Howard Dean addresses Kerry's remarks

[LittleClarkie]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/elections/15905210.htm

CHICAGO - Howard Dean said comments by Sen. John Kerry about soldiers and the Iraq war were wrong, but were being distorted by Republicans to "divert" voters days before the election.

"I disagree with Sen. Kerry's remarks, but Sen. Kerry isn't on the ballot," Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Wednesday after a get-out-the-vote rally with DePaul University students in Chicago.

"Republicans are on the ballot for the House and the Senate, and we intend to win these races," he said. "I think it would be better if he hadn't said it, but he did."

Later in the article, Durbin gets into the act.

He called Kerry's words "a chance offhand, maybe insulting comment."

"I hope that you'll understand that as bad as this comment was, as awful as it sounded - and it did sound awful - the fact is, this election is not whether John Kerry got it right in his written statement," Durbin said. "This election is about whether America is getting it right in Iraq."

I'm depressed. Bill O'Reilly stood up for Kerry today, saying he knew the man and that he didn't intend to insult the troops. How is it that Bill fucking O'Reilly gets it and Dean and Durbin don't.

That's just wrong on SO many levels.

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. I'm surprised at Dean and very disappointed in him

What a dumb move for the DNC leader at this point in the game. The Republicans stand by their scum of the Earth, and we can't get our party leaders to stand by upstanding Dems six days before the election?

:thumbsdown: Gov. Dean

[LittleClarkie]

2. On the other hand, I'm pleased with Harry Reid. He gets it.

And he's not afraid the give em hell about it, either. Sometimes I rather like that little guy.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Bill O'Reilly knows this story has no legs

He's hedging that something else will happen from which he can make political hay.

I hope not

[texasleo]

4. anyone else would have gotten trashed around here.

St. Dean can do no wrong.

[LittleClarkie]

5. Well, at least he was half right. I agree with his comment

that this is just a distraction.

But he did, disappointingly, fail my intelligence test. I thought he was better than that.

[Leopolds Ghost]

6. A lot of people don't understand the joke -- Kerry and Leno have been using it

For two years now.

The PROPER version of the joke -- see this is where Kerry has foot in mouth syndrome, he doesn't know how to tell a pithy joke -- is the one Leno uses, although I believe Kerry used it first:

"Education is important. Stay in school, or else you might wind up as President of the United States and get us into a war with a country that never attacked us."

See?

Leno flubbed it one time and made it sound like he meant the troops.

People booed, Jay said it sounded better in rehearsal, did not apologize, moving along. "I meant Bush, oh well, it sounded better in rehearsal. Oh, shaddup!"

See, Jay Leno understands showbiz better than pink tutu Dems. Kerry used to be a pink tutu Dem, he is learning, how much will he learn before Beltway elite "Dem Strategists" decide he is off the reservation and cooperate with Republicans to destroy the remainder of his career.

[keopeli]

7. Bill O has finally realized that he needs liberal viewers.

He goes on the Daily Show.

He goes on Letterman.

He backs-up Kerry.

In his world of Fox viewers, he is considered the "liberal" alternative, much like Colmes to Hannity. His boss is saying that Fox needs more viewers. The already have ALL the conservatives, but they've alienated everyone else. They're looking for moderates. A guy who will say it was OK to have voted for Kerry in 04.

Bill O'Leilly, who has slandered living, breathing Veterans by saying they tortured Nazis, is the top guy at Fox and he needs to build an audience.

[Terri S]

8. and THAT is why this story lasted so long

not because the Rovian hackers played it in their ususal disgusting manner, but because Democrats didn't immediately follow up Kerry's forceful comeback with their own outrage. A variation of what Olbermann said should have been on the lips of EVERY Democratic politician. The fact that so many in his own party were actively condemning what Kerry said was not lost on the media whores gleefully feasting on this manipulated distraction.

Maybe I'm wrong about the story lasting less time, but at least it would have had more emphasis on what this administration has done, it would have put the deceit, hypocrisy and incompetence of the administration in the focus it deserved, and perhaps most importantly, it would have shown that Democrats stand up for truth and competence and the realities of the disasterous state the repubs have brought this country to.

When Dean was chosen to lead the party I fully expected great changes from the pathetic way in which McCauliffe ran the '04 campaign and how he and Kerry failed to answer the swift-boating of that time. Kerry fortunately fought back wonderfully this time. Unfortunately, his party did not.

I may be attacking a sacred cow here, but Dean deserves as much condemnation as I saw after Hillary's comments yesterday. Even more.

[LittleClarkie]

12. And take this behavior back to 2004 and you will see

what would have happened if Kerry had reacted more forcefully. The Dems wouldn't have supported him then either.

Even now, one of my local pundits is calling it a mistake that Kerry was so defiant and didn't just immediately apologize and move on. Can't win for losin'

[fedupinBushcountry]

9. Thats not what Durbin said on Ed Schultz

http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/103106DurbinDick.mp3

As for Dean, I thought he said something backing Kerry.

[sendero]

10. I'm sure he's said a lot of things..

... but you'll only see the worst of them reported.

[beachmom]

11. Didn't Kerry defend Durbin during that "Nazi" flap?

Barely anyone defended Durbin, but I think Kerry was one of them.

[LittleClarkie]

15. First thing I thought of too. Took my esteem for the man down a notch

As I said, imagine 2004 if Kerry had come out attacking as he did here. People think that would have made things better. Watching the response now, I'm not so sure. I'm thinking his response made no difference one way or the other. Once the sound machine fires up, there's no stopping it unless you have an equal sound machine. We don't.

And neither do we know how to close ranks. Every man for himself.

[Mass]

13. Careful with these articles. You never know what the question was

and what the full response was. The media, as we know, have a way of distorting what was said.

This said, this shows a problem with the response of the Democratic party. They need to learn how to counterattack in a way that cannot be cut. Simple and short. Dismiss what was said and attack.

[LittleClarkie]

14. True. I need to cut them the same slack I'd cut John. It's all just so stupid

I just hope it's not gaining any traction. But right now, this reminds me of 2004 too much.

I think I'll just put on my Kerry button and go about my business and hope for the best.