Kerry denies any truth to internet "intern" story

[Manix]

Speaking on Don Imus radio show this morning Kerry said
there is no truth to these stories.

[Shadder]

1. Well slap me with a fish and call me silly

But I think I'd take his word over that of Drudge any day of the week

[KayLaw]

3. Same here ( nt )

[progressivebydesign]

40. And when Bush tells me he didn't know about the WMD, I believe him.

Sorry.. I need more than an evasive answer from someone who is a well-known playboy. Just because I'm a Democrat doesn't mean I buy into everything a Democrat says. Not all Democrats are good, not all Republicans are evil. If you only take her parent's word then, that he was chasing their daughter and it wasn't an affair (according to them), then it's just gross to think of a man that was 58 at the time, hitting on a 20 year old. That's character, all right.

[Bandit]

43. "who is a well-known playboy." ~ Maybe you could expand upon this

It isn't well known to me but then I am not an insider.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

56. Sorry, but I need more information than that contained in your post...

...to allow me to understand the label of "playboy" that you've applied to Kerry.

Please explain.

[belle]

63. More to the point, who the hell cares??

Are you serious? You *want* us to be looking into whether or not he committed garden-variety adultery? What board is this, again?

[jwcomer]

59. That's not saying much

Drudge sets a pretty low bar.

[molly]

2. Now all the enablers can move along

[dand]

4. He sounded convincing,

We are in deep doodoo if he not telling the truth, it could be worse than ruining the economy or lying to get us into a quagmire in Iraq.

[Roon]

5. Drudge broke his "story"

Right before I had to go to work. I was expecting the media whores to be all over it by the time I came home. But they weren't. Drudge is the only one trumpeting this.

Even if this story did have legs, what are they going to do? Investigate?

[underpants]

10. When it was not even mentioned on Fox News I knew it was BS

Now if you can't trust this guy who can you trust?

[CBHagman]

30. Please! You're ruining my appetite.

Hide that thing, please, or at least warn us about such infernal images before posting them.

[Kahuna]

41. LOL! Nice pic.

:thumbsup:

[LiberalFighter]

73. And where did Drudge get it from?

Karl Rove and company?

[mountainvue]

53. How do you figure?

[loudnclear]

78. Your're right. the only thing that counts with the RWingnuts is SEX!

And the sex that counts on their morality chart is the sex someone else is getting and not them!

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Looking at pictures of Kerry and his wife

and I get the feeling that these two really do love each other. With a woman like Teresa who the hell would need to cheat? Sorry, that dog isn't going to hunt.

[Tuttle]

7. Maybe Drudge should go on Imus

and explain how Clark leaked this - while endorsing Kerry???

But Matt is too busy, cleaning egg whites out of his fedora.

Tut-tut

[Red State Rebel]

8. I'm not convinced...he evaded a direct NO I didn't do it...

This could make it worse for him if there is something there. People are going to be reminded of the "I did not have sex with that woman - Monica Lewinsky" and it won't be pretty. I get the feeling he's hedging his bet until he knows exactly what the press has. He would be better to come clean if there is anything to come clean about.

[placton]

9. Let's relax!

The Bushistas are gonna treat us to the biggest slimebath in US (or world) history. The wheels are starting to come off for Georgie Porgie, and this has been their tactic since Saint Ronnie (the utter scumbag, I don't care if he has Alzheimer's) came on the scene.

[dand]

13. Slimebath is right placton,

what they did to McCain and Cleland will be like a bunch of roses when they dip into their 1/2 billion dollar war chest.

[Red State Rebel]

14. You are right - it's only just begun....

[megatherium]

17. take heart, we will prevail,

just as we did in 1992 when the Bushies hit Clinton with everything including the kitchen sink -- infidelity and draft-dodging allegations (how ironic), wedge-issues and worse. Remember, the Clinton team had a slogan to keep them focused: It's the Economy, Stupid. The public is again deeply worried. The incredible budget deficits, job outsourcing, the war. I know talking to relatives and friends that Bush is increasingly disliked and distrusted. My mother and my sister have just read the Kevin Phillips book (American Dynasty), and they're appalled. (I'm reading it now, recommended.) All three of us were supporters of Bush in the frightening days after 9/11, but that's long ago.

Graffito I saw in 1991 in San Francisco (right when Gulf War I started): That man gives my pubic hair a bad name.

[calimary]

47. Welcome to DU! Good points.

[mountainvue]

54. That's right!

We know they're going to come at us with this crap but this time we're ready and we're going to fight back!

[buckeye1]

15. So don't vote for him.

Quit whining. I thought Clark was best, but my vote was buried. No one should be so dumb as to give head to Drudge. He loves it too much.

[ClintonTyree]

32. I hope you mean 'heed'............

I can't imagine anyone wanting to give 'head' to Drudge.

[Walt Starr]

23. It was definitely a non-denial denial

I don't know if it was his natural ease with politics that made him go with a non-denial denial or not, but he did not come out and say, "Drudge is spreading balatantly false stories."

[Media_Lies_Daily]

57. What more do you need than "there's no truth to it"?....

...If there aren't any details, what else can Kerry say?

[KansDem]

60. Or to take the Bushistas' approach toward Iraq and WMDs

"Prove you didn't have an affair!" :crazy:

[Red State Rebel]

66. He didn't say that....I looked it up

He said "nothing to report", "nothing to talk about", "no story", "nothing there". None of those is a definitive denial - it would be so easy to say "IT did not happen!" "it's a lie!"- but he didn't do it! This makes me VERY nervous about Kerry's situation.

[Cicero]

80. Yes, very Clintonesque...

...in his denial. If its false he needs to say so, without all the political speechifying and tactics.

Later,

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. I forget exactly where I read the "incident' that sparked drudges'

.
.

so called story . .

But this is what i got out of it . .

unnamed "reliable" sources said that a "close friend" of an "unnamed woman" was "persuaded" by John Kerry to leave the country.

That's it, no reason, no specifics, no "proof" - just innuendo after innuendo -

OH . .

and Clark's' "attack" is gleaned from a supposed comment reported by unnamed reliable sources that Clark said "Kerry will go ballistic over an intern story".

There is no mention of what was said by anyone before or after said alleged comment - -

that's it, that's all that was supposedly said by Clark - -and that was weeks ago (supposedly)

Even IF Clark said as reported, there is NO suggestion that anything actually happened, and Kerry would be rightfully justified in being upset about ANY false accusations, innuendos.

Gawd, what the American media is willing to swallow up -

Even close reading of the Scotsman and other papers that have picked this "story" up are saying it is "confirmed" by Drudge -

Gimmeeabreak puuulllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze !!

[The Magistrate]

49. The Problem Here, Sir

Does not seem to be so much what the media will swallow, as what purist radicals here will guzzle down like toddlers in a janitor's closet.

The press amd broadcast and cable outlets do not seem much taken with this nonsense; it is creatures of the right, and quite minor "bloggers" who have put much out about this. The greatest credence and circulatiojn it is receiving comes from persons on the left, who in fact hope for the defeat of the Democratic Party, as not being left enough to suit them, in the upcoming election.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Media_Lies_Daily]

58. Bingo...nicely stated.

[Rich Hunt]

76. that, 'sir', is untrue

....and it cannot be substantiated in any way.

If you feel that 'the left' swallows such nonsense, then you have no familiarity with the left except in your imagination.

I remember well the Clinton days, when what I imagine you consider to be 'the left' argued that Clinton's affairs were irrelevant.

It is typically the prudish centrists who concern themselves with such things.

I'm astonished at this a bold falsehood. To what purpose does it serve?

[The Magistrate]

79. It Is True, Ma'am

Here last night the Primary forum was wall to wall with gleeful commentary on the matter from the usual "lefter than thou" crowd, and there is no reason to assume that place was any different from other electronic forums. They felt the tool might be of some use in their crusade against the presumptive nominee of the Party, and bit like pan-fish on a craw-dad tail.

Prudery is a new charge against me in this forum, and has ignited wicked glee in the wife reading over my shoulder just now. Recently there have been accusations of naivite, and of ignorance of political events and trends. One learns so much in a place like this, haunted by such clairvoyants....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[gimme a break]

65. Just found this at WND

The woman reportedly was approached by a top news reporter, prompting Kerry to urge her to leave the country. Drudge reported last night the woman fled to Africa, where she remains.

The London Sun identified the woman as Alex Polier, 24, a former New York-based reporter for the AP who now is in Kenya, refusing to comment.

Her parents, Terry and Donna of Malvern, Pa., told the paper there is no evidence of an affair, but Mrs. Polier said Kerry was "after" her daughter.

Kerry had invited Alex to Washington two or three years ago to work on the senator's re-election campaign, they said.

She declined, said the father, who had harsh words for Kerry, according to the Sun.

"I think he's a sleazeball. I did kind of wonder if my daughter didn't get that kind of feeling herself," he said.

"He's not the sort of guy I would choose to be with my daughter."

Late last year, the relationship was revealed to a reporter by a close friend of the woman "claiming fantastic stories," said Drudge, "that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head."

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37102

If it's not true and she continues the no comment routine it will hurt Kerry. If it's true and Kerry is already saying it didn't then it spells trouble for him too. Good news for Edwards supporters either way. All it will take is enough questions about Kerry's elect-ability the votes will go to Edwards.

[SaddenedDem]

12. That's not what I heard

And, I'm sorry folks, but the right wingers are going to rip him to shreds on this.

He didn't say it's not true, he didn't say it never happened. In fact, I found his response to be a non-answer.

His response should have been something along the lines of "well, now we have the very definition of gutter politics."

I hate this. I hate that this is the type of game the republicans successfully play with every Democratic candidate in every single race in this country. But, they do it because it's effective. The do it because it works.

And the only reason it works is because the Democrats won't give a defense to this kind of garbage. Democrats just play into the game and refuse to meet the throwers of this trash at the front door ready to defend their rights.

I'm just sick of timid Democrats who won't defend themselves, much less their supporters.

This is just one more example of more of the same that we've endured for the last 15 years. Like Clinton and Gore, Kerry bows to the gutter politics and wears his pink tutu proudly.

I will end with this question - if Kerry won't defend HIMSELF, what makes you think he will defend YOU?

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Since the election of the Gropinator in CA

I don't think the majority of Americans give a shit.

If people voted for people based on their fidelity, Washington DC would be a ghost town.

[nolabels]

35. I wouldn't put it past any of these folks to have such double standards

I the Arnie was a Dem and had such "alleged" hints of things going on the Reich wing would have their corporate own stodge reporters camped out at every place Arnie could have ever went. I don't think people should live in such a place to think this wouldn't happen.

[truthspeaker]

51. Schwarzenegger admitted it (sort of) as soon as it broke

IMO that's almost always the best way to play it. If it's true, get the truth out there and get it out fast. The people might forgive you or decide it's not relevant. And if they don't, the party you represent can get started with another candidate right away.

It seems just a short time ago I was yelling that at Bill Clinton's face on the TV.

[DoYouEverWonder]

67. But what if the truth is

that he didn't fool around? Which is what he is saying after all.

I see no reason not to believe Kerry over Drudge? After all, it's really a personal matter between him and his wife and Teresa doesn't look like the sort of girl who would put up with that sort of thing.

[Manix]

18. What part of "NO" do you not understand?

nt

[Teaser]

19. He didn't answer the question directly because...

to do so would require actually saying what the allegation was.
He managed to avoid that in order to minimize press reportage of his answer.

Just the allegation can hurt you know.

[Ripley]

20. If your ascertion is true, this Smirk is DONE...

I heard RNC head guy Gillepsie on tape yesterday saying "blah blah blah gutter politics....the Democrats are spreading a story on the internet about GW Bush taking a girl to a clinic to get an abortion in Texas..."

I was shocked to even see that CNN posted the above text on the screen...I thought wow! They think they're diffusing that story by getting ahead of it, but think of all the fundies who may now have a seed of doubt planted in their little brains!

[Scurrilous]

25. The bigger the denial...

...the bigger the story. I think Kerry recognizes the press is waiting in the wings salivating over the opportunity to pounce on this gossip. If he was to go on Imus this morning and go into a full blown denial, then the denial itself would become the story and the press would run with it. So he issued a denial that doesn't give the press much to work with. "There's nothing to it" doesn't quite have the ring of "I never had sex with that woman." The ball is now back in the accusers court. They must now come up with something substantial to keep the story alive over the weekend. Good luck to them.

[lancdem]

37. I was thinking that, too

That may have been his strategy.

[lancdem]

36. Clinton did fight it

[Occulus]

48. As soon as someone insinuates that

Kerry has something to hide, he can respond them of things that the * administration is trying to hide.

Things like info to the 9/11 commission. WMDs. Ya know, lies and obfuscations people died over.

[Shadder]

50. Not up to Kerry to defend himself.

It is, however, up to Drudge to proove the alligations as being true. Innocent untill proven guilty and all that.....

[belle]

64. I'm sorry, I may have misunderstood the actual quote...

To clarify: did he say, in so many words, "There's no truth to it"? Because if that *is* what he said, that seems pretty damn straightforward to me.

[loyalsister]

86. Insightful

He meets them only on their terms instead of turning around, playing offense, and redefining.
If she sticks with "no comment," the whole thing is diffused if they look like they're hounding her AND harrassing the public with this crap. Rather than if they're allowed to present their asumption of guilt and psuedo-journalism.
He has to redefine the terms by reframing what they're doing for the public.

[DeaconBlues]

21. Why is DU so awash with a story

that has been covered literally by no one but that piece of crap Drudge? Is there that many freeper trolls around here, or are some Dean supporters really so desperate they will believe and promote anything that hurts Kerry?

[Ripley]

22. Before you go off insulting us Dean supporters ad nauseum...

I haven't said a word about this story. But it is in other news sources than just Drudge.

How come we're the desperate ones doing this "plant?" Evidence?

Yet, we all know the fact that Toricelli works for Kerry and he is was so desperate to fight "Dean, Dean, Dean" that he ran a dirty campaign.

Sheesh.

[DeaconBlues]

29. You mean the other news sources

whose articles consist simply of the message "Drudge says on his website that..."?

Bringing up the Toricelli story, heh? I see that you have already bought into another right-wing lie about Kerry being responsible for what Torricelli supposedly does. Way to go!

[SaddenedDem]

24. Are you so blinded by your support?

That you can't address real, heart felt concerns about the way Kerry is handling this?

Instead, you lash out with innuendo and lies......

This has nothing to do with "Dean supporters" it's about the very REAL threat we see to the Democratic party as a whole.

Democrats, regardless of the candidate, MUST STAND UP and defend themselves before they can defend YOU.

I never said Kerry should deny - I said Kerry should throw their shit right back in their faces and call gutter politics when he sees it. This represents yet another opportunity to turn their own trash on THEM. And he wouldn't do it.

Color me disappointed.....but not surprised....

[DeaconBlues]

27. Umm, I'm a Clark supporter

so I don't see how I can be blinded by my support of Kerry. And I said some Dean supporters, not all or even a majority, are tickled with this story. If this isn't true, why do so many of the people swamping DU with this nonsense have a Dean avatar attached to their messages?

[SaddenedDem]

42. Painting with a broad brush doesn't work very well

I don't know who has what avatar attached to their posts because I have graphics turned off.

But that is beside the point - you have yet to address any issue some have with Kerry's behavior today. Instead, you continue to attack with innuendo and inference. It's way past time for Democratic supporters to look past blind partisanship, understand the problems and address them.

I don't care who you support - if you don't at least admit that, as a party, we have some serious problems, we will continue to lose elections.

On a personal note, I hope you can see how ridiculous you look right now - blind support of anyone, without the ability to look at the situation with some logic and objectivity, reminds me of that right wing site everyone around here likes to mock and make fun of.

[Chicago Democrat]

34. Covered by No-One? Eh? like Slate, CNN

Selling Sleaze: A User's Guide
Ten ways to rationalize the publication of infidelity

http://slate.msn.com/id/2095441/

LOU DOBBS TONIGHT QUICKVOTE
Do you believe that personal and private matters should be left entirely out of presidential politics?

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

I hate to contradict you dear fellow Democrat, esp a Clark supporter!Your not in Kansas anymore. All I can say is hang on to your hat, its election year!!!

Best wishes!

[mouse7]

55. Just good Dems that want Bush gone

Anything that could reduce the possibility of sending Dumbya back to his Crawford pig farm will be met with a lot of anxiety.

Kerry supporters need to understand the anxiety is a natural response in these situations. Those who aren't Kerry supporters need to try to reduce the effects the anxiety is having in regards to certain behaviors.

[murielm99]

26. Expect worse than this.

It is going to get much uglier.

I think they were just trolling, when they started this one. They are trying to tie this to Kerry because yelling about him being a liberal from that terrible state where they want to allow gays to marry is not working !

And they want to bury the Awol story.

If we are already in a tizzy over this non-denying denial, as some have termed it, what will happen when they really roll out the big guns?

[GinaMaria]

61. Completely Agree

We haven't even started to see ugly yet. This is early in the game. They haven't begun to dish out their worst. We're up against the inventors of gutter politics. Fasten your seat belts....

[rocktivity]

28. If there's no semen-stained dress, he's in the clear

But even if it were true, does the Bush camp think it will stand up to five hundred dead soliders, three million unemployed, The Plame outing, and whatever a vengance-hungry CIA could drum up? Which is not to say Bush's sex life is beyond reproach. Maybe that woman who had the abortion will finally get fed up and decide to come forward.


rocknation

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[Chicago Democrat]

33. Kerry had better not lie!

Kerry, this is a test, please do not lie about this. People will find out! That said, I believe him for now.

I think Teresa Kerry is extremely attractive and compelling. I believe that John Kerry really loves her. You definately can see it the way they look at each other.

Anyway I cannot stand a sex scandal again. Please God.

[Sunny_Sunshine]

45. Hillary is also extremely attractive and compelling

And I believe that Bill really loves her. These things have nothing to do with sex. Saying that Teresa is attractive so why would he cheat on her makes it her fault if he does. She wasn't good looking enough or whatever. Which is not to say that I believe this (I wouldn't believe Drudge if he told me the sky was blue) and I also don't care, I didn't care what Bill did for sex and believe it or not, I wouldn't necessarily care if my SO was having sex with someone else, only in how it affected my relationship ie is it taking time away from me. However, if my SO has sex while out of town, it is not my fault and has nothing to do with how I look or how compelling I am or our love for each other. If he is playing tennis with someone else when I would like to be playing tennis with him than we have a problem. If he's lying to me about where he is and who he is with, he is cheating - sex is not the issue.

[Milspec]

85. Well put Sunny!

You are maybe a little more broadminded on this issue than I am but your post did me a pause to think about. Well said & welcome

[Yavin4]

38. Will Everyone Just Relax

This was a timed to slow Kerry's momentum. The people who'd vote against Kerry because he had an affair would probably vote against him even if he didn't have an affair. Besides, the GOP, the party of Strom Thurman, Neil Bush, Rudy Guiliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger, have no basis for an attack on these grounds.

It's the war and the economy stupid. Keep your focus.

[Chicago Democrat]

39. Thank you Yavin!

I feel more relaxed. I forgot they are totally worse.

[PATRICK]

44. Exactly and what does it show?

That the first goal- to keep the Dem primary pot boiling expensively into meltdown with a divided party and a tainted candidate- had been too suddenly ruined by a Kerry insurgence.

Bush is under fire at the same exact time like never before. And the polls of course are beginning to get real.

So they prematurely shoot the sleaze gun though it did not work against Clinton. However they weakly hope that it will at least cripple or slow down or spoil the candidate so they can at least have the same chance as they did with Bush I- minus the Perot effect.

This in all is a massive sign of Bush campaign weakness, this desperation. All week the conservative toilet paper has been browned over with pallid attempts to combat the combat veteran. That has been tanking too.

No, the ONLY success I see is right here among the nervous nellies and wounded egos of DU who are ready to a) throw in the beach blanket b)take an opportunity for their own candidate c) credit the smear campaign with genius, effectiveness and truth as it shambles in spitefully on a single leg tipped with a cloven hoof.

What did you expect from Rove's Parrot Jungle? Did you expect better from some of your comrades at DU(minus the goon agents if any)?

The only thing at all that interested me was the name Polier, whose byline I seem to remember in yet another pro-WH storyline piece set for AP. I have noted that AP routinely pimps up the slant and the sourcing along WH strict lines and this is what local papers pick up as a PRIMARY news source! So this young lady is yet another cast in the mold of non-Democratic, opportunistic? ladder climbers who sooner or later will be doing the talk show circuit.

Meanwhile, the slanderers are never held to account, Bush's own sordid past(before his conversion to Messiahship) off limits, off radar, and this most bald-faced hypocrisy is not an issue- merely the passion and Crucifixion of the newest Dem white knight.

Personally, I am more worried about the bullet than the bimbo or the ballot when their ancient Mephistophelian arsenal and Commandment breaking peters out. By the way, not to compare Kerry to Christ(we need a surviving human president not a martyr at this particular moment)but the immediate slander against Jesus the Gospels had to combat was blasphemy, consorting with sinners(prostitutes!) and breaking various religious taboos and regulations.
This was supposed to shake his popular support loose and send it back to the pious Pharisees. When that didn't work...

Don't get paranoid, get even. This means, besides Bush's military record, all the Bush family affairs are in play too.

And for crying out loud, what did you expect? This is a pathetic act of premature desperation all to at least achieve exactly what it has done right here at DU. Get some spine and remember who the moral monsters really are, not Democrats whose positions are not as ethereally idealistic as those of people who cannot save the world's collective behind.

[Shadder]

52. Thank you!

It's great to see someone with a clear head on this.

[gulfcoastliberal]

68. Excellent Point

Our biggest concern should be our nominee (Kerry) making it to election day alive. Not getting "Kennedy-ed" or "Wellstone-d". That's what really worries me. :scared:

[jpak]

46. You forgot Joe Scarborough

and that page he got preggers...

and Newt...

and a bunch of others I don'r care to remember...

[GinaMaria]

62. Giordano

the pedophile

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

70. Who's last hope, exactly?

[Shadder]

71. Oh look, another newby coming out of the woodwork

Where, oh where I do wonder, are all these people coming from?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

72. He's gone. I guess we'll never know. Somewhere out there there must be

the tomb of the unknown freeper.

[Shadder]

74. Just like Aarrrnold

He'll be back

[flowomo]

75. her wish list

anyone posted this yet:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/ref=wlem-si-html_viewall/002-5266243-6326426?id=3M70T8VFQHR4U

[jsw_81]

77. He better not be lying

Because if he is, he's in deep shit. Remember, it's not the crime that brings you down, it's the lying. I find it hard to imagine that John Kerry would lie about something like this, especially now that he's finally got the prize he's been after for thirty years.

[ozone_man]

83. He move out of check,

but if he's caught in a lie, it's checkmate.

[CabalBuster]

81. He lied about Botox, that would make his 2nd lie.... not good IMHO nt/

[Mountainman]

82. Damn, he lied about a facial and lust in his heart?!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow I'll bet he would even lie to get us into a war and have over 500 of our kids killed in some foreign land!

I'll bet he'd lie about reducing the deficit and how much an intitlement program will cost!

[Undemcided]

84. Well I guess we should take him at his word.

Maybe.