Kerry Avoids Flat Out Denial

Insight Magazine ^ | 02.13.2004 | Paul M. Rodriguez

[SolidSupplySide]

Top GOP and Democrat strategists are curious about Sen. John Kerry's choice of words to radio mega-host Don Imus concerning rumors burning up the Internet and newsrooms about a possible extra-marital affair with a young intern.

Painfully similiar to former President Bill Clinton's careful parsing of words, Kerry told Imus in a morning interview February 13 the following when asked about an item first revealed in print by Internet guru Matt Drudge:

"Well, there is nothing to report," Kerry told Imus. "So there is nothing to talk about. I'm not worried about it. No."

The failure to issue a flat-out denial that he had an extra marital sex affair or relationship "is very Clintonian," a top Democratic aide told Insight Online. "It's worrying."

A senior White House aide declined to speak directly on the issue but when pressed, smiled and said: "It was an interesting choice of words."

News organizations have not been able to get responses from Kerry or his campaign on what the senator actually meant with the three-part response to Imus.

Democratic strategists in Washington are worried in private because Kerry lately has been fairly black and white in his answers on important issues. "Why didn't he just say the rumors are false?"

Clinton, when confronted with rumors about Monica Lewinsky, told reporters early on in the scandal that "I've had no sexual relations with that woman. Miss Lewinsky." The use of a term of art, sexual relations, was subsequently revealed to be a coy way to deflect questions swirling around the former president.

In fact, Clinton had engaged in sexual contact of another nature with the former White House intern as was subsequently revealed.

"Kerry needs to come clean and be absolutely clear about this rumor and other ones now starting to surface," a Senate source close to Kerry told Insight Online. "We need to know flat out if he's [fooled] around with women besides his wife."

Democrats still feel the sting of Clinton's sexual escapade and lying about it and worry that failure to fully dispel rumors involving Kerry will open old wounds and let out steam from the front runner for the party thus far.

"People's memories are not that short to forget the national embarassment Clinton caused and compounded with lies," a top GOP strategist said. "We don't want to touch this one with a ten foot pole but it'll be interesting to see if the press pursues this further."

Thus far, however, Kerry's carefully worded response seems to have quelled immediate press questions about the rumored affair though parents of the former intern have stated they think Kerry's character is less than desirable.

"This is a touchy subject because of Bill Clinton and it needs to be killed right away," the Senate source close to Kerry said. "His answers on the Imus show were less than forthcoming."

Meanwhile, reports that several news organizations are pursuing the alleged fling with a former intern and other sexual relations outside of his two marriages are being pursued.

[VadeRetro]

You have the wrong woman's picture to the right of Kerry. She's a woman once featured in an article by Alexandra Polier.

[Owen]

Senator Kerry,

Sir, you lent your campaign $6 million about 5 mos ago, financed with a loan you took out collateralized by your house. Your wife is not allowed to cover this because of the $2K annual limit by individuals.

Sir, are you informing donors that any money they might send in at this point in time will not go to defeat Bush, but rather, flow directly into your pocket as the campaign repays you? And more importantly, sir, how will you repay that loan to the banks and their shareholders who provided that money in good faith?

[Agnes Heep]

The failure to issue a flat-out denial that he had an extra marital sex affair or relationship "is very Clintonian," a top Democratic aide told Insight Online.

Well, correct me if I'm mistaken, but Clinton did flat-out deny that he had had a sexual relationship with "Miss Lewinsky."

[counterpunch]

Hmmm. OK.
I got some bad info.
Thanks for the heads up.

[MegaSilver]

"People's memories are not that short to forget the national embarassment Clinton caused and compounded with lies," a top GOP strategist said. "We don't want to touch this one with a ten foot pole but it'll be interesting to see if the press pursues this further."

Excellent.

Republicans are handling this quite well, methinks.

[Cboldt]

Well, correct me if I'm mistaken, but Clinton did flat-out deny that he had had a sexual relationship with "Miss Lewinsky."

Clinton denied having sexual relations. Sexual relations is not the same as sexual relationship. Sexual relations has a clinical definition. The clinical defination requires penetration of a vagina with a penis. Sorry to be so clinical in my correction of your mistaken impression, but those are the facts.

[Mike Darancette]

Either you flat out deny or ask for forgiveness this path is like throwing meat at a pack of wolves.

[Moonman62]

Now can you tell us what the meaning of "is" is?

[blackdog]

Who's footing the bill for Monica #2 while she shouts at the caffer help and drinks tasty umbrella beverages in Kenya?

I hardly think she's on some Peace Corps maize planting project, or counting gazelle for Greenpeace in the plains.

[jaz.357]

He said: "I Did NOT have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, NOT ONCE"...

That is technically true!

He had sex with her MANY times!

[counterpunch]

[Rokke]

tick, tick, tick, drip, drip, drip

[Cboldt]

Now can you tell us what the meaning of "is" is?

Depends on what you want "is" to mean.

It stinks, all this parsing. An honest person comes out with enough words to constitute a clear expression. Such is NOT the world of politicians.

[LADY J]

"Well, there is nothing to report," Kerry told Imus. "So there is nothing to talk about. I'm not worried about it. No."

He's not worried. No self respecting woman would admit to having an affair with this ugly dude.

I want to know what he did to earn all those medals in such a short period of time without spending any hospital time.

[Cboldt]

I want to know what he did to earn all those medals in such a short period of time without spending any hospital time.

Good for you, because that is a more meaningful inquiry. Not that the infidelity coverup isn't an indicator of character as well, but between the two issues, his attitude and actions toward military service are more relevant to his fitness as CINC.

[Chi-townChief]

This isn't the part of Ketchup Boy's past I'm particularly interested in but it may provide a good study of his tap-dancing technique.

[Hon]

"Sir, are you informing donors that any money they might send in at this point in time will not go to defeat Bush, but rather, flow directly into your pocket as the campaign repays you? And more importantly, sir, how will you repay that loan to the banks and their shareholders who provided that money in good faith?"

Right you are to ask. Here is what the Washington Post said about this--and they were talking abou $5 million rather than the $6 million loan he got:

"Kerry aides said that if he gets a mortgage of $5 million or more, he will be able to carry the payments. The monthly payments on a 30-year, $5 million mortgage, with favorable interest rates, according to a calculation system on the Mortgage Bankers Association Web site, would be $30,389, or $364,668 a year."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13368-2003Dec18?language=printer

How much do Senators make a year?

[azcap]

No self respecting woman would admit to having an affair with this ugly dude.

Thinking of another "ugly dude" ...Gennifer Flowers ... Monica Lewisnky ... "self-respecting" women are in short supply around the rats.