Nixon WH memo: "Destroy Kerry before he becomes another Ralph Nader"!!

[RegenerationMan]

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061703.shtml

-snip-

The tone was sneering. But the secretly recorded dialogue illustrates just how seriously Kerry was viewed by the Nixon White House. Some of these conversations have not been previously publicized, and Kerry said he had never heard them until they were provided by a reporter.

Day after day, according to the tapes and memos, Nixon aides worried that Kerry was a unique, charismatic leader who could undermine support for the war. Other veteran protesters were easier targets, with their long hair, their use of a Viet Cong flag, and in some cases, their calls for overthrowing the US government. Kerry, by contrast, was a neat, well-spoken, highly decorated veteran who seemed to be a clone of former President John F. Kennedy, right down to the military service on a patrol boat.

The White House feared him like no other protester.

Colson, in a secret memo, revealed he had a mission to target Kerry: "Destroy the young demagogue before he becomes another Ralph Nader."

-snip-

All Nader leaners take note! He did become another Ralph Nader. So vote for Kerry! Wait, is that right? Yes, as Chuck Colson predicted he has become another Ralph Nader, so if you were going to to vote for Nader, check off Kerry. Thank you.

[Care Bear]

1. Well, I hate Nixon even more than Bush

for personal reasons, however, please note he was referring to the Kerry of 1971. I don't believe Kerry has followed through over the years.

However, I will vote for him; no worries.


Are you serious about Kerry having become another Ralph Nader? No way!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Nooooo Kerry is too corporate, didn't stand up when he ought to have

during $hrub's term.

Why was he not delivering the kinds of speeches Byrd has been for the last 3 years? Why haven't ALL the congressional dems been doing that?!

Editing to add, he's got my vote anyway. I am ABB and will stand by it even if I don't like the candidate. But '08 is up in the air.

[eeyore]

10. well...

If Kerry had been delivering Byrd-like speeches for the past 3 years, he'd be about as electable as Kucinich. It's just a fact of life that a Presidential candidate must appeal to the middle ground American. Most are not like us, and we need to realize that we will most likely never see a President with anything close to our ideals. Americans just don't want it - at least not now. Sorry to be such a wet blanket. ;)

[sangh0]

16. You like the corporatist Robert "Coal Mine" Byrd?

who never met a environmental bill he liked. Who was going to vote for Clinton's impeachment (I guess "principle" includes being offended by a blow job) until Clinton promised to allow mining companies to dump mountaintops into streams.

That Sen Byrd?

And you're a Green Party voter?

[Waistdeep]

3. I love that sentence for the multiple levels of irony.

Makes me dizzy. Definitely the quote of the week.

"Destroy the young demagogue before he becomes another Ralph Nader."

[politick]

4. And there's also this little bit of info:

http://villagevoice.com/issues/0408/schanberg.php

--snip-- "Senator John Kerry, a decorated battle veteran, was courageous as a navy lieutenant in the Vietnam War. But he was not so courageous more than two decades later, when he covered up voluminous evidence that a significant number of live American prisoners—perhaps hundreds—were never acknowledged or returned after the war-ending treaty was signed in January 1973. "

Now I know politicians do things for political reasons. And ABB seems reasonable, but the Kerry that once was may not be the Kerry that is. The Kerry who wants the White House.

[KittyWampus]

18. Ah, The Voice Spouting Far Right Smear Jobs. Wellstone Would Be Disgusted

I am sure.

[peacetalksforall]

5. This is my third redraft of what I want to say...

I did a 180 on my first thought which was to mention a contradiction in this comparison.

I think that it is a waste of time to do comparisons of Kerry to Nader, because Colson said this in the 60'?, 70'? and they both have changed. The only worthwhile comparison is K today with N today and their recent past - not more than 10 years. They both kinda left their idealistic path.

[denverbill]

6. Wait a minute. I thought I was supposed to hate Nader.

Does that mean I should transfer my Nader-hate to Kerry also?

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. *lol*

[orangeotter]

9. Why Hate?

Why would you hate Nader? He has been a significant force in protection of the American consumer and towards openness in politics. I am an ardent Kerry supporter, but have great respect for Nader. I realize your intent was largely sardonic, but do you truly have loathing and contempt for Kerry and so much so that a slate of Bush judges, continuing rollbacks of environmental protections, and a march toward more corporate control is your welcomed alternative? Kerry has never asked for contempt towards Nader he has lauded him for his successes and shown how they have shared many goals and efforts. Did you despise CLinton this greatly? His environmental policies, for one, were greatly more conservative than Kerry's views. If you wish to vote third party I have no problems wiht that, voting is a very personal choice. I do have reservations about people tearing down the could-be candidate of the party they, I have assumed, espouse.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Welcome to DU!

And you are so right. Ralph does not deserve the treatment he gets.

[curlyred]

12. you must be new here

Ralph Nader is the anti-christ here at DU.

[RegenerationMan]

13. Just remember if you were going to vote for Nader, check off Kerry

If you are going to vote for Kerry, don't forget to vote for Kerry.

If you are going to vote for Bush, forget to vote.

Thank you.

[bigtree]

7. "When the president does it . . .

. . . that means that it is not illegal."

Richard M Nixon, 37th US President

[burning bush]

14. If Kerry=Nader, and a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush...

Then a vote for Kerry is a vote for Bush.

Got It!

You Kerry kids sure put this in perspective for me. Thanks!

[jmoss]

17. Sounds like a prospective Edwards converter?!

:P

[JVS]

15. Nixon overestimated Kerry

I'm sure that Nixon would have greatly enjoyed watching Kerry toe the line for Bush over the last few years.

[RegenerationMan]

19. And then Nixon would have hated Kerry sticking his thumb in Bush's eye,

beating him in the election and then making all American Communities "Green Communities" (see Kerry's environmental plan).

[JVS]

20. We'll have to wait to see if that comes true

[RegenerationMan]

21. It's on his Web site. It is proposed and a very far-reaching proposal at

that.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/energy/

My God, he has become Ralph Nader!

Green Communities indeed!

[corporatewhore]

22. well he obviously didnt NAFTAGATTWTO come to mind