BTW my boyfriend said the exact same thing to me..."It is time for professional counseling" I absolutely can not understand why I have taken this so hard. Luckily my family is relatively freeper-free.

[Der Blaue Engel]

37. I really would have gone off the deep end without DU

I was so glad to find it after the election. So from another newbie, welcome to DU, seito. :)

We shall overcome.

[seito]

38. Thanks Der Blaue Engel n/t

[NoodleBoy]

49. heard about him through some Kerry campaign staffers,

then when I looked him up I immediately liked him, and the thing that really sold me was he wasn't a "soundbyte politician." he said, straight up, that the issues were complex, and he wasn't going to try to simplify things just to get a catchphrase. I really, really was disgusted by the way Bush practically said nothing but soundbytes in 2000 ("compassionate conservatism," "change the tone in washington") and even Gore tried to, to little success. John acknowledged that you can't, in fifteen to thirty seconds, explain how you're going to get Iraq fixed and us out, how to fix social security, how to keep American jobs in America and how to fund social programs, and that's the kind of President I want.

[JohnKleeb]

50. I didn't know that but I am impressed with that

He's right, you can't say in that little time how you're gonna do all that stuff.