It's Kerry's Fault

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/090704Y.shtml

It's Kerry's Fault
By John Cory
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Monday 06 September 2004

For several weeks now, our pampered press corps and millionaire pundits have continued to justify the slime of Swift Boat smears and GOP operatives, by saying that it is John Kerry's fault. Kerry made his Vietnam service the centerpiece of his campaign and therefore it is only fair that folks question that service. This is of course not true, but when has the media been bothered by the truth?

Setting aside the obvious lack of media credibility and its refusal to show the facts and reveal these liars for what they are; the essence of what is being said reminds me of an incident during my working days in Saudi Arabia.

(snip)

You see, the GOP doesn't mind sending Americans to war; they just don't want to hear about it afterwards: especially if you survive, and become a force for truth and peace.

This is the level of political discourse and media coverage today. Pretty ugly.

But you have to understand - it is John Kerry's fault - he keeps showing up for his country.

...more...

[are_we_united_yet]

1. Dang it!

See what happens when you take your responsibilities seriously?

[liveoaktx]

2. Video clip- Tavis Smiley and Maher

Good rebuttal

[SHRED]

13. Yeah it was but...

I wish Maher would have included the fact that the shrimp boaters and crew were planning this well before Kerry "tied his campaign to the Vietnam war". Statements like "He brought this on himself" are ignorant to the fact that the shrimp boaters were planning this a long time ago.

[liveoaktx]

15. No buts about it,.... there's always SOMETHING else that

all of us wish anyone would say. The fact about this clip is that it shows how someone can immediately answer back to that baloney with a crisp back-at-ya to refute it. When anyone has tried to use the "Kerry ONLY talks about his military service", Maher says "I'm Quite SURE he talks about those other issues, but the media is not covering it".

The point isn't whether the person who has the opportunity can refute and explain every detail about why an RNC talking point is unfair, but that they answer back on each point that is brought up and add a few themselves. If every Dem who represents Kerry did this, another person could add the detail you want and the whole thing would be a Dem echo chamber that, collectively, rounded out the whole message while hitting down the BS consistently.

[SHRED]

20. Good points---eom

[BillZBubb]

3. Actually, this is a good template for any Democrat running.

It's ------'s fault. No matter who is running against the Repug slime machine, you always get the same treatment. They make outrageous, dishonest charges. It doesn't matter that an hour's worth of investigation would demolish the claims. The press gives them plenty of airtime and says that the Democrat invited the attack. The playbook is getting pretty old, but it still seems to work.

Happy Labor Day!

[blondeatlast]

4. It's a lack of judgment, Will...

[RetroLounge]

5. it is John Kerry's fault - he keeps showing up for his country

Very nice Will.

The GOP excuse that it's Kerry's fault reminds me of the Rape Victim being blamed for wearing sexy clothes.

RL

[rndmprsn]

6. great clip

i loved this quote the best from maher:

"every time he says they hate us becuase of our freedom...i just want to slap him and his two dimensional mind"

whoop whoop

[blondeatlast]

7. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

Checked out your site; very nice.

[TWiley]

8. Religious conservatives also claim that rape victims were "asking for it"

due to their dress, where they were walking, their past history, or lack of church attendance.

The party of "self control" sure seems to pass the blame to the victim at every possible turn. What happened to "personal responsibility for ones actions" they love hoist upon the necks of impoverished Americans.

The GOP's lies are yet another example of the "personal and willful moral misconduct" which has become the shining tiara of hypocrisy of the republican party.

Rationalization has replaced reason in the GOP. Their core beliefs are as ignorant as this:

"Of course I shot and killed that black man." "He was walking through our neighborhood and he might have stolen something" "Just consider it another pre-emptive strike in the morally justified war on terrorism" "It was actually his fault because he disregarding known social morays" "You could say that he was asking for it"

[vetwife]

9. Dumbed down America

Will, I think you are right on point. What infuriates me to the point of screaming is the fact that Americans believe the paid pundits and all of the propoganda the Rove machine is shoveling. The press is throwing it out to a bloodthirsty portion of America.
I think America has dumbed down where over 50 pecent do believe everything spoken by so called journalists such as Novak is the gospel. These same people believe wrestling is real. I blame it on lack of exercise of the muscle between the ears and not being able to think for themselves. These people also think War is a video game and you get 10 more pacmen, there is no blood in war, no after affects and are selfish, greedy people. I think when you will do anything to grab ratings and not inform the people then you have dumbed down the people. Kerry is so intelligent and a servant of the people, they don't know what to do with him or his followers but character assassinate. I think Kerry can take it but I know as sure as I am typing that November 3rd will be a mess no matter who goes in. Welcome to the New Roman Empire. Divided we stand, then fall !

[Maccagirl]

11. Beautiful sentiments and brilliant post

God only knows I wish you were wrong-but you are spot-on.


I really do weep for the Americans who "get it".

[are_we_united_yet]

12. Well said

[WilliamPitt]

10. .

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

14. Its not just the media - fellow Democrats are talking about how Kerry

blundered at the DNC talking up Vietnam too much


Ever heard a Republican ever admit to being mistaken?

Thats why they win

[bigtree]

16. JC makes me smile, again.

Wonderful.

[Bread and Circus]

17. I read the article...amazing story...all it does is make me wonder...

is why people can be so callous....

I don't think that's the point of the article. I'm not sure the article makes the case for its thesis.

Either way, most of John Kerry's problems "aren't his fault" but some of the issues facing the campaign are. It's seems he's making adjustments, for which I am glad, time will tell.

[molly]

18. That idiot Ginsberg was on C-Span

this morning grinning like his smirking boss. :grr:

[ClassWarrior]

19. The Thugs claim that "Kerry made it an issue" at the DNC...

...but as some astute poster pointed out recently, you can't just throw together a 527 and ads like the Smearboat Vermin's commercial in just a week. They have been planning this attack since lonnnngggg before the convention. THIS needs to be exposed.

[Sparkly]

21. John Cory is awesome

A geniune voice of truth, and a wonderful way with words.

Give him a high-five for his post here, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x764066