Reply #23: Here's my response to Goodman [View All]

[ProSense]

Ms. Goodman,

You should be ashamed for having written an extremely disingenuous opinion piece, “Don't run, John Kerry,” suggesting that Senator John Kerry not seek the Democratic Party nomination in 2008. Your opinion that the Democratic candidate for president in 2004 had no vision is an insult to the 59 million people, including me, who voted for him. I am deeply offended by your charge.

In your claim that vision for security in the post 9/11 world is what is needed, you seemed to have overlooked two major speeches by Senator Kerry:


Real Security in the Post 9/11 World

http://www.kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=249580


John Kerry: “Security in a Dangerous World”

John Kerry is in Northern Ireland today to deliver a keynote lecture at the University of Ulster. Kerry’s speech is part of the Tip O’Neill series of peace lectures at the University.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2133


In addition, let me point to an interesting comment about the 2004 campaign:

Howard Wolfson, a past communications adviser to Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, both New York Democrats, said the media no longer has "gatekeepers" like former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite to set standards for what passes for news.

As a result, the media can get pulled into covering stories of questionable worth, like the claims by the Swift Boat Veterans group that Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry wasn't really a war hero. "We got shafted," said Wolfson, who predicted Democrats would employ similar tactics in future presidential contests.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060426/NEWS02/604260307/1007/NEWS02&theme=


I couldn't help but equate this statement with your vitriolic opinion. I suppose as a columnist you don't assume a role as a "gatekeeper," but do you have any allegiance to the facts?

The Democratic Party does not advocate serving up fictitious and poisonous words that only serve to sustain bitter, nasty people (http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/006861.php) in their obvious malcontent.

I also find it curious that you launched your attack on Senator Kerry only a few after he delivered a defining speech on American’s right to dissent. You can read the speech here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2006_04_22.html


Here is a review:

35 Years Later, By Bob Herbert, The New York Times, Monday 24 April 2006

Presidents and politicians may worry about losing face, or losing votes, or losing their legacy; it is time to think about young Americans and innocent civilians who are losing their lives.

- John Kerry on Iraq

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042506O.shtml


Also, may I remind you that we live in a democracy and Kerry has every right to run for office. I will vote for him in again in a heartbeat.

Promoting a state of constant fear and building up straw men to teardown are tactics for grossly self-involved people. American democracy needs to be saved from demagoguery, whether it comes from the right or the left.