Help. I worked a phone bank last night and,

[TWiley]

many people were concerned about Kerry's attendance record in Congress. Several Kerry supporters also voiced concerns about it.

Does anyone have a link to a reputable site that explains this ad? I would like to mail the info to anyone who asks for it.

Thanks in advance.

[Killarney]

1. This is what I would say.

Yes, it's true of all candidates that campaign while still holding a position that they will miss time to be on the campaign trail. But Kerry has not missed any more time in the Senate than Bush has missed in the White House and which job is more important?

Both Bush and Kerry are on the campaign trail every day. People can't say this is just something Kerry is doing (missing out on his job).

[Dick_Tuck]

3. I'd just explain to them that it's common....

Bob Dole did the same when he ran, and our side trashed him for it. McCain did the same, and Bush trashed him for it.

Tell them about what Kerry did in Iran/Contra and BCCI. Tell them about Kerry's acid rain legislation. Tell them that Kerry has one of the best constituent services in congress, and has been able to cut through red tape so thousands of veterans got their rightful benefits.

[Bandit]

12. Bob Dole did resign his Senate seat to run for President

He was Majority Leader as well. I thought that was a bold thing to do because he was way behind in the polls at the time. I'm not sure it is wise to try and cover all your bets in this manner. I would hate for Kerry to lose his position as Senator but he can not do the job justice while running for President. This issue will hurt us a little.

[seabeyond]

6. i think he is being more attacked prior to this campaign run

i think they are probably talking senate intelligence committee after first world trade center blow up probably around '93?

an ad came out talking it. we havent gotten the facts on the lie and distortion yet, lol ol bushco ads there is always lie,.......need the facts on that to let the people know the reality of this

the repugs missed as many of these meetings, as did cheney when he was in senate? house? committees too. is just a dirty repug trick

[Renew Deal]

2. His participation is outstanding.

He has missed some votes while running. Check the bottom of this page.

http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=S0421103

[TWiley]

15. Great Link!

Thank you Bleachers

[poliguru]

4. There's some confusion being reported

For example, when I ran a search, the Ithaca Times came up, citing Kerry's poor record in the Intel committee. But Kerry doesn't sit on the Intel committee, Edwards does. (Never mind this on edit - it's previous committee work they're talking about)

Kerry has said that there are many more closed door meetings than public meetings, and that he has attended most of those. I'm still looking at comparisons with other senators, so I'll get back to you. But my suggestion would be to email Kerry's website with your request, and they will send you something almost immediately.

[TWiley]

14. Thank you

[shrdlu]

5. johnkerry.com...

...is where to ask.

[Trajan]

7. Im troubled by this as well ...

But it should be noted that the ad 'says' one thing and 'reads' another ....

It 'says' he missed lots or all of those meetings ...

But the words in the screen 'reads' he missed PUBLIC meetings ....

Public meetings of the Intelligence committee ? ... IS that where the most work is done ? .. or is it mostly done in PRIVATE meetings ? ..

I dont know that facts: and you, working at a phone bank SHOULD have been provided with various refutations for this stuff ...

[TWiley]

16. We are pretty new at this.

There are a bunch of capable old-timers on the staff, but this has been the first week of calls. I don't think anyone really knew what to expect.

We did talk about the Swift boat ad, but that was pretty easy to discount with the Chicago Tribune story. I wonder if we could get permission to reprint that article for the purpose of mailing it to concerned .

You are correctly sensing my inexperience. Hopefully, I am in the process of changing that

[TWiley]

17. Great observation by the way.

I will certianly be using it the next time this topic comes up.
Thanks.

[sadiesworld]

8. No links, but a couple of observations:

Kerry has missed no critical votes. The pugs have engineered a couple to make it look that way but the result would have been the same whether Kerry was there or not. Otherwise, it appears to be a concern best left to the people of MA.

Feel free to tell them that * had taken more vacation time (of course he has done little else EXCEPT campaign) by his third year than Carter and Clinton did in the combined 12 years of their presidencies.

(This is an especially amazing pug meme considering *'s month long vacation in August, 2001 when the intel chatter had reached an unprecedented level.)

[TWiley]

19. Now that makes sense

And, I did not know about *'s vacation time but I did suspect it.

I have often wondered if he moves the white house to private property so he can more completely control access to current information.

[goddess40]

9. He had an agreement that if they needed him for a vote he'd be there

But since we are in the minority his vote wouldn't be the deciding vote.

[TWiley]

20. Another good observation.

I will definately work it into my reply.

Thanks Goddess40 <produces a deep bow>

[Atman]

10. Simple

"Mr. Kerry stays abreast of all pending legislation before the Senate. As is the case with virtually every Senator, Mr. Kerry also knows that his physical presence is not required for every individual vote, as long as the expressed wishes of his constituency are being fairly represented. I urge you to compare and contrast Mr. Kerry's entire record with that of Mr. Bush's, and the number of days Mr. Bush was absent/vacationing from his job as president and CIC while our nation was supposed to be fighting a global terrorist threat. I think you'll see that this election is far too important to be considered upon distorted messages, and that Mr. Kerry's proven record of leadership for over thirty years make him immensely qualified to take the helm of democracy.

"Will you be requiring a ride to the polls when you cast your vote for John Kerry?"

[TWiley]

22. Another good point.

It is ridiculous to believe that he is not kept fully updated on every pressing issue of importance.

Also, that was a great veiled suggestion you made. Maybe we should be asking Kerry supporters if they needed a ride to the polls. I will suggest it tomorrow when my shift comes up again.

Thanks for your insight

[gauguin57]

11. these things will be good topics for Kerry meetups this Thursday.

Make sure your group leader talks about these issues -- how to rebut the Republican smears -- so everyone is armed with knowledge when we're out and about.

[TWiley]

23. A compiled list of responses?

That would be real handy. We do have a list of Mr. Kerry's positions on the issues, but unfortunately most seem to ask questions about what they know; the media smears.

I will bring it up at the next meetup. Ours are on Tuesdays.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. What state were you phonebanking in?

How were the phone number lists generated? Approximately how many Kerry supporters vs Bush supporters vs undecideds did you talk to? How many of those Kerrys supporters 'voiced concerns about it'?

Thanks in advance?

[TWiley]

25. I don't know

how the phone numbers are generated. In my neck of the woods, most seem to be pretty well decided. I am running about 5 to 4 in favor of bush supporters. There have not been very many truly undecided people; most seem to be leaning one way or the other.

I talked to a woman who was a Kerry supporter about 10 minutes after the Republicans called her husband. She said very quietly "he thinks I will vote for bush, boy would he be shocked if he found out"

"Your secret is safe with me" I told her.

[liberal N proud]

18. What about dubya's vacation time when the country is as WAR?

[Beaverhausen]

21. Good point- more vacation time than any other president.

[VolcanoJen]

24. Were they speaking of the alleged Intelligence Committee Hearings?

Because... well, that reminds me of something from a very, very popular film:

Rep. John Conyers, to Michael Moore: "Sit down, my son. Uhh, we don't read most of the bills."

It's a lengthy explanation that probably wouldn't work in a phone-bank situation, but most senators and congresspersons do not attend hearings. These hearings can last 3-4 hours per day, and the ranking members get their questions in within the first 30 minutes and bail. They are incredibly busy people who can't afford to spend 15 hours a week in committee hearings.

It's kind of like the White House's argument about the "Western" White House. Bush actually can get some work done in Texas, in between cedar-clearing sessions. Kerry knows what's going on in those hearings, whether he's there or not. It's called briefings.

Again, this argument would be a poor one to make in a phone-bank situation. But, more alarming is the fact that the Bush ad-blast (especially here in Ohio) about Kerry's lack of attendance at Intelligence Committee Hearings is starting to have an impact.

[TWiley]

26. I am worried that the same may be true here.

Unfortunately, most are just watching the ads as the main source of their "informed" decision. Bush makes effective emotional arguments, but most lack truth and fact.

I wonder if there is any way to repel such a big deceptive campaign.

[VolcanoJen]

28. Do you have a state- or national-level Kerry staffer helping you?

These are the kinds of things that should be brought to their attention. You definitely require a script to answer this latest smear... and yes, I think that ad-blast is having an impact. I mean, I can't avoid the ad. It's freaking EVERYWHERE here in Battleground Ohio.

I do think it's a legitimate question, and you need to kick it up to state or national for an appropriate, campaign-approved response. I'm actually saddened by the fact that they haven't provided one to you yet. :-(

[TWiley]

29. I am not sure.

I am new at the local Democratic party phone bank. I would be shocked if someone there did not have a state or national level Kerry staffer helping.

I did send an e-mail to Kerry hq and I got an immediate response. There is a link titled "the truth about John Kerry's record" and I have not had the time to check it out completely yet.

I will ask tonight. Thanks

[wyethwire]

27. where are you phone banking?

What State? Presumably a battleground.

[TWiley]

30. yes.

I am phone banking in Michigan.

[AP]

31. Tell them it's more important that he beat Bush then to bet the 72nd Yes

vote for naming the Theodore Roosevelt Interstate Highway, or whatever vote it is.

He hasn't missed a vote where it would have made a difference in the outcome, AFAIK.

And what he's doing is way more important than showing up to make a meaningless vote.

[WI_DEM]

32. yes, just point out that Bush has spent 40% of his presidency on vacation

There was a story on CBS on this.