A Kerry message starts to break through May 9, 2004

[drfemoe]

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff | May 9, 2004

PHOENIX -- For a candidate accused of searching for a message, the challenge was no clearer than it was Friday, as John F. Kerry stood at a podium here outlining his vision for the general election campaign, while a television in the nearby media filing center carried a live broadcast of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld apologizing for US soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
...
Yet in recent days, there has been evidence that Kerry is not only finding a message, but also an audience. In an address to the Democratic Leadership Council, which prides itself as the party's centrist core, the Massachusetts senator delivered a stinging indictment of the administration's leadership and said that in contrast to Bush, he has been developing plans to deal with major issues confronting Americans. These include ways to expand health care to all Americans, strengthen the economy through public works and tax reform, and improve public education by increasing teacher pay and accountability.

''In the year 2000, when John McCain had him on the run, George Bush made up a slogan, 'Reformer With Results.' And four years later, Americans are still waiting to see the reform, but I'll tell you this: They've had enough of the results," Kerry said to the group in Phoenix.

Two days earlier in Los Angeles, Kerry offered a variant of the theme when asked whether his campaign was adrift. ''George Bush -- sure he can make decisions and lead -- but look at the direction he's taking us," he told reporters during a news conference.
... <more - worth a read>
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/05/09/a_kerry_message_starts_to_break_through

[RoyGBiv]

1. Kick

:kick:

[drfemoe]

5. kick

:bounce:

[nofurylike]

2. kick n/t

[Paradise]

3. kick n/t

[drfemoe]

4. Kerry also has taken to the airwaves with a vengeance.

His campaign is spending $25 million this month, the largest single purchase of ad time by a presidential candidate, to air two 60-second commercials intended to introduce him to voters in battleground states. He and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, also are conducting a media blitz, sitting for interviews from Ladies' Home Journal and Vanity Fair to Barbara Walters and ''20/20."
<s>
Republicans chuckle at Kerry's recent ad buying, saying it proves that he has no message and must rely on a controlled medium -- a television commercial produced by his campaign -- to try to break through with voters. ...
<s>
By contrast, the Kerry campaign says the speech to the Democratic Leadership Council was an expression of Kerry's campaign message as well as a good template to use in the future. Over the course of 38 minutes, he pledged not only to challenge Bush on national security issues, but also to exhibit fiscal discipline and focus on job creation and school improvements. ''If we cut that back to 20 minutes, I think we may have our stump speech," said a top aide, who requested anonymity.

[blm]

8. Love the part with the Republican "chuckles"

when Bush spends 70 MILLION dollars in less than two months attacking Kerry and the GOP laughs that it's Kerry who needs the controlled medium.

Focking Repubs...they always bellyache loudest whenever any Democrat fights back at them and complain the most about normal tactics when they are the ones who use ads to excess.

[drfemoe]

10. neo-morons

neo-'reasoning' for their neo-propaganda ...

It must really chap their neo-butts that their opponents can purchase time on THEIR neo-air waves. "Controlled medium" indeed.

[malachibk]

6. Positive news about Kerry here on DU???

Who would have thunk it! Happy to see it (and I'm not even a big Kerry fan)

[drfemoe]

7. well it might be the last ...

deleted by poster .. why bother

[Adelante]

9. Thanks for posting, drfemoe

I'm glad they're starting to notice Kerry's message.

[sandnsea]

11. Well good, but

It's the same stuff he's been saying for a year now. But if the Globe finally hears a message, better late than never I guess!

[drfemoe]

12. I happen to see a positive progression ..

if you don't see it that way, perhaps you can still appreciate and allow for the fact that others do.