General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Who did you support and VOTE for President in 1992? Primary/General [View all]karynnj
(59,522 posts)As I pointed out, Kerry likely took that issue to the line - as I know swing voters who still hold his comments against him - even though they agree now the war was a mistake. The fact is that "trashing a war" we are in is going to be extremely unpopular. Not to mention Wrong war, wrong time, wrong place is pretty clear - as was listing all the things Bush did wrong. (In fact, there was NOTHING Dean said that was stronger.)
In fact, the fact that Kerry gave Bush the authority trusting him to avoid war if possible almost gave him MORE ability to speak against it - as it showed he had taken the situation seriously and had been willing to give the President the support Bush said he needed to get the UN behind him and to get invasive sanctions. Not to mention, there was at least one Dean statement that would have been twisted to say that he would have gone in too - just like Bush. (He wouldn't have - nor would Kerry and, for the most part, people knew this in both of their cases.) In fact, one focus group in Ohio after the election showed that one large group of swing voters actually voted against Kerry because, terrorized as they were, they were concerned that with his basic morality, he would not do some of things Bush and Cheney would do "that kept us safe" but were immoral.