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It's nice to have a candidate that will fight back against the right wing slander. We Democrats have been targets of that right wing machine for far too long. We're already seeing the 2004 version of the Republican lie machine at work. Every rightwing pundit and politician is trying to hang the "flip-flopper" label on John Kerry. They even have the nerve to question HIS patriotism. "He'll raise your taxes", and "He'll allow al Qaeda to attack us again", are a couple of their lying themes currently being used. This sounds a lot like their 1980 campaign slogans, "He'll raise your taxes" and "He'll allow Russia to invade us". Likewise, their 1988 campaign themes were, "He'll raise your taxes" and "He'll allow Black guys like Willie Horton to invade your homes and rape your women".
Our candidates in 1980 and 1988 failed to address those charges.
Both of those candidates lost.
The John Kerry campaign seems determined to challenge every right wing lie, before the ink has dried on the copies of the Washington Times. The Bush campaign recently traveled to Michigan and Ohio on a "Bus Tour" (even though Shrubbie FLEW from Detroit to Toledo). While on the "Bus Tour", Bush was again attacking Kerry for refusing to name the world leaders who are speaking out against Team Bush. Bushie said, "Just because somebody has an accent and an nice suit and a good table at a fancy restaurant in New York, doesn't make them a foreign leader. Whoever these mystery men are, they're not going to be deciding this election. The American people will be deciding this election." The Kerry campaign quickly responded: "If President Bush wants to talk about foreign policy, he should explain what he's doing to restore America's lost credibility in the world and what his plan is for keeping US troops safe from being shot at in Iraq." Ouch. I'll pause at this moment, to allow Bush to respond:
"The Economy is strong and getting stronger", said Bush. "Empty slogans", replied Kerry spokesman Phil Singer. "Why hasn't he explained how he's going to get back the hundreds of thousands of jobs that have disappeared on his watch"? Ouch again. Later, the Bush campaign assembled a group of naval veterans who had never met John Kerry, yet still felt confortable slandering him. Kerry, "Showed impulsive decision making that calls into question his judgement", said one. Oh sure, putting your life on the line to save a fellow sailor may be 'impulsive', or of 'questionable judgement' in the eyes of some. Others, including those that awarded Kerry his silver star, bronze star, and three purple hearts, call those actions heroic. Moments after the anti-Kerry veterans group held their press conference, Kerry's "Band of Brothers" quickly called their own press conference. They pleaded with other veterans to stop the verbal attacks on Kerry, while defending his record. The Republicans aren't used to Democratic candidates who fight back. Neither am I. This is going to be exciting.
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