Why I care about Kerrygate

[Brian_Expat]

Normally, I don't give a hoot about a politician's sex life (as long as he didn't commit a crime).

However, in this case, it's different. Why?

John Kerry argues that my ability to get married could "undermine the sanctity of marriage." If he's going to make that argument, as a divorcee AND it comes out he also engaged in adulterous affairs with 20-somethings as a man nearing 60, can you say "hypocrite?"

Can anyone explain to me why such an action wouldn't be the actions of a political opportunist?

[Closer]

1. It's hypocritical

and enraging beyond words.

My guess, though, is that most here at DU won't get it.

[mzmolly]

2. I agree Brian. I also care about it because it could hasten his ability

to win in November.

You raise a good point however.

[eaprez]

3. The right is

opposed to gay marriage so they wouldn't spin it that way. The voters would reject lets say Howard Dean trying to exploit it because he's lost in every primary. Would be viewed as 'sour grapes'.

I think calling it Kerrygate is VERY premature since nothing concrete has even come out.

[Brian_Expat]

I'm talking about MY perception and those of people like me. . .

. . . pulling the lever to support someone who says I "undermine marriage," yet who is a divorcee and who MAY have had other untoward-for-married-men activities going on will be hard.

I suspect we'll learn more either way about Kerrygate. If it does come out that something untoward happened, I hope it's sooner rather than later so Democrats with a conscience and sense of decency can nominate someone else.

[eaprez]

9. Once again...

...to me the choice is very simple. You vote for the dem or you vote republican or you stay home while the right extremist base goes out to vote SOLEY on that issue.

[Brian_Expat]

11. My vote isn't restricted to your false dichotomy. . .

. . . I also could vote third party, or do a write-in for president.

But it's most telling that nobody is addressing my core point -- a very, very seriously made core point.

At this point, I merely consider my intelligence insulted. :-P

[eaprez]

13. With All Due Respect

...a third party vote would essentially be a vote for Bush. Remember Florida!

[Brian_Expat]

16. My vote is Kerry's to lose. . .

. . . and he's doing a pretty good job of it, through HIS choices. I have my limits, as any good person of conscience has, and my vote is sacred.

[virtualobserver]

25. If Kerry was a leader.....

he would convince the nation that it was wrong to discriminate.

[HFishbine]

7. Once again

people look to the right to see how the issue may or may not be framed, and once again what is ignored is how progressives view the issue.

[Brian_Expat]

15. I'm a progressive

And I have little tolerance for cheating.

Someone who would cheat on his spouse is someone who would probably cheat in other areas, and that's bad enough.

Someone who claims that I "undermine the sanctity of marriage," who proceeds to make a mockery of that institution through his own actions, is beyond the pale in comparison!

[polpilot]

31. Predatory sex is predatory sex.Legal or illegal it makes little difference

eom

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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

[progressivebydesign]

4. IF the story is true..

.. then you have every right to be angy about it. It would be the ultimate hypocrisy.

[Closer]

5. A

man who, in his 60's, preys on a young twenties while married, then says gay marriage will "undermine the sanctity of marriage" is NO different than the white "masters" who had sex with their slaves. The hypocrasy is outrageous!

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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

[Padraig18]

10. False choice:

We still want to vote for a Democrat, so why should we be forced to vote for THIS ONE? There are still alternatives to a kerry candidacy, you realize?

[Dr Fate]

21. I dont trash DEMS with Sex rumors- Bush/media does that...

...dont lecture me about how righteous you are while using Repug. smear tactics.

I was a CLARK supporter. I'm not trashing a good DEM over a Matt Drudge story.

Trashing candidates with sex rumors is a republican game- you are i n the wrong party if that's what you are about.

[Granite]

8. Why I don't care about "Kerrygate"

There has been no compelling evidence to suggest that there is anything to this story - a couple of tabloid reports basically regurgitating the same tabloid sources. Nothing concrete. No Democrat should take this seriously unless and until there is some corroborating evidence to suggest that there is something to this story.

But, then again, we continue rehash the same old conspiracy arguments over and over again here on DU. And we call the republicans anti-intellectual.

[Brian_Expat]

12. Right now, there's no CONCLUSIVE evidence either way. . .

. . . but I am warning Kerry right now, there'd better not be. If he lied in his denial, I am gone gone gone.

And if there IS truth to it, is it fair to say you'd still defend Kerry to the death? Or would you truthfully evaluate it and reconsider?

If Dean had a similar scandal pop up and there turned out to be truth to it, I'd urge him to pull out too.

[southerngirlwriter]

18. Defend Kerry to the death? No.

Vote for him if he's the nominee? Hell, yes.

Kerry's gross hypocrisy on matters of marriage and sex ISN'T GOING TO GET 500 MORE AMERICAN SOLDIERS KILLED AND THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS IN SOME FOREIGN COUNTRY, NOR IS IT GOING TO REINSTATE THE DRAFT!!!!

Why is your (understandable) sense of moral outrage more important than thousands of people DYING in a second whistle-ass term???

[janx]

38. Because if this is true and Kerry gets the nomination,

there will be no President Kerry. It will mean four more years of Bush.

[Granite]

19. I'd confront it when and if there was credible evidence

I just don't think we should be discussing contingencies and possibilities when there is no compelling reason to believe the story.

I've stated that my loyalties are to the Party first, then the candidate, so if (hypothetically) my candidate did something that I saw could hurt the Party, I'd certainly re-evaluate.

FWIW, I'm also on record as disagreeing with JK's position on the marriage-rights issue, as well, so your thoughts resonate at some level. I just think its way too premature to be discussing this at this point.

[funky_bug]

14. I'm anti-"marriage" if it means only straight people can have the label

I heard Kerry say he didn't believe in gay marriage, and yes, it pissed me off. However, since he voted against DOMA, I'll ease up a bit.

Here's my view, based on personal experience. My best friends have been together for four years. Both of them go to church at least twice a week, and one is a music minister for both a gay church, and a presbyterian church. Both are far more spiritual than myself, who doesn't go to church but maybe once a month, when it's convenient (at not at all lately because I'm Episcopalian, and their stand here in Florida is making me SICK.)

If they participate in a relgious institution, but don't have the right to the term "marriage", then dammit, I should have less of a right to the word, and yet, I'm given it freely.

If gay men and women can't be married, then the term marriage should be stricken altogether.

Footnote: Go San Francisco!

[bigtree]

17. You haven't proven that he did anything improper

Why shoudn't your factless, sly slander of John Kerry be seen as political opportunism. This rumor originated in republican circles and is perpetuated on this Democratic board. You use this canard as your premise. Why should anyone give credence to your morality scenario when you are giving credence to the worst of smears.

[BritishHuman]

20. But what about all the other candidates?

They did gangrape that busload of nuns, after all, according to an unnamed source.

I'm a marginally more credible witness than Matt "Karl Rove provides all my stories" Drudge, and I've provided just as much evidence as he did for the Kerry claimsmear.

So by your argument, this information ought to affect how you vote...

[Brian_Expat]

24. Right now, I am withholding judgment. . .

. . . but if Kerry has lied in his denial, he can forget my vote.

Incidentally, the British press has been all over this. As I mentioned in another thread, three different clerks today (including one at Debenhams) have asked me about this story. The Telegraph and a few other papers have the story on their front pages and are claiming contact with the intern herself.

This isn't just a "Drudge thing."

[NNN0LHI]

22. Already have a label for Drudges smear and everything already I see

Real nice. NOT.

Don

[bushwakker]

23. It's Kerry or Bush - take your pick

AWOL is now in favor of desecrating the US Constitution with anti-gay graffiti. If you can't distinguish their positions then vote for Bush.

[Brian_Expat]

26. The GOP will push the FMA regardless of who is in the White House

And I seriously question Kerry's commitment to fighting them on that front, so the contrast is not as clear as you suggest.

Kerry does support anti-gay amendments on at least a state level, as confirmed by both his interview with NPR and statements he made to the Salt Lake Tribune.

[virtualobserver]

29. he will fight it with the same energy he used against the IWR..

and the PATRIOT act.

[Brian_Expat]

33. That's pretty much my conclusion as well. n/t

[bushwakker]

32. No they won't

this is an issue they will make noises about in an election season (especially given JFK's connection to MA and the current situation here) but won't push for after they've wrung as much political gain from it as they can.

[Brian_Expat]

35. You clearly don't know much about gay politics.

The Republicans (and many Democrats) have pushed DOMA amendments in on years and off years. They will bring it to a head soon because this is their last chance.

I want someone who will fight for me.

[bushwakker]

39. This is silly

if you truly see no difference then vote nader. these incessant anti-kerry posts are absurd.

[virtualobserver]

27. Bush and Kerry may not be the only options in November n/t

[WiseMen]

28. "he also engaged in adulterous affairs " Inflamatory. Rule 8

Please will some moderator review these endless libel. I would hate
for DU to be tied up in some lawsuit. It is really beyond any
bounds of political debate.

[Brian_Expat]

34. Read the full quote. YOU are MISQUOTING me.

If he's going to make that argument, as a divorcee AND it comes out he also engaged in adulterous affairs with 20-somethings as a man nearing 60, can you say "hypocrite?"

Note the words "if" and "and it comes out."

Kerry had better not be lying in his denial, that's all I can say. . .

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[saltpoint]

36. Brian --

-- I support your right to marry if you choose to, and I support your right to enjoy the same legal privileges as everyone else -- wholeheartedly and with zeal.

If you should ever cheat on your partner, I also support your right to be human. I said "if." I'm a hell of a long way from perfect myself and don't feel I have the power to find fault in you if that were to occur in your life.

I extend the same consideration to Senator Kerry.

And I am voting for every goddamned Democrat I can FIND on my ballot in November.

[mmonk]

37. IMO

the courts are going to decide. A constitutionsl ammendment to "protect marriage" as they call it isn't going to fly. I do get it. But re-electing bush means they (repub majority currently) represent the threat when combined with bush's wishes.

[Moderator]

41. Locking

8. If you make a highly questionable and inflammatory factual assertion about a candidate, you must provide a link to a reputable source to back up your claim. Rumor-mongering is not allowed. Allegedly "innocent" questions which are actually an underhanded effort to spread rumors are not allowed. If you really need to know the answer to your question, try Google.