Criticism of Kerry was disingenuous

[Feanorcurufinwe]

(Boston Globe Letter to the Editor)

JEFF JACOBY'S criticism of John Kerry's character verged on the surreal, given the failings of the president Kerry is running against ("Kerry's lack of political courage," op ed, Feb. 29). Jacoby should turn off Fox News for a few moments and consider the world outside of the misleading rhetoric of the right-wing media. Many of Kerry's alleged flip-flops are not really flip-flops at all. Yes, in 1992 Kerry insisted that Bill Clinton's draft avoidance shouldn't be a political issue, and now he is criticizing George W. Bush's military record. To argue, as Jacoby does, that this constitutes a flip-flop lies somewhere between disingenuous and ridiculous.

George W. Bush is running as a war president. His military record, or lack thereof, becomes a political issue. He also criticizes Kerry for having taken money from paid lobbyists. Again, one is tempted to laugh at the sheer audacity of the conservative attempt to brand Kerry as a special-interest pawn. This is an administration that has given billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to Halliburton. This is a president who is little more than a fund-raiser in chief who has raised more money while in the Oval Office than any other American president.

I appreciate that Kerry's nuanced policy positions might be difficult to report on, in contrast to our current president's affinity for black-and-white, good-and-bad, us-against-them politics. But that's no excuse not to try.

ARI GOELMAN, Cambridge
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2004/03/07/criticism_of_kerry_was_disingenuous

[sandnsea]

1. fundraiser in chief

Good line!