Carol Moseley Braun may endorse Kerry!!!!!

[DJcairo]

http://www.theamericanprowler.org/article.asp?art_id=2003_8_25_0_4_48

Check it out....also has some hard hitting words from certian Kerry aides....yes Chris Lehane go.

[meegbear]

1. Is she throwing in the towel already??

[DJcairo]

2. she held a meeting with Kerry last week

It appears so. Maybe she's hoping for a vp spot.

[meegbear]

4. Interesting ...

quite a pairing too, I might add.

[Larkspur]

11. Kerry won't giver her a VP slot

She really isn't experienced enough and she hasn't run a good campaign to really qualify for that slot. I like her, but a cabinet post is more in line for her that the VP slot.

[dolstein]

39. Why does she deserve a cabinet post?

All she merited from Clinton was an appointment as ambassador to New Zealand, not exactly a top tier country (although I hear the scenery is beautiful). Since then, what has she done other than run a dismal campaign for president?

[huckleberry]

3. I thought she was getting the NOW endorsement?

I just can't believe this. I thought if she did drop out, she'd endorse Dr. Dean.

[DJcairo]

6. She wants to endorse Kerry because she thinks he will win

[loyalsister]

32. That would be the ONLY reason

As far as women's issues, Kerry isn't really high on the list of the die feminists I know. They are going for Dean, because he's the strongest pro-choice candidate out there. Many women are mad that he AND Edwards bailed on the PBA vote. It registered on my radar the day they missed that vote. They didn't stand up for and with women when they should have. Women were brushed aside in the name of politics. I would be very disappointed if she did endorse him when there are other possibilities.

[DrFunkenstein]

35. Roe v. Wade Is A Supreme Court Litmus Test For Kerry

Protect the Right to Choose: John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.

Expand Economic Opportunity for Women: As the top Democrat on the Senate Small Business Committee, John Kerry has been hailed as the Senate's leader on initiatives that assist women-owned businesses – beginning with the Boston Center for Women and Enterprise, a national model Kerry championed. He has been at the forefront of defending affirmative action, helping women-owned businesses in government contracting and making start-up and venture capital available to woman entrepreneurs.

Make It Easier To Balance Work And Family: John Kerry cosponsored the original Family and Medical Leave Act, which has given millions of American workers the chance to take time off for the birth of a child or to care for a sick child or family member. John Kerry believes that we should not only protect Family and Medical Leave but should expand it to help more Americans balance the needs between work and family.

Close the Pay Gap: Women still earn, on average, only 73 cents for every dollar earned by men. John Kerry believes that we must expand opportunities for women and work to make equal pay for equal work a reality not a slogan. He would start by improving enforcement and disclosure about payment practices.

Fight Violent Crime Against Women: John Kerry was an original cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, which has provided over $1 billion for battered women's shelters, hotlines, and other crucial resources. The Violence Against Women Act also significantly strengthened federal law by including several new federal crimes and enhanced penalties for acts of domestic violence.

Protecting Women’s Health: John Kerry has worked to ensure women receive access to health care, and he has focused particular attention on breast cancer research and funding. Kerry was an original cosponsor of the Women's Health Equity Act, which ensures women of all ages receive information and access to the highest quality and most advanced health care.

He has worked to require health plans to cover hospital stays for breast cancer treatment and to preserve and increase funding for breast and cervical cancer research. Kerry supports requiring insurance plans to cover contraception and he will continue to fight for a meaningful Patient's Bill of Rights, which would ensure women direct access to their OB/GYNs.

[loyalsister]

42. He can talk all he wants

He didn't stand up when it counted. He didn't ACT and prove himself when he could have. If he had walked the walk, I would be more trusting of what he says.

[DrFunkenstein]

44. March 12, 2003

"Pro-abortion Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was traveling between campaign fund-raisers in Boston and New York, but made a brief stop in Washington to cast the vote just after 4 p.m. He missed three other votes to amend the abortion bill on Wednesday - none of which was close enough that he could have changed the outcome."

http://www.priestsforlife.org/news/infonet/Infonet03-03-13.htm#democratic

[loyalsister]

50. Thanks for making my point

It doesn't matter whether or not it would have changed the outcome. It's symbolic. The candidate supportive of women is there every step of the way showing his support with his votes whether his vote makes it happen or not. He was there for 1 of 4 votes on that issue. Snooze and lose. Most women in my area who are active in politics, including my elected officials are not happy with him over this.

[DrFunkenstein]

57. The Point Is You Can't Admit You're Wrong

You embody all that is wrong with zealotry. Kerry took time out of his campaign to vote on the final version, the only vote where he could have made a difference.

You can't admit that you completely distorted the picture to suit your needs. And when someone calls you out, you aren't big enough to accept it.

I'd just like to know who these "women in your area" are, so I can point out 1)the truth, and 2)how utterly WRONG you are.

Did I mention you were wrong?

[loyalsister]

59. Who's the zealot?

I'm not wrong and not arrogant enough to say you are either. I do have a grudge against him over this. He should have stood tall on the issue, and didn't. I also have a grudge against him for not voting against a judge who said ADA should be reversed.
Wrong for not supporting him based on the fact that I don't think he supports my interests satisfactorily?????
My opinion is also based on the fact that he didn't stand up to vote against a judge who wants to reverse ADA. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00135
As a woman with a disability, this guy just doesn't appear to represent me with any degree of strength, or he doesn't want people to know it if he intends to. He had opportunities to stand up and be counted with his votes and didn't use it. It's symbolic and important to me. The fact that he went halfway means something to you. So what.

[DJcairo]

53. What are you talking about JK has a %100 rating from Planned Parenthood

[loyalsister]

55. Right before a presidential primary

he ducked out of votes, however. It's symbolic and I'm not the only woman who considers it important. It's skipping an opportunity to let us know he's never going to duck. Oooops he did.

[blm]

60. NARAL doesn't. They know when the GOP

is pushing a cosmetic vote.

They also know that Kerry has been one of their staunchest advocates, and one of the few politicians who even stated that there SHOULD be a litmus test for judges that Roe v. Wade is SETTLED LAW.

[CTLawGuy]

64. this is a common theme with Kerry...

"He can talk all he wants
He didn't stand up when it counted. He didn't ACT and prove himself when he could have."

[blm]

37. Baloney...Kerry has the BEST record on women's issues.

He said that he would ONLY appoint prochoice judges who view a woman's right to reproductive choice as SETTLED LAW.

That cosmetic vote was scheduled by Frist because he knew that Kerry and Edwards were scheduled in California for the state convention.

[DJcairo]

48. Kerry is much more pro-choice than his rivals

Gephardt used to be anti-choice and Dean is an NRA conservative, after all he's got an A rating from the NRA. I don't trust his supposed "swing to the left". Kerry is the most solid and the one we can all trust to hold up a woman's right to choose. He has said he would filibuster to prevent a vote on any nominee who opposed abortion. I'm not sure where you get the idea he is not a strong pro-choice candidate.

[loyalsister]

54. Be serious

The guy who called partial birth abortion BS and doesn't support the bill for informing the parents of minors about abortion is LESS pro-choice than who????? The conservativism that informs Dean's gun position is more libertarian leaning than the fundie combination I think you're referring to. It is entirely consistant with very strong support of abortion rights.
As a matter of fact, I recently talked to a state representative who was able to convince some midwestern\southern rural voters to not worry about it, because it was a privacy issue similar to the gun issue.

[clar]

63. yet more silliness from you.

"Kerry is much more pro-choice than his rivals"

Nonsense. Kerry and Dean share almost precisely the same views. The only difference is that Dean has been more outspoken than Kerry regarding dispelling the myths about PBA. He served for years on the board of Planned Parenthood. Kerry has been a stalwart friend to the pro-choice community. His missing one vote is not a big deal, though I would like to hear him defend PBA, just because it's so widely misunderstood.

BTW, Do you consider Bernie Sanders a liberal? Do you know that Bernie was elected into office because the office holder at the time, a Republican, supported increased federal gun regulation and Bernie did not? This is Vermont. Guns are part of our culture. Although I don't care for them, I know too many gun owners who I love, or like, and respect. Going off to hunting camp in November is a huge deal.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

51. But didn't Kerry vote against it before?

It was brought to a vote twice in the 1990's, and Clinton vetoed it both times. Do you know how Kerry voted? I would imagine he was already on record as opposing it.

[DJcairo]

52. Against abortion rights? What? Of course not.

[DrFunkenstein]

58. Kerry Voted 6 Times Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion.

H.R. 1833 12/7/95
H.R. 1833 9/26/96
H.R. 1122 5/20/97
H.R. 1122 9/18/98
S. 1692 10/21/99
S. 3 3/12/03

http://www.rnc.org/Newsroom/RNCResearch/research031303.htm

Thank you GOP!

[arcos]

47. Remember they were colleagues...

and I'm sure that is important too.

Plus... both served together in the Senate Finance Committee.

[zekeson]

69. She might endorse Kerry because she can use her leverage from

that endorsement to make him toe the line for the NOW agenda. He's already a great woman's candidate (but thats just from the perspective of a white male).

Remember that endorsements are rarely ever given without expectation. I am so often amused that people here are so shocked that so and so got the endorsement of blah bla blah - they just aren't compatible. No, but your candidate might just consider that candidate a winning candidate and can force her ideals on the other for her endorsement. Its called politics.

[Dover]

5. I knew the least about Moseley Braun....but this is revealing

I liked most of what she said in the C-SPAN debates, although she never ventured much into risky territory. Maybe Kerry's message about narrowing the field got to her...or Kerry struck a bargain.

Interesting development....thanks for posting.

[Larkspur]

7. Kerry a straight-talker?

"It's going to be a tough, bare-knuckle speech," says the Kerry aide. "It's going to establish the senator as the front runner, the straight talker and put people like Dean behind him. We're sure of it. The competition is going to see us shift into a whole new speed after September 2."

He's still tripping over his tongue about explaining his 2002 Iraq War vote. Straight-talker my *!

[killbotfactory]

9. Yeah....

My thoughts exactly.

[DJcairo]

14. Kerry talks straighter than anyone and he has credibility up the wah-zoo

Just wait...Chris Lehane and Bob Shrum are make this a fun ride.

[AWD]

18. That's true....

...when he voted for the Iraq war, I believed he was being as straight as possible.

And that war...yep, it was straight out the wazoo!

[BushGone04]

56. Yes, he is

Don't confuse having nuanced beliefs and approaches to issues with not being a straight talker. I'll say again, Kerry's position on the war with Iraq has been consistent. He has always said he favored the removal of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime from power (Dean: "I suppose that's a good thing."). However, he has also always been critical of the Bush Administration's diplomatic failures and inadequate planning for the reconstruction process. That's not waffling, that's having a position more nuanced than either Bush's "Saddam is an evil man, so we must invade Iraq" or Dean's "President Bush is an idiot, so we shouldn't."

[blm]

8. Careful trusting anything from the American Prowler....

their purpose is to sabotage Dems at every turn.

[deutsey]

12. That's what I thought

Wasn't the American Spectactor instrumental in spreading the Clinton "Troopergate scandal" smear?

[DJcairo]

15. its American Prowler no Spectator geesh

[deutsey]

17. Look up in the corner of the screen

of the web site you are citing.

It says: "The American Spectator on the Web"

Of course, I could be taking it out of context.

Jeesh.

[DJcairo]

25. But I heard this same rumour days ago

Besides, this dosn't really sow dissension in the ranks of Democrats so much as it simply helps Kerry who the Bush people would clearly be afraid of.

[deutsey]

27. I'm just saying, the American Spectator is rabidly rightwing

You might want to find other sources of info. I've read the Spectator once and felt like I needed a shower afterward. Nutty stuff in that thing. I think they were also purveyors of the Vince Foster conspiracy theories.

[blm]

21. Listen...I support Kerry

and many of us knew that Braun was going to support him MONTHS ago. I just don't trust the Prowler's PURPOSE for putting this story out. To dampen the impact, maybe when she does do it. Whatever, they are never up to ANY good.

[deutsey]

23. I agree...anything associated with the American Spectator

is not to be trusted.

[ProfessorPlum]

10. John Kerry may mudwrestle John Poindexter!!!!!

in Iran/Contra II: This time it's personal!

but let's wait and see what actually happens, shall we?

[Larkspur]

13. Braun meeting with Kerry does not equate to endorsing Kerry

According to a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, word was Braun meet with Kerry to discuss what he would be willing to do for her should she step aside and endorse his candidacy. "Her campaign has always been about what she could get out of it," says the Black Caucus member. "She wants back into government and the only way is through her backing of a winner."

It sounds more like she is shopping than buying. I'm sure she has had similar conversations with Dean and maybe some of the other top Prez candidates.

[DJcairo]

16. I guess you'd better hope so

[meegbear]

19. I'm sure she has had similar conversations with Dean ...

well she hasn't said anything.

Kinda like the Democratic leaders dean met with who support him, but they don't want their names revealed? Didn't Powell pull that shit earlier this year when he said we have over 12 allies in support of the Iraqi war but I can't tell you?

[deutsey]

20. What's this referring to?

What claims by Dean are you talking about. Not challenging you, I'm just curious...I haven't heard about this.

[meegbear]

22. See post #13

[deutsey]

24. No, what are you saying about unnamed Dem leaders

supporting Dean? I haven't heard anything about this (which isn't to say it's not true...I'm extraordinarily busy right now in my life).

I was just wondering what controversy this was referring to.

:hi:

[meegbear]

26. Happened around the beginning of summer ...

someone posted that many Democrats in Washington are supporting dean and pointed to an article. But in the article, nobody wanted to be identified.

[deutsey]

28. Thanks...

I wasn't supporting anyone at the time (in fact, I was seriously changing from Dem to Green), and wasn't paying much attention to the campaigns.

[DJcairo]

33. oh so you voted for nader...good one

[deutsey]

43. Please sharpen your reading comprehension skills

I will type this s-l-o-w-l-y because I know you will be struggling to grasp the nuances here:

I said I was THINKING of changing to Green. I was THINKING of changing to Green AFTER the 2002 election. Let me write that again:

The 2002 E-L-E-C-T-I-O-N.

No where do I say I voted for Nader. I voted for G-O-R-E in the 2000 election. That's AL GORE.

I said I was not paying attention to the Dem candidates at the time. This is because I was so dissatisfied by the state of the Democratic Party.

For your information, I was an early Kerry (that's K-E-R-R-Y) supporter. I wrote to him encouraging him to run back in December 2001. He sent me a nice handwritten letter thanking me. I then became disappointed with his vote on the Patriot Act and tax cuts. I actually defended his vote on Iraq, although I was (and remain) anti-war.

I'm a Dean supporter now. I don't give a flying **** if you condone that or not. I've looked over all the legal documents I've signed in my life and I don't see any mention in any of them where I'm accountable to you.

Does that clarify everything for you?

As someone once wrote, "Geesh."

[w4rma]

29. Dean and Mosley-Braun

U.S. presidential candidates (L to R) former Governor Howard Dean (D-VT) chats with former senator from Illinois, Carol Mosely-Braun (D-IL) while Civil Rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton (D-NY) looks on, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, August 23, 2003. Thousands gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the civil rights March on Washington where Martin Luther King delivered his 'I have a dream' speech. Busloads from Mississippi to New York were expected to turn out in the capital for the event organizers hoped would force Republican administration policy changes and get minorities out to vote in the 2004 presidential election. The washington Monument can be seen in the backgound. REUTETRS/Mannie Garcia
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/pl/063003howardean&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=64&a=0&t=&prev=63

[arcos]

45. Nice picture! n/t

[clar]

30. Too!!!!!

many exclamation points. Chill.

[styersc]

31. Great for Mosley-Braun.

The faster that we get behind the candidate who can beat Bush the better. I've enjoyed the debate and appreciate the role that each has played from Sharpton and Kucinich to Graham and Dean but now is the time that we pull together behind Kerry. Supreme court nominees, environment, energy policy, foreign policy and domestic issues depend upon it.

[gottaB]

34. And Kerry may endorse Moseley Braun

This is idle speculation, and it's already been denied by Braun and her staff several times. The only thing the Prowler adds is an obnoxious heading, a few negative swipes at Braun's campaign, and some snide comment by a CBC member who probably supports another candidate, but is afraid to go on the record. In other words, take it with some of this stuff.

[DrFunkenstein]

36. I Didn't Realize That Bob Shrum Was Back On Board

Shrum was the guy who got Kerry into gladiator mode against Gov. William Weld. The guy's a real bulldog in the campaign world.

Damn I wish that New Yorker article was still on the net! It has a great part about Shrum's role in the '96 campaign.

[blm]

40. I tried to find it the other day...

interesting that it has disappeared completely.

[DrFunkenstein]

46. It Kills Me, Because It Was Such A Great Resource

I have a hard copy, but I'm not going to type the whole thing out!

[blm]

61. I wonder why it was scrubbed from the internet?

Along with the Gary Hart interview that skewers Dean and Lieberman.

[tjdee]

62. Shrum's back with Kerry...

He left Edwards :-(

Happened awhile ago, actually, I think it's good for both candidates.

[CMT]

38. it would be a good endorsement for Kerry

but not all that surprising since they both served together in the Senate.

[polpilot]

41. Speculative and unflattering article concerning Braun. This should be

heavily discounted as there are no facts presented.

Dean '04

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

49. Picky, picky.

Always wanting the facts. You probably demand milk on your cornflakes, too. Sheesh!

[DrFunkenstein]

65. The Part About Her Staff And Funds Is True

I wouldn't be surprised if she is angling for a cabinet post, or at least an ambassadorship to Tahiti.

[ProfessorPlum]

66. heh heh

:)

[gottaB]

67. True by what standards, Doc?

The article said she had "little to no money coming in," but it would be completely untrue to say she had "no money" coming in, and in any case, she is able to campaign on a shoestring budget. In terms of numbers of donors she's ahead of Sharpton, and either of them are capable of garnering more votes than say Graham, who pundits considered a serious candidate because he could raise money (so it was said), and even Edwards, the early fundraising champ--although he's certainly trying hard to boost his poll numbers.

So what does it mean to criticize her current lack of campaign funds? And without mentioning that she started late, and that her second quarter totals were double her first--i.e., a positive, contrary indicator? Without mentioning that she's in line to receive some serious PAC money? Whatever it means, it doesn't mean that that the Spectator/Prowler is all about telling you the truth about this candidate.

And let me add another little factoid. When she shows up to pass the hat for SCLC or other groups trying to get out the vote, every Democrat gains, but that doesn't hurt her campaign. Between SCLC, Rainbow/PUSH, the efforts of the candidates themselves, and the 3R group or whatever the (quite well funded) White House Project ends up calling it's drive to register women voters, you can be darn certain that money will not be playing the same dominant role in this election that is has in the recent past.

Can you honestly argue the idea that Braun's in politics for a job? The truth is she has ample if modest income (by Washington standards) from her legal consulting and teaching--and only a fraction of the stress. It's insulting to think that she doesn't sincerely enjoy and care about politics. The implication that she's looking for some sort of public assistance, is that one you want to draw out?

As for her Ambassadorship to New Zealand and Samao, she did a splendid job of both repairing our strained diplomatic ties with New Zealand and promoting U.S. trade interests. That was no easy balance to strike. It's quite an accomplishment on her part. She calls that appointment her time as "Ambassador to Paradise," and if that conjurs up in your mind images of tropical beaches and vacation resorts, you're missing the deeper picture. Well, she explains herself better than I can. You just have to listen.

Finally, a word on the staffing difficulties. There is some truth in the fact that Braun lost some staff members and moved her campaign headquarters back to Chicago. What is not being reported are certain knives in the back, or the fact that she has brought capable people on board in Chicago. It's a half-truth at best, and in the context it was presented it's misleading. Braun is not dropping out. She will make an official announcement on the 22nd of Sept.

[arcos]

68. No facts: She is NOT endorseing Kerry or anyone...

She is announcing on Sept 22.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=26704