Iowans defend Kerry's farm record from Dean distortions in letter

[NewYorkerfromMass]

and question Dean's commitment to straight talk:

12/31/03

Dear Howard Dean,

We found the letter issued by your campaign yesterday to include false information about John Kerry’s record and it attempts to mislead Iowa farmers. Iowans will not stand idly by and let you distort the record of a man who has stood up time and again for family farmers.....

...Senator Kerry stood with Senator Tom Harkin to fight against the damaging Farm Bill in 1996 and provide farmers with the support they need. Kerry stood with Harkin to stop the corporate control of livestock production by supporting a ban on packer ownership. Kerry stood with Harkin to support country-of-origin labeling and continues to speak out for it. Kerry was a leader in the Senate fighting for—and not against—effective flood relief programs for farmers.

Without any doubt, Senator Kerry understands the real challenges facing rural communities today and has taken action to help farmers deal with these challenges. .

The information given to Chris Peterson is false with respect to John Kerry’s record. The people of Iowa should be told the truth and you should correct the record. Before we caucus next month, we hope you change the tenor of your campaign. Iowans deserve straight talk, not mud-slinging.

Sincerely,

State Senator Jack Kibbie

Palto Alto County


Jim Schaben

Harrison County


http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0109b.html

[maddezmom]

1. has Dean addressed this yet? n/t

[mouse7]

2. Quad Cities Newspaper did

blm tried throwing this on the board over the holidays. She left out the line from the newspaper that clearly said Kerry did support one plan on flood relief supported by Harkin but didn't support the second supported by Harkin.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. and Al Gore used the same farmer to smear Bradley

In Iowa, Dean has borrowed a page from the Gore strategy. In a 2000 Democratic primary debate between Al Gore and Bill Bradley in Iowa, Al summoned an average Joe farmer from the audience. This man, Chris Peterson, had seen his farm destroyed by a flood. Gore and other “champions of the down-trodden” had backed a flood relief bill for that region. But, voting against the bill (gasp), was Bill Bradley. Gore asked Bradley, “Why did you vote against the flood relief for Chris Peterson?” Looking like an ashamed little boy after being accused of stealing out of the church offering bowl, Bradley responded, “This is not about the past. This is about the future.”

Now that same farmer, Chris Peterson, and Howard Dean have accused presidential contender John Kerry of voting against the flood relief bill. There is only one tiny, unimportant, slightly bothersome, but most likely insignificant problem. Kerry didn’t. Congressional voting records show that Kerry voted for the flood relief bill. Whoops.

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/walsh_20040105.html

[mouse7]

6. The Quad Cities paper tells the WHOLE story

As I said the first bill that Harkin supported, Kerry supported as well. The second supplemental bill that Harkin supported, Kerry did not support.

The charge Dean makes specificaly refers BY BILL NUMBER to the second bill.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. and Dean meant to imply Kerry does not support Iowa's farmers

and that is patently false.

[blm]

19. No, the release said Kerry voted the same as Bradley

and since everyone in Iowa knew Bradley voted against the bill, they would assume Kerry did. They did NOT vote the same, and hiding behind peripheral bills is NOT right. They MEANT to deceive people by not being specific.

[jadesfire]

69. But is the one that Bob Kerrey supported...

Maybe he got confused?????

[sandnsea]

8. The SAME farmer???

Oh man, only a city guy would think rural folks forget. Big mistake. I hear Dean is also knocking around Congress for some other farm bills, that would include Harkin. Another big mistake. What group hasn't Dean ticked off?

[blm]

21. baloney...I put up the whole release.

Dean deliberately deceived people by saying that Kerry voted the SAME as Bradley.

Only later did Dean camp say they meant a certain peripheral bill. They MEANT to deceive with their wording and that constitutes a lie. They got caught.

[Clark4VotingRights]

23. More distortions from Dean?

Guess he'll have to fire a couple more scapegoats.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

3. Hoo - boy. I think some heads are going to roll on the Dean campaign...

n/t

[MIMStigator]

4. More heads? Didn't he just fire some?

eom

[adadem]

26. Yes

two out of state Dean volunteers posing as Iowans for trying to infiltrate the Kerry campaign in Creston. Apparently they were after the call scripts

From USA Today:
"Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's campaign says two Dean volunteers misrepresented themselves as ordinary Iowans at Kerry headquarters in Creston. The Dean campaign investigates and fires them."

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040112/5829645s.htm

[jadesfire]

70. He fired two of his staffers

that pretended to be volunteers in one of the Kerry offices. One of them came back and admitted they were there to steal Call Scripts and get as much info as possible.

[Renew Deal]

9. Dean flip flops: Plenty

Dean misrepresentations: Several

Dean distortions: Countless

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. who says Dean doesn't "do" negative?

[MIMStigator]

11. Is this true?

eom

[MIMStigator]

12. This must be reaaalllll bad for Harkin in the middle of this

not that I know what goes through Harkin's mind

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Some vitriol for Harkin on the Kerry blog:

"...So if Harkin voted for the IWR resolution like they say; by endorseing Dean is he now CONFIRMING that he is just another opportunistic, back-sliding, Bush-appeasing Washington Democrat? Is he DENYING he is just another opportunistic, back-sliding, Bush appeasing Washington Democrat? Or is he REGRETTING that he is just another opportunistic, back-sliding, Bush-appeasing Washington Democrat, that may or may not scurry like a cockroach when "The Sheriff" comes to town (in his wildest fantisies)?"

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=981

[Feanorcurufinwe]

75. LOL

[NewYorkerfromMass]

76. It's sad really. Harkin went for the hype

instead of the lifelong Democrat. For me this was the biggest disappointment of the whole campaign so far.

[KittyWampus]

14. Dean Used Same Farmer That GORE Did?

And actually accused Kerry of voting against the bill just as Gore trashed Bradley?

And Kerry voted FOR the bill?

It this true?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. It's definitely the same guy, and Kerry definitely supported relief bill

from Fox:

"Why did you vote against the disaster relief for Chris Peterson, when he and thousands of other farmers here in Iowa needed it after those '93 floods?" Gore asked Bradley, a former N.J. senator, who was in office at the time the bill was being debated....

....Now Peterson, a Dean supporter, is accusing Kerry, also a senator at the time the bill was debated, of the very same flood relief sin.

"Bill Bradley opposed important flood relief that would have made a world of difference to farmers like me. Now, four years later, we again have a Democrat U.S. senator from an industrial state running for president in Iowa who voted against the very same flood relief legislation that would have benefited rural Iowans," Peterson said in a written statement.

But Kerry's camp is fighting back, and accusing Dean of smear tactics. Kerry, in fact, did vote for the flood relief that Bradley opposed. The proof is on the Web site of recorded votes that Congress operates.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,107128,00.html

[KittyWampus]

17. Do You Know How Peterson Is Disseminating His "Information"?

It says "Peterson said in a written statement".

Do any Kerry Supporters know what written statement that is?

A flyer or press release?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. the Dean campaign is doing the distorting

Peterson is just a part of it (being used really), and this is from the link at the top:

January 09, 2004

For Immediate Release
Des Moines, IA-

Today, as Howard Dean pledged to run a positive campaign on CNN, his campaign sent Kerry supporters a NEGATIVE mail piece featuring false information about John Kerry’s record on protecting family farms. In an AMAZING reversal of his own pledge to campaign in Iowa with a “positive message,” the mailing falsely accuses Kerry of supporting the “phase out” of price supports for Iowa farmers and resurrects already proven false information about Kerry opposing flood-victim relief. Attached is a copy of the mailing....

[KittyWampus]

20. This Is Extremely Fucked Up & No Way To Spin It.

How the heck did Harkin end up endorsing Dean?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. Harkin endorsed Dean for one reason really

and that is because he is exciting people and getting them back into the process, and he specifically cited Wellstone as saying we needed to do this. However, it is ironic that he calls Howard a plain talker like Truman. That makes me :puke:

and as for substance and record.... :shrug:

[adadem]

28. He probably did it

so his office could get back to normal...stop the incessant phone calls, emails, yada yada yada.

[KittyWampus]

43. Harkin Is Scared Iowa Will Lose Prominence In Primaries

Only reason he endorsed Dean.

He's afraid if Clark wins... it makes Iowa irrelevant.

[janx]

25. Where have I heard this before? I could swear I've heard it before.

:puffpiece:

Fox News, you say?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. the facts are on Kerry's side

no matter who reported them.

[Ficus]

65. I know Chris Petersen

he is a farmer activist - he's active all year round, not just during campaigns. Dean didn't USE him. Chris writes letters ALL the time about lots of issues - right or wrong - Chris Petersen is not doing this at the command of Howard Dean. Chris Petersen is head of the local farmer's union (can't remember the name) in North Iowa.

I know Jack Kibbie too - and he's one of the best IA Senators we have. Tank driver in Korea - and his wife Kay is a peach too! But he's a Kerry supporter. So this is little more than a Dean supporter and a Kerry supporter putting spins in the letters to the editor page.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

67. But Dean used him to misrepresent Kerry

I realize he's an activist if he appears 2 campaigns in a row, but he got his facts wrong, and Dean didn't bother to check the record and went ahead and used him anyway.

[Ficus]

68. Dean not checking facts

and talking about it, then correcting it later like it's okay is unfortunatley what turns him off to me.

[jadesfire]

71. Yes, it's true

There is a press release on the Kerry website:
http://test.www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2003_1230d.html

And here is the one about the lying STAFFER (not volunteer):
http://test.www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0108d.html

Hope that helps

[KaraokeKarlton]

15. lol...find some farmers that haven't endorsed Kerry

and haven't given him money. :shrug:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. the point was about Dean misrepresenting the record

and the fact that Iowa farmers know a real deal when they see one.

[Hep]

27. Living in the past.

Couldn't find any garbage from less than 10 days ago, eh?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. Dean: "This campaign isn't about what I said 6, 8, or 10 days ago"

Is that his latest flip flop cover?

[Hep]

30. Wow, I didn't even write much and people still can't understand it.

YOU not Dean. You're posting OLD NEWS. Get it? OLD NEWS. A new BS story about Dean comes out nearly every day. The clowns work hard to keep it coming, just for those DUPES of this world who buy into it time after time. So catch up already. You're way behind your peers. We may have to hold you back for an election cycle. Then what will your friends think of you?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. It is old news that Dean is a liar running a dishonest campaign. Agreed.

However, not everyone has gotten the message yet.

[Hep]

35. *Yawn*

And it's well known that he's the only one with the balls to tell it like it is. He and Sharpton. Your guy, whoever that might be, sucks in comparison.

[sangh0]

38. "There's no question that Saddam is a threat" - Howard Dean

Tell it "like it is" Dean

[sangh0]

40. "I think the president did a great thing when he went to the Thanksgiving.

dinner" - Dean

http://www.msnbc.com/news/1000254.asp?cp1=1

[sangh0]

41. "I think he would be a good secretary of state, period"

Dean's description of Powell, the man who lied to the UN, the US, and the entire world.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/1000254.asp?cp1=1

Yeah Dean! Speak truth to power

[Feanorcurufinwe]

39. Have a nice sleep.

Your assertion flies in the face of all the evidence, for example, the false negative attack referenced in this thread, which you seem to be unable to address or defend, therefore you dismiss as being 'old news'.

Your inability to speak to the issues is telling.

[Hep]

42. Nonsense

I just don't take any of the wackos seriously anymore.

Time to treat jokes like jokes. Laugh. Enjoy your stay.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

49. Electing a President is no joking matter.

And dismissing anything negative about your candidate with a laugh is not impressive or persuasive.

[Hep]

54. I didn't used to be a joking matter.

But thanks to all the clowning, all this board is is one big joke.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

46. "Your guy, whoever that might be, sucks in comparison."

Now that is a keeper.

"Your guy, whoever that might be, sucks in comparison."


That must be the most cogent, well thought out, meticulously researched and documented argument I have ever read on DU.

[Hep]

47. Right on par with the rest of the "opposition pieces"

Thanks for the compliment. It's not hard to uphold the standard set by Dean opponents here.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

50. You're actually proud of not addressing the issues?

Good for you. You are sitting pretty because there is plenty of information about Dean for you to ignore. Just pretend none of it happened.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

51. Dean and Trippi practically ran off the stage last night

we're really in trouble if he gets the nom.

[Hep]

55. Get ready then

Make sure your passport is up to date. You might be in for a nightmare.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

56. when Dean loses to Bush I plan on staying here

but I hope to avoid that scenario altogether by nominating a real Democrat.

[Hep]

57. Tough

Looks like your "real" democrat is on the ropes. The people are sick of what you call "real" democrats. They're ready to decide for themselves what a REAL democrat is. Sorry it isn't your guy.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

58. 'The' people?

you are very presumptuous.

[Hep]

59. Am I?

Doesn't take a psychic to see the direction Kerry is going in.

Hey, let me know when Kerry regains the lead in his own state.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

60. I'm sure he has.

but the presumption is regarding who is a real Democrat and who the people are.

[Hep]

61. If I'm presumptuous for using the term "real democrat"

Then what are you for using the same term?

And the people? They're the ones who have Dean in the lead right now. And there are more.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

62. most of 'the' people support someone else

'the' choices are not monolithic.

[Hep]

63. LOL

Yeah, they do, and for which candidate can you NOT say that? None. But which candidate can you say is in the lead? ONE. Thanks for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

64. When the nominee is not Dean

I'll be sorry for you. really.

[Hep]

66. Don't be sorry for me

Frankly, it will be a waste of your emotions.

[sangh0]

52. Well, he is an expert at it.....nt

.

[Hep]

53. I'm actually proud that I no longer consider

the "opponents" here worth debating with.

HTH

[Feanorcurufinwe]

72. If you aren't debating here, what are you doing here?

lol

It's not worth your time, and you keep posting messages saying so.

:eyes:

[sangh0]

48. Hey, it's from the same guy who brought us

"Buying is living"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=780370#780618

[NewYorkerfromMass]

33. This is not old news. It applies to this campaign. It's only 2 weeks old

And because of news like this Kerry keeps wracking up endorsements from people and newspapers throughout Iowa.

[Hep]

36. ONLY two weeks old

A dozen stories every week that Dean Opponents pull out of their asses, and the best that can be done is a regurgitation of a story from two weeks ago. Losing their touch, the Dean opponents. One week until Iowa. Try to keep your head in the game!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

37. Dean did the "pulling out of the ass trick" on Kerry's record

and real Iowans with real interests in Iowa farms and farmers came to his defense. I see this is the new Dean strategy- avoid talking about issues, which is why Dean and Trippi bolted from the stage last night as soon as they could.

[Hep]

44. LOL

You might just turn the tables with this thread then!! LOL!

[sangh0]

45. Yes, "only" two weeks old

That's a short period of time, amply demonstrated by Dean's willingness to go back more than 52 weeks in order to slander the other Dems over IWR

[sangh0]

34. Old news?

The story is dated 12/31/2003. That's less than two weeks old.

But then, I can see why you'd say that coming from a supporter of the candidate who is trying to hide his record and conservatism

[jadesfire]

73. Now lying to American is Old News?

Now you're starting to sound like a certain administration that likes the American public to forget everything they say as soon as they walk off the stage and just take whatever they say at face value regardless of their record.

I thought we were supposed to hold our leaders accountable. We can't just rely on the latest soundbyte (or tirade if Dean is on).

[sangh0]

74. Not quite

Dean lying to Americans is old news.