In my area, JK to be on Fox News Sunday momentarily

[beachmom]

Check your local affiliates for when it broadcasts in your area.

[sandnsea]

1. I'm watching too

I got sick yesterday and ended up sleeping all day - consequently I've been up all night. Yuk. But I'm going to watch right now too on an east coast feed. Then catch Tester-Webb on Timmy, then sleep all day again I guess. Crap.

[beachmom]

2. Just saw Bush in a really funny outfit in Vietnam

That made me chuckle!!

[sandnsea]

3. I think he did good

He got Wallace off the joke and shut him up, in the end. He made his points and made the Democratic agenda clear, and made it clear that he's always had the policies that people voted on - Iraq, health care, energy and jobs. Excellent first step. He just needs to make the rounds for a while and he'll be fine in a month or so.

[TayTay]

4. Good appearance

Senator Kerry forcefully brought the conversation back to his ground and to the points that he wanted to make. He challenged Wallace on the assumption that the botched joke should define Kerry going forward and put it into context as a verbal flub. I think he answered the sandbagging of that letter from the woman who said that somehow this joke demeaned her son's sacrifice in Iraq. It is the policy of the Bush Admin that sent troops to Iraq with armor, without a strategy for what to do after the initial invasion and the has no policy for what to do in Iraq now.

I thought it was a very strong interview. He wrested the conversation away from Wallace and made his points and continuously brought the topic back to what is good for the people, not the pundits and the DC insiders. I thought he did great, was substantive and was forceful. I thought it was a great appearance.

[dwahzon]

5. If you like what JK did

on Fox News (and how could you not), please stop by the johnkerry.com blog and tell him what you thought.

[TayTay]

6. I agree.

I'm heading over there now.

[beachmom]

8. Good idea. Done. n/t

[globalvillage]

7. Sen Kerry was great.

I thought he was very strong, and made Wallace look like the petty fool he is. Wallace wanted the interview to be about a missed word from three weeks ago. Sen Kerry kept bringing it back to issues and the Dem agenda.
I think he came across very well. Better than that, actually.

[beachmom]

9. That was a tough interview, but Sen. Kerry did very well.

The worst question was about the woman who lost her son in Iraq and lashed out against Sen. Kerry. He apologized and talked about how he and his staff have reached out to try to make this right. Then back to the REAL issue which is the failed policy in Iraq.

Sen. Kerry is most certainly still considering a run for the presidency, in case anyone had any doubts. His voice will be heard. We need that voice on Iraq, because nobody in contention has his position or has spoken so plainly about Iraq.

He will continue to answer these questions, but also continue to move the topic to Iraq.

Hey Joanie -- rumors of Senator Kerry's death are GREATLY exaggerated.

[TayTay]

10. I agree, no one else has spoken in depth about this

in the way that Sen. Kerry has. I first heard Sen. Kerry talk about the '06 elections back in a speech in May of 2005 at Faneuil Hall. He spoke of targeting Congressmen who were in bed with the various industries that were preventing progress. He spoke of how those people needed to be targeted for defeat because they opposed progress on the environment, on health care and on our foreign policy.

Kerry's pronouncements on Iraq and the deep knowledge of the issues in the Middle East have been incredible. No one else has done this. I saw Sen. Clinton's appearance at the Coun cil on Foreign Relations and I found it less substantitve than what Sen. Kerry has said there in the past. I hope that Sen. Obama's Iraq speech tomorrow has some depth to it, because the Democrats have to get moving on this and address the Middle East as a whole.

Great appearance. I thought Kerry did a terrific job.

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. I agree

great appearance. He was getting Wallace angry and Wallace ended up looking like a fool. He even was trembling a bit by the end. I liked also that JK mentioned D.C. politics and that is not what the American people want to hear about and kept completely on message.

[karynnj]

14. Watching Wallace was fascinating

he was initailly a self-satisfied smug puffed up pompous jerk. As it went on, he began to look more like an Alice in Wonderland sniffely rat. He did look angry at parts - and he seems very small minded asking about a joke - that Kerry said was bad and took blame for and then refocused to the issues that he is really concerned with.

In contrast to Wallace, Kerry was dignified, sincere and motivated by doing good. Kerry's eyes when he responded on the woman whose son died told the same thing his words did - but more eloquestly.

[MBS]

16. I think at some level

Wallace must have been feeling shame about playing the stupid MSM-Fox game.

[ginnyinWI]

35. that was what really stuck with me.

I've learned (from this group, in fact) that JK has been changed by the campaign in '04, that he got back in full touch with his populist convictions once he got outside of the Beltway and now knows where the heart of the American people is. He knows that Washington in no way reflects what the people across the country are thinking. A huge advantage he can make use of in the future.

[sandrakae]

12. Can someone post the video.

I woke up and they were talking about it. I don't know when it was on. According to the fox news website Chris Wallace isn't on until 6 pm.

[fedupinBushcountry]

13. It was on our local

Fox station here, the video will probably be up at JohnKerry.com later today.

[ProSense]

15. AP article!

It was at rated 4 1/2 at 11 responses:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_el_pr/white_house2008_3

[Inuca]

21. And Reuters and France Presse

Common thread: joke will not affect decision for 08. The fact that it was picked up by all these "big names" so quickly is good I think, it is considered newsworthy. The AP article is the nicest among the three.

[Mass]

22. LBN thread needs help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2622267&mesg_id=2622267

[MBS]

26. so does Huff Post

See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/19/kerry-botched-joke-wil_n_34452.html
Yeah, they're morons, and I've had it with them, too, but someone needs to educate them.. I threw in my bit about two pages in:

Oh, get serious. If Kerry didn't have a spine, he wouldn't have appeared on Chris Wallace today, and he wouldn't have been able to handle Wallace's non-stop nonsense. (I dare any Dem to have stood up to the Fox Agenda as well as he has). But he did, answering Wallace with toughness and dignity. If he didn't have a spine, he wouldn't have campaigned his heart out for 170 national and local Democratic candidates across the country for this month's midterm elections, raising or giving those campaigns around $14 million. But he did. If he didn't have a spine, he would have stopped campaigning for the presidency in fall 2003, when all the Talking Heads were writing him off as "toast". But he kept going, and he won. If he didn't have a spine, he wouldn't have stood up against Alito, against our continued presence in Iraq, against warrantless wiretapping. But he has, and he continues to do so. If he didn't have a spine, or a vision, he wouldn't have spoken up about alternative energy years before everyone else. If he didn't have a spine, he wouldn't have fought for veterans for 35 years, both in Congress, and also privately, quietly , to grieving families, and to veterans in need. If he didn't have a spine, he wouldn't have been speaking out, with fiery eloquence, in speech after speech at Faneuil Hall, on talk shows (Bill Maher, Fox News, George Stephanopoulos, Hardball, Meet the Press), in campaigning for 2006 candidates , and in the Senate. But he has. John Kerry is a patriot in the truest and deepest sense of the word, he is one of the most distinguished members of the Senate, and he has more courage and more grit than all of the commenters on this blog put together. Anyone who thinks a "botched joke" is a make-or-break moment in the nearly 40-year career of this man
is just plain stupid. You should be thanking him for his distinguished contributions to our country, not slandering him.

[karynnj]

27. Absolutely fantastic response

Were these people raised by wolfs or is the winner the loudest and most obnoxious. How do they not get that Clinton looked like a mean spirited bully. He got away with it because he's Clinton, the party led by ZHillary rallied around him and said this was fantastic and he's an ex-President. Even then, I doubt he will do it again. Had Kerry done that he would truely be dead in the water.

[Inuca]

28. I did the mistake of clicking on the link...

... what's up with these people?!?!? It's not that they do not share our admiration for JK, that's something I can willingly accept (though not understand :-)), but many of the commentaries I glanced over on the first page (I was too disgusted to go on reading) were mind-boggling idiotic. I DO hope that most of these people are not of drinking age, otherwise it is truly a sad state of affairs for this country. As for the extremely young.... I suppose it's good that at least tey are interested in politics, but still.... Depressing really...

[beachmom]

29. My comments are getting there faster now. Unfortunately, I was

late to the game, and it's on page 4. I had to flag two of the comments as abusive, because they were extremely vulgar. I hope the HuffPost deletes them, because they're really hideous.

I hope people get to page 4, because I actually talk about the war, not the stupid trivialities they speak of.

[Mass]

17. Excellent job. One of the best interview of Kerry I have seen.

Staying on message and not being distracted by what he said.

It was a lot better than Clinton's interview a few weeks ago, IMHO.

[karynnj]

20. I agree

You will never get DU to agree with that though. Bill Clinton may be lucky that there are so few people who don't already have a strong opinion on him. I wish there was a measure that on people like Clinton that was not just yes/no - that could show real changes in approval that won't show in a stright Positive/negative.

I know I saw a side of Clinton, that I never saw before - and it made me realize that as charming as he could be - I wouldn't want him as a neighbor. That is NOT important in assessing his Presidency - but it has some bearing on whether I want him in the WH for 4 more years.

[globalvillage]

18. Transcript

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230589,00.html

[YvonneCa]

19. I am so ticked...

...off. I had to write Chris Wallace:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chris Wallace,

Senator Kerry must have 'knocked one out of the park' in his interview with you this morning! I won't know that for sure until 3:00 p.m. this afternoon (Pacific Time...6:00 p.m. your time) because that is when the interview will air here in Murrieta, California. Why do I assume that Senator Kerry gave a great interview ? First, because he is very intelligent and articulate and he usually does well in an interview setting (remember the Presidential Debates?). And secondly, because of the 'pre-emptive strike' on his interview that I just watched on the 7 - 8:00 a.m. show on Fox News.

I rarely watch your network (I have issues with the 'fair and balanced' thing), but this morning, I turned it on at 5:00 a.m. so that I would be SURE not to miss Senator Kerry's interview. The first mention of Senator Kerry came in shortly after 7:00 a.m....a 'tease'. There were several of these and, I must say, I DID notice considerable improvement in the quality of the video you chose of the Senator. Your network showed Kerry relating well to all sorts of people...crowds of adoring adults, groups of children...you even showed him making a Senate Floor speech. That really was an improvement over the Election 2004 days.

Then came the 'pre-emptive strike'. No interview yet. But your network brought on two pundits (one Democratic consultant and one Republican consultant), showed a WRITTEN part of Senator Kerry's response to a question about the 'botched joke' and then proceeded to analyze it... VERY unfairly, and not balanced at all. And the analysis was all framed as ...this was not a botched joke, Kerry had really disrespected the troops. Well, I attended that rally at Pasadena City College, and the Senator never disrespected the troops. What's more important, because he is a veteran, he never WOULD do that.

So I KNOW Senator Kerry did a great job in your interview. I can't wait to see it...the whole thing. It is truly a disgrace that a powerful television network, like Fox or any other, feels the need to spin something so insignificant as a joke in order to try to discredit Senator Kerry. Are you all really that afraid of him? He DID raise a lot of money for 2006 candidates ($1 million in 24 hours, I think.) He would be a STRONG Presidential candidate in 2008, if he decides to run. Maybe that strikes fear into the hearts of some people. But for many of us, it gives us great hope.

Sincerely,
YvonneCa


P.S. Below is a letter I sent to the New York Times on this subject:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Editor, New Your Times,

I wish John Kerry were President. The country really could use an intelligent, truthful, experienced and articulate leader right now. That's who John Kerry is, and anyone who has paid attention to his patriotic efforts in support of our country AND our troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan since the 2004 presidential election knows that...including President Bush. Like many Americans, I'm really getting tired of the 'spin' that keeps being applied to... even ordinary events...during an election season, with the goal of winning an election. I believe that is what is happening now, with Senator Kerry's remarks on Monday in Pasadena.

I attended the rally for Phil Angelides in Pasadena, California where Senator Kerry spoke. I would like to provide an 'eye-witness' account of the event that may be missing for readers of your article, "Kerry and GOP Spar Over Iraq Remarks", dated October 31, 2006. It is my hope that providing some context to your readers may allow for a more fair judgement of the remarks made by Senator Kerry.

I attended this rally because of my great respect for both Senator John Kerry and Senator Barbara Boxer (both in attendance that day). I looked forward to hearing what they would have to say about the serious issues facing our nation, and about their hopes for my Democratic Party. I know that Senator Kerry has been relentless in his efforts to support Democratic candidates across the nation for the past two years...and I have watched in amazement as he has given money and traveled from state to state campaigning in recent months. He has spoken out consistently and strongly against Bush Administration policies in Iraq. He has spoken out consistently and strongly in support of health care, the environment, the middle class and our troops. His words have been supported by his actions in the Senate, and his leadership has given hope of a better direction for our country to many Americans, like me.

What I saw on Monday in Pasadena was a hardworking, patriotic Senator Kerry...standing up for Phil Angelides, standing up for my state of California, standing up for the students at Pasadena City College, and ... as always...standing up for our troops around the world. He may have been a little tired from working so hard to turn this country around by standing up for Democratic candidates. After all, how many cities has he visited in the past week? How many in the past month? Plenty. He may have been tired enough that he botched a line he has delivered correctly a hundred times at other rallies. But his passion for and dedication to our troops both during and after the battle came through loud and clear.

I have been angered and dismayed at what I have read today about this incident. Republicans are magnifying and using an insignificant error to attack John Kerry again...Swiftboat II. Why? I think it's because they are desperate to win on November 7th. They know John Kerry is leading the charge for the Democrats, and he has truth on his side. So they took a simple verbal gaffe...from a good man who is as articulate as they come...and decided to repeat their despicable 'swiftboating' technique against Senator Kerry AGAIN. How pathetic that this is all they know how to offer.

This time will be different, though. The American people are awake and they know the truth. And this time, I'm confident that John Kerry will WIN.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Then I read the transcript of the interview...FANTASTIC. The Senator doesn't need MY help. WOW ! !









:patriot:

[karynnj]

23. Great letter

Interesting that they use a transcript rather than the actual video from their very own statition. Nothing Kerry said backed any view that he had no respect for the troops and much that he said demonstrated it.

[MH1]

24. Fox is spinning madly - LYING that is - in their post interview reporting.

I even made a rare entry at my blog about it:

http://freedomsfire.blogspot.com/2006/11/fox-news-lying-or-incompetence.html

Fox News: Lying or incompetence?

So, Fox News is at it again. I know you'll be as "shocked! shocked, I tell you!" as I am.

This morning I realized I had probably missed John Kerry's interview with Chris Wallace, but I flipped on Fox News just in case. Well, I had missed the interview, but the folks on the news program (11-11:30 EST) decided to include a little bit about the interview.

Here's the thing, in that brief snippet, the Fox reporters kept referring to Kerry's "joke about the troops." Again: "joke about the troops." Even worse, at at least one point the reporter said "Kerry said...about his ... joke about the troops." (I also thought I saw a gleam of delight in the reporter's face just before she said this.)

Wait a second here. Please go back to the transcript of the interview, and everything Kerry has ever said about this incident. At no time ever has Kerry said that the joke was about anybody but Bush. So to imply that he referred to it as being about the troops....would that be lyng, or incompetence, by Fox News?

I report. You decide.

This pissed me off a lot. Especially the way the woman reporter was practically grinning from ear to ear when they went to her to give her spiel, where she repeatedly referred to the "joke about the troops." Could they be ANY more freaking obvious, to people who know the real deal?

I liked your letters, too. Good job.

[YvonneCa]

25. Thank you...

...and, out here on the west coast, I'm still waiting to actually see the interview. I've had Fox on all morning (ugghh!).

[beachmom]

31. It didn't appear on Fox News, but on the Fox affiliate channel

at 10 AM EST. Are you sure that it's not coming on that channel where you are?

[beachmom]

30. Fox News = The White House

Kerry is still a problem to the White House, and don't even get them on even the remote possibility of him getting to the Oval Office and opening the books on their criminal a**es.

You probably already know this, but the White House sends them talking points. And the management sends their reporters talking points. So they were told to say it was "Kerry's joke about the troops", just like I always call it "Kerry's botched Bush joke". The media simply call it a "botched joke" so that they're neutral, and therefore, unwilling to tell the truth.

This is the reality of "news" today, and one has to be extremely discerning. Any Fox viewer is inherently ignorant because they are fed propaganda all day long.

[ProSense]

32. YvonneCa, that's perfect!

I saw the pundits, they were lame! The one talking about her nephew being sent to Iraq made a stupid point: something to the effect that they weren't being sent they volunteered. It's a volunteer army, but the troops had no say in Bush's decision to go to war.

[ginnyinWI]

36. the pundits on Fox News Sunday are repulsive.

Like four ghouls sitting there. I watched them one time, and won't do it again. Today I watched JK and then turned it off, because I knew how it would go. Sigh!

[ProSense]

33. You know who the media isn't talking about?

The Vets and soldiers who are disgusted by this attack. Don't expect them to, but imagine the troops who are disgusted by this and didn't appreciate the pile on!

[politicasista]

34. Bingo!

I always wonder if the people who are angry at Kerry for the "botched" joke if they voted for Kerry in 04, prefer someone other candidate for 08 or if they are * supporters in disguise.

[Island Blue]

37. Okay, I've finally seen at least parts of the interview now.

I don't think I can add anything new to the conversation - I thought that JK did great considering the fact that he was being interviewed by a giant talking a**hole. Chris Wallace gave a new meaning to the word insanity - asking the same question over and over again, each time expecting a different answer. Mike must be very proud. :crazy:

[Firespirit]

38. There is video up at Crooks and Liars

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/11/19/wallace-torments-kerry-with-botched-joke-interrogation/

It's been edited but is more or less complete.

[whometense]

39. That's a fairly supportive headline -

and post - for Crooks and Liars, anyway - "Wallace torments Kerry in ‘botched joke’ attack interview."

They're not big Kerry supporters over there.

Fox News video here: http://www.foxnews.com/video2/launchPage.html?111906/111906_pol_kerry&Presidential%20Aspirations%3F&FNL&Senator%20Kerry%20talks%20about%20Iraq%20remarks&Politics&-1&Presidential%20Aspirations%3F&Video%20Launch%20Page&News

complete with Fox spin - not for the faint of heart.

[wildflowergardener]

40. fox interview

Thanks for posting the link - I just watched this one. I'm not going to bother with the full one, I'm just as glad to see it without that weasel doing the interview talking too much.

I thought Senator Kerry did a good job. I'm glad he's not closed the door on a 2008 run. It's pretty much to be expected that fox is concentrating on that joke. I'd be curious to see what happens on other media outlets if/when he is interviewed.

Meg

[Mass]

41. Interesting dynamics on GD and LBN.

Two different threads that some of you have seen:

One on LBN about Kerry and 2008. Interestingly, most of the posts are negative, with some arguments totally idiotic (some saying Kerry is too much to the right ?).

One on GD insulting Kerry on his performance on Fox. Interestingly, many posters who are not Kerry's supporters (different posters than the LBN crowd) went to the defense of Kerry. It was interesting to see.

But it seems that today is really "free fire on Kerry" here on GD.

[sandrakae]

42. These acronyms are killing me. What is LBN. If its a blog, provide a link.

[Mass]

43. Sorry - It is the Latest Breaking News forum on Democratic Underground.

[politicasista]

44. delete n/t

dupe reply.

[wisteria]

45. i would think it is reasonable to assume that those who are negative

were hoping he was out of it all for the sake of their candidate.

[ProSense]

46. New JK Blog post on

dissent:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2978874&mesg_id=2978874

[JI7]

47. i read the transcript

and Chris Wallace comes off as a fool and a jerk. i haven't seen the actual thing but from what others are saying it was the same.

the morons who keep comparing to what Clinton did. well, should Kerry talk hang out with the Bush family and talk about how he loves them and loves being the other son and brother.

Clinton goes on tv and says things like we win whether Lamont or Lieberman wins, says he loves Bush. and then he gives one tantrum and everyone talks about how he fights back.

waited 5 fucking years to fight back on the Osama on a silver platter lie . waited until a movie came out and at a time his wife is considering running. but said nothing during the previous years when other Dems were hurt by it.

[wisteria]

48. I have a theory about this comparison. The idea is to blur the distinctions

between Hillary and Bill, such as a Hilbil ticket. Hillary may be running, but Bill will certainly be around too...wink, wink. Thus we have the comparison about Bill Clinton compared to Kerry. Normally,there would be no good reason for the comparison. Bill Clinton isn't really running.

[JI7]

49. i just saw the video of this

you have to be crazy to think Kerry did not do well here. and for those who say he didn't do well because he didn't do what Clinton did. you know Fox News was hoping for somethign like that so they could rerun the clip endlessly and then bring on Republican and so called Democratic talking heads to discuss how it's another example of how Kerry can't handle things or has lost it. and of course have drudge and other media whores follow with it.

i'm sure many who don't like Kerry were disappointed with this. he didn't allow himself to get tangled up in explanations and instead jut told it like it is while laying out our agenda.

the more Wallace questioned Kerry about the botched joke the worse he looked.

anyone who doesn't hate Kerry that saw the interview has to at least say he did ok. maybe not excellant but he certainly did come off well. and i hope Kerry does get in touch with that mother of the fallen soldier that Wallace mentioned and meet her if he can. Kerry is the type to just do that unlike certain other people.

[karynnj]

50. I agree 100% - the fact that someone who watched Fox afterwards

says their "pundits" used the transcript rather than tape to discuss it - that really means something - he gave them NOTHING. The NYT (in an article on Kissinger saying that they need diplomacy in Iraq) took one of Kerry's serious (non-joke) comments on the same thing. So, he got his side out -and looked very reasonable under badgering while Wallace began to look like a badger.

I don't think that some DUers get that the reason Hillary came out with that whole "Bill taught Democrats to speak back" was damage control and spin. I doubt I was unique in being repulsed by the anger and the bullying. Some ager focussed on the question, not the questioner was warranted - but BC was over the top.

Aside from it not being Kerry's personality, BC can get away with a lot that someone who is not an ex-President can't. (Note that no one is asking Edwards or Obama to respond like that.) Kerry has no need to "prove" he's strong - he is the war hero who stood up to Nixon, Reagan, and the entire power structure (BCCI) and is still standing. Kind of beats shoving your fingers in the face of a punk tv talking head.