`Liberal' tag resurrected to pin on John Kerry

[UpInArms]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402240269feb24,1,7889547.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
(free registration required)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Outside the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters union hall, a scraggly band of young Republicans stood in the cold, waving their "Hanoi John" and "Bush-Cheney" signs at Sen. John Kerry's motorcade.

As Kerry closes in on the Democratic nomination for president, the Bush campaign has begun to try to portray him as a Massachusetts liberal, a hypocrite who switches positions for political expedience and a disloyal war protester from the hippie era.

"John Kerry is out of sync with most Americans, whether it's raising taxes or providing for a strong national defense," said Terry Holt, a senior official with the Bush campaign. "He's voted against every significant weapons system at work in Iraq and in the war on global terror. . . . Yes, he's liberal, but maybe more disturbing is that he's a phony."

It is an approach that worked famously before in the 1988 campaign of Bush's father against former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Kerry has vowed that the strategy will not work again.

...more...

lol! Loved the "scraggly band" description.

[papau]

1. They are also trying out "taller Gore" and "soft on defense Mondale"

and of course - the not as black & white, good vs evil as a cowboy from Texas - a flip-flopper who sees nuances that take time to explain and put you to sleep - and again - a tall Gore

Also Kerry lacks optimism in the face of the future - just shows anger (a recycle of a line planned for Dean that implies current lack of jobs and foriegn mess in lost lives and treasure is a reason for optimism)- yeah got to lead with strength and conviction and optimism - and nothing else.

it is not like Bush is having a panic attack common to cowards when faced with opposition-

it just seems that way

:-)

[Kahuna]

8. And, "A taller, thinner, Ted Kennedy."

:puke:

[Poiuyt]

2. Why is being a "liberal" a bad thing?

Republicans always sneer when they say that word.

[UpInArms]

5. whenever anyone sneers and

calls me "libral", I just sneer back and call them a "jackbooted thug"

[Skittles]

13. PROUD LIBERAL HERE

that drives those thugs crazy

[bearfan454]

20. Darn right Skittles !

.

[Lorien]

26. Here too!

And being "pro war" in the later years of Vietnam was COMPLETELY "out of synch" with mainstream America!

[iam]

21. There is nothing

wrong with it. Liberals just don't defend themselves very well. This country and civilization itself are Liberal institutions. stalin/hitler/pol pot/edi amin were all conservatives. Jesus, Gandhi, ML King were all Liberals. You pick your company.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Does this mean we can wave "Baghdad Donald" signs?

Oh wait, no we can't. That would be "mean" and "dragging up unpleasant memories of the past for political gain". What was I thinking?

[bowens43]

4. We NEED the liberal tag!

Let's hope Sen. Kerry wears it with pride!

[private_ryan]

11. yeah,

if it sticks he'll have plenty of time to wear it too. Do you realize what you're saying? Do you want to win or loose this election? Kerry gotta answer this now, otherwise it's too late.

[Ganja Ninja]

15. I wouldn't bother to answer this or any other Bush allegations.

It's Bush that should have to answer for his youthful indiscretions. Kerry doesn't need to go on the defensive he needs to attack. I would answer this type of attack the same way Bush does, by accusing Bush of being negative, hateful and trying to divert attention from his record whether it be his national guard record, his business record, his record as Governor or as president.

[calimary]

19. It's about time we say "Yeah, LIBERAL. Because LIBERALS gave

us America. LIBERALS gave us voting rights for all. LIBERALS gave us a supposedly free press. LIBERALS gave us labor laws that protect workers' rights, safety, wages, and benefits. LIBERALS gave us laws to protect the safety and cleanliness of our air, water, and earth. LIBERALS gave us protection from child abusers. LIBERALS gave us the Amber Alert. LIBERALS gave rape victims rights and counseling and legal protections. LIBERALS gave us places to house the mentally ill so they don't get turned out on the streets (Reagan did that). LIBERALS gave us school lunch programs and other assistance to hungry children. LIBERALS want to protect our rights to have our votes counted, not stolen. LIBERALS protect YOUR right, even as a knuckle-dragger, to speak out.

WHY can't we speak out about what it really means to be a liberal? We need to take back the agenda and the framing of terms??? Because all anybody hears is the Limbaugh version of how shitty liberals are. DAMMIT why do we NOT hear more? WHY ARE WE NOT GENERATING MORE?

1 (800) 839 - 5276 - TOLL FREE Capitol Hill Switchboard number!

[private_ryan]

27. cause we let Repukes

make it a dirty word. A president election with this importance (at least 3 SC judges) is not the place to start. Dukakis ain't raising any funds for his presidential library.

[bleedingheart]

6. I say wear the Liberal name with Pride! I do!

[marie123]

7. john kerry is a mass liberal

and what is wrong with that? yes he voted against certain weapons systems, so what. Isnt that what is warranted here?

[daveskilt]

9. liberal Kerry or mini bush? he gets called both for different audiences

he cant be both?

[buckeye1]

10. Lame attacks

Are nothing new.

[otohara]

12. vs Right Wing, Lying Warmonger

I'd be happy with liberal compared to demonic psycopath in office now.

[denverbill]

14. I think every Kerry commercial out to feature "Hey big spender"

Liberals can smash once and for all the stigma of 'big spenders'. Republicans (allegedly conservative) have spent like drunken sailers since Bush grabbed power, FAR exceeding anything liberals have done since the days of LBJ. It's time to give credit where credit is due.

If you want big spending, the Republicans are the party for you.

[rocktivity]

16. If they say Massacheusetts liberal

We say fake Maine cowboy.

:headbang:
rocknation

[central scrutinizer]

17. it's a winning strategy

Being an unapologetic liberal is a winning strategy and one I hope the eventual Democratic nominee embraces. To back away from the label immediately puts one on the defensive and cedes the high ground on many issues. As an example, my Congressional district in Oregon is largely rural and blue collar, except for Eugene, a university town. Many loggers and millworkers, everybody has a gun for hunting, etc. A district that you would expect would vote Republican. But Peter DeFazio, a member of the Progressive Caucus and an unapologetic liberal, wins handily year after year. The choice can't be Republican and Republican Lite or we are sure to lose.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. When a Republican sneers at them for being a liberal,

candidates ought to come back with,

"You bet I'm a liberal, and proud of it! If you or a family member receive Social Security, thank a liberal! If you can go anywhere in this country without being turned away because of your race, religion, or gender, thank a liberal! " etc. etc.

[Mz Pip]

22. The word "liberal"

needs to be reclaimed as a good thing.

I really hope this election ends up being about more than a rehashing of Vietman and gay marriage. Seems that's the way the Repugs want to play it to keep the focus off the real issues. I really hope Kerry can make this about Bush.

MzPip
:dem:

[Tank in Texas]

23. Run as "liberal"

Dammit, if I ever run for office down here, I am running as "Liberal Democrat for fill-in-the-blank-office." I'll surely lose but unless somebody has got to reclaim this word.

[Fovea]

24. My answer

If Kerry is a Liberal, at least he is what he says he is.

Bush is conservative like LBJ, and compassionate like
Tom DeLay.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

25. I like this paragraph

<As Kerry closes in on the Democratic nomination for president, the Bush campaign has begun to try to portray him as a Massachusetts liberal, a hypocrite who switches positions for political expedience and a disloyal war protester from the hippie era>

Kerry has a distinguished war record of serving his nation with honour and valour. He was therefore immensely qualified to speak out on the Vietnam War and also on other national security issues. Bush and Cheney, on the other hand, evaded the draft using their privileges and connections and yet still feel it appropriate to be belligerent warmongers who commit thousands of men and women to a conflict started under dubious pretexts. We should portray Bush as a disloyal chickenhawk who shirked his responsibilities when called on to serve his nation and now expects others to do what he never did

[rhino91063]

28. The key

Is to demonize the term "conservative" as much as they have done to Liberal. Considering all the actions of the conservatives, this would not seem to be all that hard to do.