Remember when we were on offense?

[unfrigginreal]

It wasn't that long ago. We had a candidate that would issue timely
press releases pointing out the wrongheadedness of GWB and his cronies. Every time Bush issued some new decree he got slammed.

Too bad for us. We're back to playing defense. We won't point out the stupidity of a constitutional ban on gay marriage because it might make our candidate appear immoderate. I suspect we'll get some sort of releases saying that our candidates disagree with the ban but it won't be presented in a way to put Bush on the defensive for suggesting it in the first place.

We're heading into a gunfight with pea-shooters.

ps...nothing would make me happier than to be wrong about how our
candidates address Bush's new initiative.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. I think Kerry is doing a great job turning Bush's shit back on him.eom

[unfrigginreal]

3. Actually, I just read his response on another thread

It was a hell of a lot better than I expected.

[democratreformed]

8. I was just going to post it for you then saw a thread with it over here

I thought it sounded pretty good. I know it is not as much as some would like, but I thought it was pretty good.

[redqueen]

2. Kucinich still issues press releases doing that

Too bad democrats don't care.

[oasis]

4. Kerry's running a damn good campaign, why should he adopt the strategy

of someone who is sitting on the sidelines?

[molly]

5. Good logical point of view

:toast:

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. Build those bridges to the Dean supporters.

Good job! :eyes:

[oasis]

10. I'm much better at knocking down b.s. than I am at bridge building.

[Cuban_Liberal]

11. That's obvious. n/t

[oasis]

16. The next time Kerry is accused of "stealing" a Dean issue, please refer to

this thread when you register your opinion.

[mzmolly]

7. Yes I do unfrigginreal. *sigh*

:(

[w4rma]

9. Kerry's response to Bush.

“I believe President Bush is wrong. All Americans should be concerned when a President who is in political trouble tries to tamper with the Constitution of the United States at the start of his reelection campaign.

“This President can’t talk about jobs. He can’t talk about health care. He can’t talk about a foreign policy, which has driven away allies and weakened the United States, so he is looking for a wedge issue to divide the American people.

“While I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, for 200 years, this has been a state issue. I oppose this election year effort to amend the Constitution in an area that each state can adequately address, and I will vote against such an amendment if it comes to the Senate floor.

“I believe the best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions. I believe the issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the President of the United States should be addressing the central challenges where he has failed – jobs, health care, and our leadership in the world rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes.”
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0224b.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x392764

[Bill McBlueState]

12. not bad

"This President can’t talk about jobs. He can’t talk about health care. He can’t talk about a foreign policy, which has driven away allies and weakened the United States, so he is looking for a wedge issue to divide the American people."

He needs to repeat this a few times over the next week.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

14. I'll bet it's standard stump speech material now.

that's a winner!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. Wow...

Great response by Kerry!

[unfrigginreal]

18. If you just close your eyes...

“I believe the best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions. I believe the issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the President of the United States should be addressing the central challenges where he has failed – jobs, health care, and our leadership in the world rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes.”

you might think that it's Howard Dean saying these words. Now, is this a newly found wisdom for Kerry that he would govern by or rhetoric to get votes?

[blm]

20. NO...Kerry has been saying as much since the first DOMA fight in 96.

I think many of you have no idea that Kerry has been advocating for gays since he first took office in 1985.

NO candidate had a longer or better gay advocacy record than Kerry.

[unfrigginreal]

23. You still don't get it BLM

I'm less interested in how Kerry voted for his special interest groups, why wouldn't he support them, than I am for him defending the constitution and taking the fight to Bush.

[blm]

28. You don't get it. Dean didn't INSPIRE Kerry to say these things.

He has LONG held these advocacy positions and beliefs but you never paid attention to him or his record.

[unfrigginreal]

29. Ah yes, Kerry the states rights champion

I guess I forgot.

[eileen_d]

15. I remember when Dean was continually "on offense" against other Democrats

It got tiresome. I don't miss that.

[sadiesworld]

17. "what's too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget..."

Damn, why can't I get that song out of my head. Thanks, Babs.

[RetroLounge]

19. Another Dean idea co-opted

why should I be surprised?

[blm]

21. Dean gave Kerry the idea back in the 1996 DOMA fight? I didn't know that.

Can you provide a cite for that?

I wasn't even aware that Dean issued a letter of support for Kerry back in 1996 when DOMA battle was first waged.

I'm looking forward to your providing of that information.

[Scott Lee]

24. Dean was making history while Botox cast a vote.

Dean was signing a historic bill as governor, being the first state in the nation to sanction such civil unions. Kerry cast a vote along with many others against DoMA.

I. am. so. impressed.

[blm]

27. Kerry WROTE anti-discrimination of gays legislation in 1985.

He ADVOCATED for gays to serve openly in the military in 1993. He helped write the Hate Crimes bill and voted against DOMA in 1996 with only 13 other Senators.

Please share the letters of support that the Gov. of Vermont sent at the time these issues were being debated.

[Scott Lee]

22. Precisely. Kerry on the defensive already means the Dems lose again.

Getting sick of that game, arent you?

[pezcore64]

25. welll

As a Dean supporter(former i guess now), im very afraid of what lies ahead. we are putting a weak democrat against one of the richest strongest republican machines this country has seen and we will pay for it. what scares me even more is that, i listen to ralph nader talking again, and everything he says(well, most of it) makes sense. just like it did in 2000. Both of the partys ARE dominated by special interest and with either corporations WILL run this country. Its just a matter of how much the corps can get away with depending on the party in power.

As sad as it sounds, I might be voting nader. Again.
Thanks for being the same old party I felt detatched from in 2000. Heres to another 4 years of corporate raping! hear hear!

[ShaneGR]

26. Never fear Unfrigginreal, even though Dean is done, we have learned

That was his contribution. We get it.