President takes first direct swipes at Kerry

kc star ^ | Feb. 24, 2004 | RON HUTCHESON

[stainlessbanner]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush began his re-election effort Monday by ridiculing his chief rival and casting the election as a choice between steadfast leadership and weakness in the face of danger.

Bush took his first direct swipe at Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Speaking to an audience of Republican governors, Bush said the Democratic field offered diverse opinions on a host of issues.

"For tax cuts and against them. ... For liberating Iraq and opposed to it," he said, ticking off several other examples and adding the punch line: "And that's just one senator from Massachusetts."

The speech at the Washington Convention Center signaled a more aggressive effort by Bush to win a second White House term.

"Our opponents have not offered much in the way of strategies to win the war or policies to expand our economy," he said. "So far, all we hear is a lot of old bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda for the future of America. We are taking on the big issues with strength and resolve and determination -- and we stand ready to lead this nation another four years."

Bush's message came on the heels of controversial remarks by a member of his Cabinet, Rod Paige, the secretary of education.

In remarks to the nation's governors at the White House earlier in the day, Paige called the National Education Association, a longtime ally of the Democrats, a "terrorist organization" because it was resisting provisions of the education bill that Bush signed into law in 2001.

The education secretary's words were "pathetic, and they are not a laughing matter," said NEA President Reg Weaver, whose union has said it plans to sue the Bush administration over lack of funding for demands included in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Paige said later that his comment was "a bad joke; it was an inappropriate choice of words."

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The comment was inappropriate, and the secretary recognized it was inappropriate and quickly apologized."

Republican officials said Bush planned to speak as soon as this week in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Christian conservative leaders have chosen the amendment as their most important issue of the year, and several have expressed impatience at Bush's delay in publicly stating his support. Bush plans to endorse the version introduced by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Colorado Republican -- which states that marriage in the United States "shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman" -- by saying that it "reflects his principles," a GOP official said.

[Puppage]

President takes first direct swipes at Kerry

Keep it up GW! It's time time stop their filthy lying right now. Let's see the polls after a week or so of this.

[MaryFromMichigan]

We've got to hit them hard. I think we're off to a good start.

[MEG33]

Terry McAuliff and Ed Gillespie just had a food fight over the AWOL accusation on the Today show.

[EllaMinnow]

Terry McAuliff and Ed Gillespie just had a food fight over the AWOL accusation on the Today show.

STILL? Tell me more, please...

[John123]

Terry McAuliff and Ed Gillespie just had a food fight over the AWOL accusation on the Today show.

Who had the better aim?

[Dilbert56]

I think the first attack on a candidate is more effective if it's a theme that can be repeated. Painting Kerry as a flip-flopper is a good idea. It portrays him as an opportunistic professional politician. That's repeatable and puts the focus on his record - right where he doesn't want it to be. Good move Mr. President.

[keysguy]

We can win if we can get some sort of media to print the truth. Kerry is on every side of every isue that counts. He is "bubba-lite" trying to triangulate his way to the top--he will be stopped.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Good first punch. The flip and flop on every issue by Kerry combined with his career voting record should be our primary targets. Using humor is also good. This is going to be a blast.

CG

[MEG33]

Gillespie did very well..good aim but Katie let Terry have last say and motor mouth got a lot of the usual dem points in.

Terry repeated the AWOL accusation.See my tagline.

[EllaMinnow]

I really liked President Bush's tone last night. Making the dem into a joke instead of a threat is a brilliant stroke.

The media are going to whine no matter what he does, but when their whines are an obvious over-reaction, it hurts their credibility even more.

[MEG33]

#10..Terry M has no shame .

[EllaMinnow]

Terry M has no shame.

And no political future, if he thinks this is how to win a campaign.

[keysguy]

I'm still leery about conservatives getting their side out in the election process. I'm afraid it will be one for us and ten for them.

[itsinthebag]

Can anyone tell me if John Kerry has denied participating in the Winter Soldier Investigation that took place in Detroit in January-February 1971? I know Jane Fonda was there.

[EllaMinnow]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083497/posts

Read the article at the top of that thread. It's very encouraging.

[MEG33]

That line about Kerry's flip flop has gotten good play this morning.It's only begun.

They've spent 17 million bashing Bush...we have a bit of catching up to do.The Soros group will also gear up and hit Bush.

[G.Mason]

"Paige called the National Education Association, a longtime ally of the Democrats, a "terrorist organization" because it was resisting provisions of the education bill that Bush signed into law in 2001."
"Paige said later that his comment was "a bad joke; it was an inappropriate choice of words."

Excellent gambit.

Nuke 'em and apologize by saying it was a "bad joke".

Sounds like a plan Stan.

[EllaMinnow]

It's strategery.

[Arrowhead1952]

In remarks to the nation's governors at the White House earlier in the day, Paige called the National Education Association, a longtime ally of the Democrats, a "terrorist organization" because it was resisting provisions of the education bill that Bush signed into law in 2001.

He actually made a great point with this remark. The professors in many universities are leftist terrorists in my books.