Kerry in LA - Just to open your appetite before KG posts her report

[Mass]

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_100192446.html (video on the webpage)

John Kerry Talks Immigration At South L.A. School


(CBS) LOS ANGELES Sen. John Kerry discussed immigration reform at a South Los Angeles school Monday, hours before thousands of people were expected to take part in another march downtown in support of immigrant rights.

The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee told students at South Los Angeles High School that he supports the immigration reform plan put forth by Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida.

"I believe in a balance," Kerry said. "Our borders do have to mean something, ladies and gentlemen. In the age of 9/11, it is important to know who's crossing your borders."

...
On Monday, Kerry urged students not to blame his fellow Democrats. "We need leadership from the president, a bipartisan basis, to hold together a compromise," he said. "It is critical that this be resolved now. It should not be held out as a hostage to any political process for any political party."

The senator from Massachusetts visited the South Los Angeles high school as part of a daylong tour of Rep. Xavier Becerra's congressional district. The Los Angeles Democrat supports efforts to legalize undocumented immigrants.

"When you have 500,000 people knocking at your door, there's a consequence if you don't listen," Becerra said.

Thousands of people were expected to attend a candlelight vigil and procession scheduled Monday through downtown Los Angeles to urge lawmakers to make it easier for undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_100192904/lg

[wisteria]

1. Thanks for posting this, it is interesting that he supports the

Hagel-Martinez plan rather than the Kennedy-McCain bill.

[Mass]

2. He does not really - This is just the compromise Kennedy and McCain

have arrived to so that their plan continues to advance.

Kerry was fully behind the Kennedy-McCain plan. It just does not exist anymore.

[wisteria]

4. Oh, so this is the plan where they have the residency breakdowns

from 5 years plus, 2-4 years etc. Personally, I like Kennedy's plan better except for a couple of unrealistic requirements placed on citizenship in this county. Thank for clarifying this for me.

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. Frist

is the one to blame for this mess. He didn't want the bill that came out of the committee. Then the first admendment that he wanted passed was the Kyl Cornyn one which basically called all illegals criminals. As Kerry said on MTP there was an agreement made on the committee bill and Frist broke it, and of course he is spinning to blame it on the Dems.

Even the Hagel-Martinez deal isn't there yet either. The protests are because of the bill passed in the House in December which is horrible.

[karynnj]

10. Kerry's answer on that was great

He really did explain the complicated bi-partisan compromise and made the case for it being a normal process. (Kerry didn't address this - but if both leaders were behind a compromise, could they keep any amendments from being offered?)

[fedupinBushcountry]

6. Hey Mass

do you have a list of who voted for the bill in the House. The only thing I can find are the Yays and Nays, no names. There are 36 Dems who voted for it, and I want to see who they are.

[Island Blue]

3. Here's video from an L.A. newscast. (JK in video.)

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_100192446.html

[TayTay]

7. I liked the hug

For that young lady who came up to the Senator's elbow. Nice pic.

Gret appearance.

[wisteria]

12. That was cute. n/t

[karynnj]

14. That was so sweet and absolutely natural

He looked really good in the video - sounding like a voice of reason and compromise. I loved the calmness he projects.

[ProSense]

9. Great segment!

The Senator looks great! His final statement in the clip was on point.

[MH1]

11. Wow....excellent clip.

You know what ticks me off though? Where was coverage like this in 2004? Notice how they showed the key points JK made about the issue in question, not stuff about how he is positioning for 2008 or how someone might react to his statements....this time they just let him speak. Yet the pundits will say that he's changed. Sigh.

But anyway he looked and sounded great. Thanks for posting, IB!

[karynnj]

13. "Yet the pundits will say that he's changed. Sigh."

This is actually good. We know he hasn't changed to the degree they will say - because we will compare the (the actual 2007/2008) to (the actual 2004) - where everyone has mentioned there is a change. There was actually a change over 2004. If we're lucky, they will compare the (actual 2007/2008) to the (media distorted 2004).

This allows them to say, that Kerry was able to raise above his "shyness" (predicted word to replace aloofness) and connect in a way that he couldn't in 2004. This gets the media off the hook - they didn't distort Kerry, Kerry changed. The best thing, if they choose this narrative, is that it explains why he appeared "aloof", "elitist". They then could sell him as the modest, kind person he really is while bemoaning the fact that he hadn't been able to connect in 2004 - because of this flaw (shyness, reserve) which he has out grown.

So, where there was a "NEW" Nixon there could be a "More Open" Kerry. To some extent this takes the press off the hook - and they rarely really accept blame. They are already at the point where they were, in at least one op-ed, saying that Kerry's message was right, but it was the messenger. If they can go the additional step and say he has become a better messenger - it all good.

The question is whether the media has vested interests in opposing him still.

[ProSense]

8. I love that line from Becerra

"When you have 500,000 people knocking at your door, there's a consequence if you don't listen."


Got that right!