I'm disheartened to see that some of the same people Kerry campaigned for

[LittleClarkie]

and gave money too, and the same ones who are now misinterpreting his words and backing away from him about as fast as they can, people like Harold Ford Jr. and Claire McCaskill. They're either too stupid to understand what he meant, or they know full well what he meant, and and pretending to be indignant for political reasons.

Stay away, John, they say. Oh, but they'll keep the money.

I'm disgusted.

[David Dunham]

1. If Kerry campaigned for them, the press would be wholly negative.

Kerry has become the political equivalent of radioactive right now.

[wisteria]

3. Thats not the point. We understand them not wanting him to appear with them,

but, it was not necessary to feed into the Republican spin that Kerry's comments were inappropriate. His comments were not inappropriate they were misinterpreted and spun to rely a lie. No excuse for not sticking up for one of your own.

[LittleClarkie]

17. That is exactly my point. Cancelling appearances is one thing

Being as dumb as a Republican is quite another.

[ProSense]

6. I think this is eventually going to reflect

badly on the Democrats who bought into the RW spin!

[LittleClarkie]

8. Past tense. I'm talking about what he DID, and what they're DOING.

Which is backing away. Ungrateful bastards.

[wisteria]

2. I am too. n/t

[wisteria]

4. Mccaskill? Do you have a link? I want to confirm her comments. n/t

You know they all ran like rats and the media had a field day with it at Kerry's expense. You know what, fuck them all.

[LA lady]

5. I just found this

McCaskill campaign: Kerry should apologize for comments

Claire McCaskill's campaign called on Sen. John Kerry to apologize for a "botched joke" he made on Monday.

" said it's a dumb thing to say and he should apologize," said McCaskill spokeswoman Adrainne Marsh.

http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/politics/2006/11/mccaskill_campaign_kerry_shoul.html

[LittleClarkie]

10. Also this from Yahoo. Same thing basically.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061102/ap_on_el_ge/election_rdp

"It was a real dumb thing to say. He should say sorry," said Democrat Claire McCaskill, running in a tight Senate campaign in Missouri."

Doesn't sound terribly literate, does she.

[Hobarticus]

7. News Flash: this election isn't about Kerry.

He lodged his foot in his mouth, he apologized, and he decided it was best to stay home and let these candidates keep their campaigns on-message and focussed.

I admire Kerry, and I admire him still. It's ridiculous that it happened the way it did, but he handled damage control superbly. He's come a long way since 2004.

If you're disgusted now, I hope waking up next Wednesday morning to a Dem-controlled Congress, that John Kerry will undoubtedly be a leader in, eases your pain.

[blm]

9. I'm letting it go with the candidates - they're just taking "strategist" advice.

.

[Clark2008]

12. And looking at polling in their respective states.

We have to win them FIRST before we can change them - slowly.

[Clarkie1]

11. Little Clarkie...I think you are taking this the wrong way.

I'm am sure Kerry wants those of whom you speak to win. It's not a matter of those folks being grateful or ungrateful. I feel certain they are grateful for all of the support they have had. It's a question of what will help most for them to win on Tuesday. Kerry has decided what will help most at this point in the media cycle and election cycle is if he stays away. I doubt Kerry feels as offended as you do. This election is not about John Kerry. We all have to do whatever needs to be done to increase our chances of winning over the next 5 days. Kerry and others have made a calculated move that the focus needs to be taken off of Kerry.

Yes, it sucks, but it's life. Life isn't fair and neither is politics.

[upi402]

13. me too, but i blame the media

they will beat him and anybody that associates with him.
i could have told him that in 2003.
too bad it's like this, but it will be until we have media that investigates and explains. liberal media.

[jobycom]

14. Just politics. They are trying to survive the firestorm, and saying what

they have to. Kerry would do, and has done, the same thing, and would probably advise them to do it over this. It's an ugly job, but fortunately people have short memories. Kerry's been through worse. They'll all be buds after the election.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Call me naive, but...

Is it too much to ask for candidates to show some circumspection, to give the benefit of the doubt to a major leader in the party before they take pot shots for political gain?

None of them were obligated to make comments on Kerry's statement.

This is the exact reason why Republicans are in power - because they stay cohesive, on message and oblivious to critics - although, I grant, to the point of absurdity.

So, here's a clucking of this observer's tongue to Ford, McCaskill and Braley.

They don't seem to be bright prospects for the new Congress if this is any indication of their sense of right and wrong.

Flame away.

[mmonk]

16. It really isn't that big of a risk to tell the truth.

I couldn't do it personally (tell him to apologize). I would just say he had a gaffe that was taken out of context. I couldn't make him apologize for something he never meant. Guess I'm too principled.