Why Kerry's Critics are Wrong:

[mdguss]

I am tired of people calling Kerry a conservative.

He opposes the death penalty because of the 100 people who were exonerated while on death row, so he must really be a Republican.

He wants fair labor and environmental standards in trade agreements, so he really must be a Republican.

He wants to eliminate the Bush tax cut for the rich and corporate tax loopholes, so he must be controlled by the special interests.

He wants to internationalize the Iraqi occupation to take the burden off of our troops, so he really must be a neoconservative.

He wants to make the health care plan senators and congresspeople get available to every American, so he must be a stooge for the HMOs.

He opposes Bush using the issue of gay marriage as a means of politicizing the constitution, so he must be a homophobe.

He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, so he must be against equal rights.

He led the fight to stop drilling in ANWR, so he really must be for the big oil companies.

Face the facts: John Kerry is a great candidate. He holds many progressive views (far more than the gun toting, confederate flag waiving, medicare cutting, business serving Howard Dean). If some libearls and progressives don’t want to help elect a person who would be the best president of my lifetime, fine. But I really, really think people should become informed about John Kerry before they start calling him a Republican.

Just because John Kerry isn't doing what some people would do if they were in his position is no reason not to vote for him.

[AntiCoup2K4]

1. Again with the "Kerry is a liberal" LIE

The last three years, when his country needed a true liberal to take a fucking stand against the Bush Criminal Empire, John Kerry sold out and voted with the unelected fraud's agenda over and over again.

He wasn't alone in those votes, but he seems to be the only one given a free pass for doing so, just because the DLC and the media whores want him to be the sacrifical slaughter in November.

You have been had. Not only is Kerry going to lose in November, the DLC is counting on it

[Evil_Dewers]

10. the DLC and media whores want him to be the sacrifical slaughter in Nov

But Dr. Dean would have made a much better loser.

:)

Dean barely beat Gephardt in my state--and Gephardt had already dropped out.

Hey, the NRA endorsed that bastion of liberalism Howard Dean. And wasn't Howie a member of the DLC?

Don't pretend Howard was something he was not. I was attracted to his candidacy because he was the only one to fight back against Bush while the tutu wearing Democrats gave Chimpy McCokespoon a free ride.

But that no longer is the case.

[mike_c]

2. Well....

Kerry wants to continue to fight the "war on terror" (Bush meme).

He supported the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

He supported the USA PATRIOT Act.

He supports the WTO rape of the American economy.

He opposes gay marriage (the real issue, not the constitutional amendment.

Yes, he's a liberal democrat, more or less. But he's also been a business-as-usual spineless democrat during the Bush years. Where was his opposition when it counted?

On edit: my prediction is that if Kerry is elected, he will focus on "healing the divided nation," i.e. sweeping all the Bush* crimes under the rug and stifling any real reform in American politics or the Democratic party.

[rucky]

7. Kerry's shit smells better than Bush's

Doing nothing may be just what this country needs for awhile.

Look what happens when we try to do "something".

[emulatorloo]

13. They both sh*t, see Kerry is just the same as Geo Bush!

See my post 12. . .Thanks!

[emulatorloo]

12. He has two arms and legs, see he is no different than George Bush!

let's just take one of your one sentence dismissals

"He opposes gay marriage (the real issue, not the constitutional amendment)"

let's explicate:

GWB is anti-gay. GWB is against Gay Marriage. GWB is against Civil Unions and Partnership Rights.

JK is not anti-gay. JK is against Gay Marriage. JK is *for* Civil Unions and full partnership rights.

I'm gonna now quote from johnkerry.com re civil unions and partnership rights. I ask you to find me the same or similar language currently from GWB or RNC.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/glbt/

<out of order snip>

John Kerry believes that same-sex couples should be granted rights, including access to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections that all families and children need.  He has supported legislation to provide domestic partners of federal employees the benefits available to spouses of federal employees.  He was one of 14 Senators -- and the only one up for reelection in 1996 -- to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

John Kerry supports same-sex civil unions so that gay couples can benefit from the health benefits, inheritance rights, or Social Security survivor benefits guaranteed for heterosexual couples.

[orangeotter]

3. Not kosher with all positions, but...

he was named the most liberal senator of last year. Edwards was fourth which I was surprised by.

[Dying Eagle]

4. read this

Read this article from "The Nation" a respected progressive news mag. It should help solidify what "mdguss" said on this issue

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040315&s=corn

[BeyondGeography]

5. Kerry's got greatness in him

He was damaged by Vietnam, where he showed true greatness, but which left him understandably ambivalent about his government and maybe even life itself. As a Democrat, he's had to deal with the Reagan/Bush/Gingrich/Bush II nightmare ever since he arrived in the Senate.

Kerry has always supported progressive causes. You can criticize aspects of his voting record, but his main crime , for many people on this board, is that he defeated their favored candidate.

Those who find Kerry wooden are in for surprise. He's never had a platform like the Democratic nomination (which will soon be his). This is what he's been pointing towards his entire life. He's 60-years-old and was diagnosed with cancer last year. He will put everything on the line for US, that's right, for US, this fall. I expect him to run a hell of a campaign, and this ex-Clarkie will support him with all his heart.

[bushalert]

6. Man...you are some BITTER democrats!

Loosen the fuck up!!!!! Kerry is progressive. The vote for war was a huge mistake, but most other progressives voted for it as well. Chill out Deanocrats!!! Howard Dean is no more liberal than Kerry. Check his record in Vermont - very pro-business! But that's not the point. We need to support our nominee and remove shrub in November.

[mike_c]

8. my opposition to Kerry has absolutely nothing to do with Dean...

...and everything to do with Kerry's leadership failure during the Bush* administration.

[Atlant]

11. Hear, hear! (NT)

[Dying Eagle]

9. yes bushalert

I couldn't have said it any better myself