PREDICTION: Kerry infidelity allegations will backfire

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

I usually try to stay out of the prediction business, since I'm usually wrong, but I feel fairly confident about this one. I doubt that this story will have any legs and, if anything, will play against the people trying to spread it. I think people got pretty fed up with this line of bullshit during the Clinton impeachment, and if anything, it automatically seems like the work of political enemies trying to take him down. I think this is what happened when Schwarzenegger was accused of groping --- the rumors were true, and he admitted it, but it still seemed to a lot of people like malfeasance on Gray Davis' part.

I doubt this will go anywhere. Don't worry about it.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Here's hoping you're right

I see AWOL distraction ploy myself.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

5. Probably

But as the front-runner, it could be any number of people trying to take him down. However, a panicked GOP seeing how well he's doing is certainly a plausible scenario.

Personally, I'm still sick of this shit from when it was happening in 1992.

[NashVegas]

6. Big AWOL Distraction

Success rate will be questionable.

[lancdem]

2. You could be right

but it still bothers me. I'm ABB, yet I feel almost as bad as I did when Monica happened. Definitely depressed. And I don't even know the truth.

[Cush]

3. you're forgetting one thing

He's a Dem, they will hammer at it non stop.

[KC21304]

4. I think this is laugh out loud nuts.

Am I missing something ? I see 5 different headlines on Drudge all linking to the same 10 sentences. Intern ? Nice touch. Where was she an intern ? All I know is if Clark really did say what is reported ( which I can hardly believe ) he should be ashamed. I would be very disappointed . I really thought Kerry/Clark would clean up.

[Adelante]

14. This is what we KNOW Clark said

"Give them hell and never retreat."

Hold onto what we know.

[KC21304]

18. I think I will. Thanks.

[democratreformed]

15. Drudge - or someone - is trying to sink him completely

and make sure he doesn't appear anywhere on a future ticket. They're afraid he still has a little life left and they have to make sure he's dead for good. Kind of like pumping hundreds of bullets in someone just to make sure.

[patmacsf]

7. I don't think so

Two reasons why you're wrong: California is not the same as the United States and there are still nine months left in this election, not three days.

If this thing has the least bit of truth to it, the country will run, not walk, away from this guy solely out of Clinton-fatigue and the desire to save themselves from having to elect this guy and go through the whole fiasco again.

This is huge to the dem voters who are voting for Kerry because "he's the most electable". If this story lingers then the Democratic nomination process is wide open, again.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

9. We'll see

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part. I'm not a Kerry supporter but I would hate to think this kind of thing actually still means anything to anyone. Then again, I live in the United States of Manhattan, which is not the same as the rest of the country either.

[GumboYaYa]

26. I agree with you LDS, but I grew up in New Orleans

so I'm probably not the best judge of mainstream values.

I don't give a rat's ass what a politician does in his/her personal live, so long as s/he is right on policy issues. It's the policy issues that keep me from voting for Kerry.

[slinkerwink]

8. yes, but I think it might have some mileage

because Democrats remember all the imbroglio over Clinton's sex scandals, and they might not want to relive that again through Kerry. It's still possible it could backfire, but I think the other scenario is more plausible.

[On the Road]

10. They Didn't Backfire When Gary Hart Was the Target

and as HST said, in 1988 he was the closest thing to a president-in-waiting the country has ever had.

The infidelity accusations did wound Clinton. It took all his political skill as well as Hillary's support to overcome them.

It's a question of how credible and how recent they are. Sounds like Drudge is saying it's recent. Whether it remains a rumor or gets legs will depend on more details coming out, and also on Kerry's and his wife's reactions when they are questioned about it. It's a hard thing to deny accusations without raising further suspicions.

[Nicholas_J]

24. Different story entirely.

The actually caught Hart with Donna Rice.

[11cents]

11. The Clark aspect obviously makes no sense

Why would he leave the race if he thought Kerry was going to "implode?" That's thrown in as a very clumsy attempt to drive a wedge between Kerry and Clark.

I'm betting that if the press's crack "Special Forces - Blowjob Patrol" is indeed back in action it will have to do with relationships Kerry had before his second marriage. Keeping in mind that to Drudge any sex act between a man and a woman qualifies as a "fantastic story."

But if it turns out that Kerry does have zipper issues, he should be forewarned: only funboys get "the Clinton exemption." Kerry is not a funboy.

[Nicholas_J]

23. Drudge's article

Incicated only one source for the story, Wes Clark. It seems that it was Clarks statements that sent the media scurrying. If it was a Clarl slip up, and he was reporting something that occured earlier, thinking it was recent, this could be what resulted in Clarks pulling out of the race.

[conservdem]

41. What's a "funboy" ? And what's the "Clinton exemption" ?

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Well a lot of your fellow Dean supporters are hoping this will sink Kerry.

Just read their messages on the other threads. They are very happy about this. Why?

[progressiverealist]

13. It absolutely amazes me that so many Dean supporters are happy about this.

I was for General Clark, and Kerry wes 3rd or fourth on my list, but there's no way I can see that this is a good thing.

[Sushi-Lover]

16. For the record

I'm a Dean supporter and I'm not happy about this. It does uphold my opinion that our nominee, whoever it is, is going to get slimed. The thing which I think will have the biggest effect on the general election is not what bs will be used, but how our candidate deals with the media and slime attacks.

[OKNancy]

22. They are dreaming

If it is true, which we don't know, it helps Edwards.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

25. Don't ask me

Ask them. I'm the one saying it's bullshit.

[indigo32]

27. Not THIS Dean supporter

I'm hoping LDS is right. Frankly I'm upset we have to deal with this...but I'm not looking for points....I'm looking to win in 2004 and don't appreciate outside attacks (which these APPEAR to be... I'm not ready to put this on Clark by a long shot).

[GumboYaYa]

From what I have seen the vast majority of Dean supporters

recognize this for what it is, a right-wing hit to take down a candidate. We've gotten good at recognizing hits regardless of the source.

[HootieMcBoob]

17. All Kerry and his wife have to do is

say that they're not going to play this game. That they won't dignify these allegations with a response and that reporters should stay the hell out of peoples personal lives.

Bush never answered any questions in the last campaign about being a coke head and what's worse an affair or illegal narcotics?

If the woman that is alleged to be the person he had the affair with says the same thing then that's it. Unless, of course, there's a linda trip involved which is very unlikely.

Honestly, I think people are sick of this shit. Leave people's personal lives alone.

[Cheswick2.0]

19. I see it a little differently

I think the people have been through this once and even thought they stuck up for Clinton, they don't want to go there again. It would be different if Kerry were President, but as a candidate he can't expect the same kind of loyalty as Clinton enjoyed.

Of course if none of it turns out to be true then he might be able to sail past it.

[Eloriel]

20. My sentiments exactly:

"Oh, no! Not THAT again. Will we also have another lying-under-oath problem?"

Besides, there's really no such thing as a non-serial philanderer.

We'll see if it's true. My bet is that it is.

[KC21304]

31. I see you have your Psychiatrist hat on again.

Makes for interesting reading. LOL

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

21. Or Fight Back

This site may be helpful:

http://www.americaheldhostile.com/cheating.html

The Republican Wife-Cheating Hall of Fame.

It mentions such notables as Guiliani, Gingrich, Bob Dole, George H.W., Dan Burton, Henry Hyde, Robert Livingston and Limpballs.

Hope the link is posted correctly. I'm a newbe (but years long reader).

:hi:

[newyawker99]

29. Hi AnybodyButBush!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[stickdog]

28. I don't know about backfiring, but I do know that it's a bullshit nonissue

You can't get through thick mud without Drudging.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[BurtWorm]

32. Shut up, grovelbot!

The grownups are trying to have a conversation here!

[yellowcanine]

33. It is already backfiring - Clark endorsing Kerry

No way Clark would be endorsing Kerry if the Drudge story about Clark telling reporters about Kerry having an intern problem were true. So I guess Drudge's story wasn't true. Imagine that.

[AP]

34. Kübler-Ross’s five stages of coping with death:

denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

35. you wish

man.

[AP]

36. What I wish is that in the next 17 or so days, we have a debate on the

issues -- on why we're all Democrats.

I'm a Democrat for reasons that are best embodies by John Edwards, not John Kerry.

I hope we have debate that explains the difference to Americans.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

37. California elected a slimy repeat groper. Why would this matter.

[AP]

39. Becaue the media won't be on Kerry's side the way it was Arnold's side.

[VolcanoJen]

38. I think this story is utter garbage, but...

... if there's even an inkling of truth in it, we need to nominate a different candidate.

We simply cannot afford, with so many life and death issues on the table this election, to be sidetracked and thrown off-message by fighting "bimbo eruption" allegations.

As far as I know, John Edwards, Howard Dean and Wes Clark have all been faithful to their wives. They'd make excellent presidents, too, although it's a little late for Clark to jump back in.

Dammit... this really will stick. If you don't think Americans care about "sex issues" anymore, I refer you to Miss Jackson, the star of SuperBowlBoobGate.

I've been working all day, and I'm pretty cranky anyway, and this is the first I've heard of this new development. Drudge is a bastard, and the charges are likely not true, but if they are, my knee-jerk reaction is that we should run away from Kerry, but quick.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

40. And as far as I know, John Kerry has been faithful to his wife. eom

[slappypan]

42. story has reached critical mass

Cro-Magnon office Freeper at my workplace running around pestering everybody about it — the story has filtered down to the mouth-breather set.

[drfemoe]

43. LOL

He's already forgotten about "SuperBowlBoobGate"*? LOL

*stolen from vjen