Should John Kerry and the Democrats speak out on the Aug 6 PDB ?

[kentuck]

It seems to me that Bush and the Repubs have taken full advantage of FOX-TV and CNN today to spin their version of the memo. Should John Kerry speak out about this tomorrow...or one of his surrogates? At least, one of the potential VP candidates should speak out? And the Democratic leadership should also make a comment about it. They should challenge the WHite House spin as "partisan politics' and express confidence that the American people can sort out the facts without the spin from the WH and FOX-TV...

[Alpharetta]

1. nope.

my opinion: right now, let events sink Bush.

it's his economy. his oil shortage. his war in Iraq. his Plame-gate. his Enron buddy.

it could be a long bad summer for him.

[DemLikr]

20. hmmm...how are things over on the dark side?

[Pax Argent]

28. No, Alpharetta is right

If Kerry steps in it will look like political grandstanding and rank partisan opportunism. It would also allow the media whores to draw a line between the 9-11 Commission and Kerry that could compromise public perception of their conclusions.

We have a nice new radio network and the internet to keep the fires burning. Let the professional flacks do the work while the candidate rides above it. Its worked for the right for years.....

[proud patriot]

2. Not yet n/t

[Dookus]

3. Some dems should...

Kerry should only say it "raises serious questions" or some such non-committal nonsense.

No need to stand between Bush and the axe.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Emphatically yes.

.

[jobycom]

5. Yes, but not yet

That's my feeling, anyway. If they speak out now, the story gets buried behind Iraq and all the other stuff happening, and anyway people will forget by November. They should wait a day or two to see how the 9-11 Commission responds. If the Commission doesn't respond, then Kerry should have some way to highlight Bush's failures that doesn't sound like a petty attack. Perhaps he could arrange for someone to ask him what he would have done instead, or perhaps he could bury his criticism in a statement announcing what he thinks should be done now.

Or, he could get the attack dogs out to blast Bush, but stay silent himself on the matter. That is part of our role here.

The thing is, as long as the media and word of mouth are talking about it, Kerry doesn't have to. He might give it a discreet nudge, but he doesn't have to get dirty and run the risk of looking bad.

Also, the issue will come back up between June and November, when the Commission's report is released. Then Kerry has a better reason to comment on it, by commenting on the Commission's findings. And it will be closer to the elections, so the issue will linger longer.

Once Kerry brings it up, he's spent his ammo on that subject, so he has to play it right.

[newsguyatl]

6. i think kerry should have all his

surrogates do it for him.... for now...

i think his plan of letting the enemy crumble alone is working... anything that kerry says in the coming weeks will only be used as deflection against the real issues, and that is bush's ineptitude and corruptness...


kerry should stay above the fray for now... but the other dems should keep up the attack.

[wildwww2]

13. Bu$h Inc. owns the media. Kerry has to be careful. Bu$h is not his

only adversary. Every media pundit is paid to support the usurper. Kerry needs to pick his battles wisely. Backstabbers abound in our so called liberal media. But they cannot bring dead people back from the dead. And who is the commander that started this mess? Bu$h apoligist`s can wave Clinton`s penis all they want. But more and more people are realizing every day. That this bloody mess was all caused because of Dick and Bu$h`s greed. You are correct. Other Democrats need to step up to the plate.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[KittyWampus]

7. Not Yet, Let Others Call The Vulcan's Hand

and I wonder, if to a certain extent, Kerry's Campaign has and will coordinate his statements with other "players".

IMO, there are a lot of people who want Junior gone.

[enough]

8. Not right now

Events are moving very fast. We at DU know a lot more than most Americans about what is going on in Iraq and with the Commission, etc. (I'm especially sure of this after an evening spent with family for easter.)

He needs to wait for events to come clear, partly to know what the hell to say, and partly to give time for reality to sink in to the American mass consciousness.

Right now, the slow-motion train wreck is happening without any nudges from Kerry. I think he's right to stay out of it. There's still a LOT of time between now and November.

[lefthandedluckie]

9. WHY?

They are the ones worried,not Kerry. They are spinning,alright,because they are damaged goods and they know it. Are they in serious trouble,yes. So many things to cover-up and they can't lie enough to cover it all. Events are unraveling right before their "historical revisionist" eyes. I am enjoying the show,aren't you?:evilgrin:

[riverwalker]

10. Kerry no, dems yes

Kerry stay quiet, and "above it all" for now. Let the overwhelming weeks news sink in the publics mind. Let them discuss it over the watercoolers, let it fester and stew. They can only reach one possible conclusion. Kerry will seem like a breath of fresh air.

[Junkdrawer]

11. Condi committed perjury. If they don't speak out Monday, they...

may lose their chance.

See this thread by EarlG:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1390849

[maggrwaggr]

12. Somebody sure as hell needs to -- where are they?

is there anybody on the side of the truth out there?

[skooooo]

30. Let the Republicans screw up...then see where we are.

They don't need any "help" right now. What's going on speaks loudly enough.

[waldenx]

14. I have observed over the last 4 years

that if the answer to a "should the Dems" question is yes, they will not do it.
So, Yes they should be screaming for Bush to be impeached.

[mourningdove92]

15. I think Kerry should continue to play it like has has been. Let

other Dems do the questioning and make the statements. There is talk already about how the 911 commission is being politicized, but if Kerry came out with a statement regarding the Aug 6 PDB, he WOULD be politicizing it. I agree with most of the others on this thread, let Kerry stay above the fray. We still have plenty of time and we all know how ugly its going to get. Right now, most of the ugly and mudslinging is coming from Buschco, which seems to be helping Kerry's numbers.

[Trajan]

16. We should ABSOLUTELY use the 8-6 Memo ....

There is enough 'threat' implied by what was released in that memo ... George Bush didnt do anything about WHATEVER threat was present, no matter the quantity or quality of that threat ....

George wanted to be president, and being president requires absolute vigilence in matters of national security: HE is responsible for what happens 7 months into his term ... Dont ever let up on this ....

The White House is already spinning everything said by the Democrats as 'partisan politics', so why just shut up about what IS on that memo > a WH that rejected sound measures offered them, like those in Hart/Rudman and those of Richard Clarke: A WH that reduced their vigilence in counter terrorism efforts when they should have been ramping them up ...

THAT is Bush's fault ... The memo only need to show a recent threat being reported ...

911 happened: Bush was president when it happened ... There is no denying this ...

edit: I agree that Kerry neednt say much about this .... OTHER Dems should always be on the attack anyways .... bipartisanship is a lie with the GOP ...

[coloradodem2005]

17. Kerry, in his bid, has nothing to gain.

He is in a good position. He can sit and wait while Bush and Co. has to slug it out. And it keeps him above the fray and looking better and better while Bush continues to sink.


THe Dems should speak out. I know Daschle's a lost cause. I cannot believe he is acting like such a wuss towards Bush.

[MoonRiver]

18. If, right now, Kerry loudly speaks out about the Aug 6 PDB,

he then becomes the target of rightwing wrath. If he just lets events unfold, and/or sends out a surrogate or two to discuss how disturbing these events are, bush*co is the bullseye, as he should be.

So, no, I don't think Kerry should immediately get into the middle of this fray. Let * take the heat all by his sorry lonesome.

[DemLikr]

19. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and hammer it until election day.

Murkans don't understand subtlety or restraint, for god's sake. How do you think the Shrubbites got into the WH in the first place?

By total and complete ruthlessness; a laser focus on the ultimate goal.

[Gothmog]

21. Yes but let it play out

The 8-6 memo should be used at some point but right now, let things play out. To some extent, it will help if the 9/11 commission is not perceived as being too partisan. There is plenty of time to make use of PDB at the right time.

[DemLikr]

22. hmmm...how are things over on the dark side?

[Arkana]

23. Hell yes

Kerry should seize this opportunity and go for the throat. Demand that the Bush administration reveal what it knew.

This is a golden opportunity to get that smirky, crooked bastard by the throat and squeeze the truth out of his spoiled, rich mouth.

[Terran]

24. Kerry probably should not.

He has plenty of surrogates who can rip Bush's throat from ear to ear for him. >=]

[Jacobin]

25. No.

When you enemy is doing himself in, stand back and stay out of the way.

[fujiyama]

26. He might want to avoid

speaking of it at the moment, but his campaign should absolutely in NO WAY try to shut Dean and Kennedy up from speaking their minds.

[Gloria]

27. I am waiting for some coordinated message...where is it??

And as for Kerry....some leadership, please. He doesn't have to get embroiled in the memo thing just yet....

But, where has he been on the violence in Iraq?? Clark's clear, concise exposition of the problem, pinpointing the Admin. not getting past Chalabi, is critical for a political solution. This is a matter of educating the American public, a tactic that Kerry should be using...He should be pounding home the difference between the military and political facets of this mess.

Kerry is missing the boat. Why? Because he disagrees with Clark? Or is the DLC method of letting things slide his favored approach?

I'm very unimpressed by this. He doesn't have to "attack" so much as educate, shift the debate a little.

[maggrwaggr]

31. I agree, Kerry has shown NO leadership anywhere

and I, for one, would like some

[skooooo]

29. Kerry knows EXACTLY what he's doing.....

..his come-from-behind record in the primary says it all for me.