Kennedy Wows NH Crowd, Says Kerry Would Not Have Taken Us To War

[DrFunkenstein]

Kerry is knowledgeable about whatever issues he addresses, from health care to the environment, Kennedy said. "He understands what clean air is about. He understands what clean water is about. He was talking about global warming before it was cool," Kennedy said.

And Kennedy defended Kerry's vote last year in favor of the Iraqi war resolution, which alienated many liberal voters. Kennedy voted against the resolution. "John and I haven't always agreed," he said. "But I talked to John Kerry that day, and I know what he was thinking. . . . If he had been president of the United States, we would not be involved in a war in Iraq."

Many people who attended the rally said they thought the endorsement from Kennedy, the second most senior member of the Senate and an staunch liberal, could help draw in undecided voters, particularly older Americans who closely followed his career and those of his brothers. When Kennedy asked who in the crowd had lived in Massachusetts, about half of the people in the room raised their hands.

One attendee, Carrie Blake of Portsmouth, said she might be swayed to vote for Kerry if it looks like Kennedy's help will bring more energy to his campaign in New Hampshire. Blake likes Kerry's message the best, but she's also admired Dean's grassroots efforts to pull in votes. In the end, she said, she wants to choose the person who can beat Bush.

http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/state2003/kerryrally_121403_2003.shtml

<>

<>

[zls44]

1. I echo that

I'm a Kerry supporter, but I truly admire Dean's grassroots campaign. The stuff he's done to raise cash and get people organized is nothing short of brilliant.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. Agreed, That's One Thing I Can't Knock Dean For

He really knows how to pump people up. But there's more to it than that. WWF wrestlers can pump a crowd up, Dean gets people to stay off their asses and accomplish something. I don't think that necessarily makes him a good choice for President of The United States, but you have to give credit where it's due.

[molly]

21. Good analogy!

where do you get these fantastic pictures? That is one of the best I've seen of Kerry.

[Granite]

16. I agree

I'm solidly in the Kerry camp - but I have to admit to getting a bit fired up when Dean really gets going. He does a good job of tapping into that, "we're pissed and we're going to do something about it" anger that a lot of us have felt since 1994.

When we get to the issues, however, Kerry's positions are in line with my priorities. And ultimately I want a president who is going to pursue solid liberal solutions to issues that are important for the country. Kerry has the strongest Democratic credentials amongst the front-runners in the race, IMHO.

[frustrated_lefty]

3. That is an extremely good endorsement.

congrats to the Kerry team, Kennedie's voice carries weight.

[Raya]

10. Kennedy will have to Put in some time. DOES HE THINK KERRY HAS A CHANCE

Any Kerry guy know how much time Kennedy is devoting
to campaigning for Kerry. Will it make much difference?

[Gloria]

4. Yeah, I was initially attracted to Dean because he seemed as angry as

I am....but after he delivered a few gaffes, which will turn up again in the Bush campaign, I decided I had to look elsewhere. I just saw the
"Gore is a liar" type of thing passing before my eyes again.

I wish some of the younger Dean supporters could see what I'm seeing...

[davidinalameda]

5. so that means that Kerry would have left Saddam in power as well

hmm?

[sandnsea]

7. Saddam would have surrendered

We've already seen that. Kerry would have handled the situation so that Saddam was brought to justice without a war, that's what leaders do.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. and Saddam was open to negotiation

His surrender proves that. Who cares if he was in power or not if the inspectors had been allowed to do their jobs? The goal was ensuring the security of Americans.

[sandnsea]

6. We could have real change

A real progressive agenda. Kerry didn't just go for every single thing Clinton through down the pike. He would really make the country and the world a very different place, set us on a whole new course for the next century. He can take that agenda and explain it to anybody so they would see it as progress for the country, not socialism. He's the best choice in every area and is exactly what the Democratic Party has always been about.

[jjmalonejr]

8. Echo That!

John Kerry is the guy who can get us the progressive policies we want in the White House. He stands a chance of being one of the best Presidents in decades. I hope he makes it there. I'm supporting him.

[oasis]

9. The Kennedy name still has the magic. Kerry's got a solid crew behind him.

[tlb]

11. Kery's vote for war notwithstanding I guess.

oooookay

[Nlighten1]

13. Right...this sounds rather odd...

Let's see...Kerry voted for the war but he would not have taken us to war...

If it doesn't fit...you must acquit

[Octafish]

15. Kerry gave Bush authority to protect the United States.

...not destroy Iraq and murder its people and use our armed forces for re-selection cannon fodder.

Kerry doesn't take war lightly. He lost six friends in Vietnam, including his best friend. When Kerry returned from Vietnam, he helped lead the efforts to end that war.

Contrast that with Howard Dean. He got a medical deferment for a bad back and celebrated his back's miraculous recovery by hitting the moguls all winter at Vale. As for protesting the war, Dean again did zero.

[Nlighten1]

25. Ah yes...help a dictator..

He gave Bush the power he needed to wage a war where ever and when ever he wanted. End of story.

[Octafish]

26. So says you. Remember 9-11?

So many, many Americans (including a number of DUers) were running around, worrying about getting nuked or Anthraxed they actually wanted to rally 'round the resident. I don't know if you were one of them, but John Kerry sure as hell wasn't. He's his own man. Always has been. And he's no coward. He voted to do what he thought best to protect the US.

[Nlighten1]

27. I wasn't here then but...

from the start I suspected Bushco having a hand in the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax attacks. I don't want to turn this into a slam Kerry fest so let me just tell you what I would have done if I was a Senator.

I would have told Bush to go and fuck himself. His behavior on the day of 9/11 demands that questions be answered about what he knew about the attacks. I sure as hell would not have "rallied" around the President who...1. Wasn't elected...2. may have LIHOP.

But that is just me...

[JVS]

12. Sounds like a load of bull

People who don't want to take us to war generally don't vote for war.

[Monte Carlo]

17. Generally.

But sometimes they do.

[TexasSissy]

14. Important endorsement.

I don't think it's enough to help Kerry at this point. But I, for one, was waiting to see who Ted Kennedy would endorse.

You don't give a date for the endorsement, though. And why wasn't this on TV? At least I didn't see it reported (big suprise! All we ever see are Schwarzenegger and Dean faces everywhere, it seems)

[LuminousX]

19. Kennedy, Kerry - Buds Forever

You were waiting to see who Kennedy endorsed? That was a given from day one. The only story there is if he DIDN'T endorse Kerry.

[Octafish]

23. Kerry has wanted to be President, I believe, since 1962.

John Kerry joined President John F. Kennedy
to watch the September 1962 America's Cup race
from the USS Joseph P. Kennedy off Newport, Rhode Island.

BTW: Kerry must have learned about bravery from the example set by his dad, an Army Air Force flier in World War II, and the Kennedys, a family with three sons who served in the US Navy during WW2. The ship is named after the President's older brother, who never came home from Europe. His plane, basically a B-24 converted into a flying bomb, exploded on a Secret Mission to bomb V-2 sites along the coast of France.

[LuminousX]

18. Which means if it was up to Kerry, Saddam would still be in power

The whole field opposed to Dean are *bleep*ing hypocrits.

Yes, I know it was Lieberman who said that. I also know Kerry was jumping on the 'Ding Dong Saddam is Gone' bandwagon.

[Monte Carlo]

20. The 'Ding Dong Saddam is Gone' bandwagon??

Hey, if there ever was a bandwagon to jump on, that is it. Nobody in the world liked Saddam, and now he's gone, regardless of the craziness that led up to it. Let's stay focused on the positive.

[ludwigb]

24. Give me a break...

Kerry supporters--have you read this yet?

http://www.slate.com/id/2092540/

[NewYorkerfromMass]

28. Dean has been all over the map on Iraq herr maestro B.

The inconsistency is not Kerry's but Dean's.