Kerry Dismisses Critics of Time That He Took Off Campaigning

The New York Times ^ | April 6, 2004 | KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[EllaMinnow]

Responding to concerns in his own party that he may have taken too long off the campaign trail, Senator John Kerry said Monday that he had plenty of time to define himself for voters despite millions of dollars worth of what he termed "the equivalent of nuclear attacks" on television by the Bush campaign that have cast him as a tax-and-spend liberal.

"I'll put out a positive message, define myself to people — there's plenty of time here," Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, told reporters for regional newspapers in wide-ranging discussions here on Monday, his first day campaigning after minor shoulder surgery.

"We have to get out there and make sure people know who I am, what I stand for," he said. "We'll be doing that."

In his discussions on Monday, which were among his most extended sessions with reporters in weeks, Mr. Kerry suggested that he would not allow himself to be pigeonholed as a liberal and said that he expected to win some states in the South, although he declined to name them.

He cited his history of opposing deficits and his support for overhauling the welfare system, said his foreign policy would make the United "stronger and safer" and said, "I don't fit a stereotype."

Mr. Kerry became combative when told that some conservatives were criticizing him for being a Roman Catholic who supported policies, like abortion rights and same-sex unions, that are at odds with Catholic teaching.

"Who are they?" he demanded of his questioner. "Name them. Are they the same legislators who vote for the death penalty, which is in contravention of Catholic teaching?"

He added: "I'm not a church spokesman. I'm a legislator running for president. My oath is to uphold the Constitution of the United States in my public life. My oath privately between me and God was defined in the Catholic church by Pius XXIII and Pope Paul VI in the Vatican II, which allows for freedom of conscience for Catholics with respect to these choices, and that is exactly where I am. And it is separate. Our constitution separates church and state, and they should be reminded of that."

Mr. Kerry apparently meant John XXIII, as there is no Pius XXIII.

He said he had a strong record on consumer issues that would help limit the appeal of Ralph Nader, who drained thousands of votes from Al Gore in 2000, and who, many Democrats argued, cost Mr. Gore the race.

"I'm going to talk directly to people who in the past have been inclined to support Ralph Nader," Mr. Kerry said, adding that he may be meeting with Mr. Nader himself. "I respect him. I'm not going to attack him in any way, I'm just going to try to talk to his people and point out that we've got to beat George Bush."

[EllaMinnow]

"We have to get out there and make sure people know who I am, what I stand for," he said. "We'll be doing that."

You do that, Mr. Kerry. Keep drivin' those negative numbers up!

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[goodnesswins]

AHEM.....has he been to "WORK" lately?????

[mattdono]

Our constitution separates church and state, and they should be reminded of that."

Really? Where? I can't seem to find the phrase "seperation of church and state" (or any variation thereof) in my Constitution.

Hmm. Odd.

[Piquaboy]

Kerry's campaign goes better when he is not in it proving what an idiot he really is.

[Arrowhead1952]

"I'll put out a positive message, define myself to people — there's plenty of time here," Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, told reporters

That's OK John F'ing Kerry. You have already defined yourself. You are a

TAX AND SPEND LIBERAL

[EllaMinnow]

He's taking time off of the campaign to snowboard and have surgery, and he's taking time off his senate duties to campaign...

it's like a double vacation...so why does he always look so miserable?

[Lady Jag]

Click the pic and vote

[Tax-chick]

He'd get more votes if he were a totally unknown Democrat candidate: "Who's this guy? Oh, he's the Democrat ... okay!"

Fortunately, his ego is too huge to stay out of the way, so he will drive off all but the most rabid anti-Bush voters :-). I just wish we could get the whole thing over with. The election is *SEVEN MONTHS* away, and I'm already bored out of my mind!

[Tax-chick]

He'd get more votes if he were a totally unknown Democrat candidate: "Who's this guy? Oh, he's the Democrat ... okay!"

Fortunately, his ego is too huge to stay out of the way, so he will drive off all but the most rabid anti-Bush voters :-). I just wish we could get the whole thing over with. The election is *SEVEN MONTHS* away, and I'm already bored out of my mind!

[EllaMinnow]

"Who are they?" he demanded of his questioner. "Name them. Are they the same legislators who vote for the death penalty, which is in contravention of Catholic teaching?"

What a charmer, huh?

[goldstategop]

John F. Seinfeld is absolutely clueless. Positive message?? Bwahahaha!!! All one hears from him is yadda, yadda, yadda, just like on the show. And he wants to be President? Puhleeaze. The guy's not ready to play in the Big League of national politics.

[John Thornton]

Mr. Kerry apparently meant John XXIII, as there is no Pius XXIII.

And this guy is supposed to be a Roman Catholic?

[goldstategop]

The death penalty has NEVER been the subject of official Catholic teaching. Abortion has been. It takes a weasel like Ketchup Boy to oily slip his way out of answering the question of how he can pick and choose what beliefs to follow and still be a good Catholic. Its time to pin him on the spot.

[EllaMinnow]

Only a Catholic when it serves his purpose.

He's a cafeteria Catholic, but a seven-course liberal.

[Irene Adler]

Kerry has had it too easy running for re-election over and over in Massachusetts where almost any rat can win. I am wondering if he has any notion of what it takes to win a genuine electoral contest.

Could be that Common Tator's take on Kerry is absolutely correct because that is pretty much what he has been saying. Kerry has certainly been trying to prove CT right, recently.

If my guess about Kerry's having been too spoiled by guaranteed re-election in Mass to know how to run an effective national campaign is correct, I will be ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED!!! I am almost afraid to hope.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[goldstategop]

Exactly. It should be John XXIII. Its not too much to ask of a Catholic to get the names of the current Popes at the Holy See right.