"We May Yet Find Them" (Kerry's Shoots Own Toes Off, During HARDBALL Interview)

The Weekly Standard ^ | 4/29/04 | Hugh Hewitt

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

AFTER TRAIN WRECKS on Meet the Press and Good Morning America, John Kerry took his tattered credibility to the friendly confines of Hardball, where a sympathetic and compliant Chris Matthews did his very best to help Kerry make it through at least one interview without wandering into bizarre asides, prolix dependent clauses, and baffling hedges.

Chris Matthews failed. On the bizarre side of the ledger, Kerry ended the interview by bringing up the fact that Karen Hughes had been born in Paris. Matthews was confused by this sudden turn of events and first indicated the interest that accompanies the revelation of a genuinely important fact, only to retreat into a forced laugh when Kerry indicated that he had made a joke.

The exchange of importance involved the invasion of Iraq and the WMD controversy. Here it is in its entirety:

Matthews: If there was an exaggeration of WMD, exaggeration of the danger, exaggeration implicitly of the connection to al Qaeda and 9/11, what's the motive for this, what's the "why?" Why did Bush and Cheney and the ideologues around take us to war? Why do you think they did it?

Kerry: It appears, as they peel away the weapons of mass destruction issue, and--we may yet find them, Chris. Look, I want to make it clear: Who knows if a month from now, you find some weapons. You may. But you certainly didn't find them where they said they were, and you certainly didn't find them in the quantities that they said they were. And they weren't found, and I have talked to some soldiers who have come back who trained against the potential of artillery delivery, because artillery was the way they had previously delivered and it was the only way they knew they could deliver. Now we found nothing that is evidence of that kind of delivery, so the fact is that as you peel it away I think it comes down to this larger ideological and neocon concept of fundamental change in the region and who knows whether there are other motives with respect to Saddam Hussein, but they did it because they thought they could, and because they misjudged exactly what the reaction would be and what they could get away with.

Kerry's answer is a jungle of dependent clauses and asides, but it deserves intense focus. Put aside the obvious reference to the left's theory that Bush took out Saddam to avenge Hussein's assassination attempt on the first President Bush, as well as the reference to the "neocons," which is verbal comfort food to the anti-Semitic loons in the audience. Let's take Kerry seriously for once.

Kerry acknowledges that WMD may yet be found. This admission destroys the left's critique of the war and months of "Bush lied!" rantings from the MoveOn.org swamp. Kerry knows what everyone with a memory knows: which is that Saddam had WMD and the world agreed he had them. Perhaps they were destroyed, perhaps hidden, perhaps trucked to Syria, but he had them. Thank you, Mr. Kerry, for your only contribution to the public's understanding of the war to date.

No sooner does he admit that the entire attack on Bush's credibility is a contrived, election-year stunt, then he goes on to fumble the issue by suggesting that only WMD in artillery shells matter to us, and that artillery was the only means available to Saddam to deliver WMD.

Two points, minor and major.

The minor point is that Saddam attack the Kurds in 1988 using chemical weapons delivered from planes. Kerry's statement that "artillery was the way they had previously delivered and it was the only way they knew they could deliver" is flat wrong. It is also easy to spot, and easy for the public to understand since they remember SCUDs hitting Israel in 1991.

The major point is that WMDs alarm us not only or even primarily when they are in artillery shells but when they are in the hands of terrorists. Had Chris Matthews been interested in actually asking a question that would have obliged the senator to show some thought, he would have inquired as to how much ricin is too much, or how great a biological threat has to exist in the lab before we take action.

Kerry's answer tells us that he fails to grasp the crucial issue of this campaign: the threat to America has changed, and our response has to change with it. Sure, he gave up a huge issue by admitting that WMD may yet be found in a transparent attempt to position himself against the possibility of their discovery before November, but more important than that admission is Kerry's display of what can only be called ignorance of the threat.

We should not be surprised. In his long career, Kerry has misjudged the threats posed by the Vietcong, the Soviets, the Sandinistas, and just about every other enemy the United States has faced. Now he has misjudged the threat posed by WMDs. Is America going to elect a "hear no evil, see no evil" president in the middle of a war that could go on for years to come?

[BigSkyFreeper]

He's making lame attempts at moving to the center while destroying his chances of becoming CIC. Many on the left already don't see any difference between Bush and Kerry in regards to Iraq. This has them worried, which is why they're trying to tell him to get out now.

[dalebert]

Good Read. Bump.

[GmbyMan]

You know, what I don't get about Kerry is that he seems to want to do the same thing as Bush in Iraq except turn over the power over our troops to the UN. What? If I were a left winger in the "Bush Lied" nutball crew, I would not find this acceptable at all. I'd want to know that Kerry has a genuine plan to pull Americans out of Iraq ASAP and has a genuine plan to not attack any other country in the Middle East. He is essentially Bush without wanting to take the responsibility. He isn't prepared to be commander in cheif because he refuses to take a stand. I think people are starting to notice this.

[Iowa Granny]

Kerry admits WMD 'may still' exist.

[meenie]

The ability to reason is what distinguishes the man from ape. Unfortunately, I observe a lot of the lack of ability in present day politicians. The problem lies unsolved while the abstract ideas that caused the problem are discussed ad nauseum. Our education system started failing soon after WW II.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yep. That is the only difference between Bush and Kerry. Kerry would rather the US subordinate itself to the feckless idiots at the UN, while attempting to "make nice" with Germany, France, and the terrorists that want to kill us all. Bush does take a stand, and this is what appeals to many in this country. Bush has a clear vision for the War On Terror, Kerry has always been and always will be irresponsible, and just wants us to become pacified and hope that the terrorists will leave us alone if we leave them alone. It's in his blue blood.

[R. Scott]

The ability to reason is what distinguishes the man from ape.

Welcome to the world of Hanoi John.

[stocksthatgoup]

"I have talked to some (add appropriate noun) soldiers.."Kerry
"I have talked to Eleanor Roosevelt" ... Her Majesty
Did you have imaginery friends too???

[Timeout]

I saw the original interview.

At the time, I didn't know whether to laugh at

1) Kerry's clumsy attempt to innoculate himself against an eventual discovery of WMD.
or
2) The appalling sentence structure. His campaign manager must have been squirming like crazy as it went on...and on...and on.

[samtheman]

Kerry's clumsy attempt to innoculate himself against an eventual discovery of WMD.

He should also be innoculating himself against a major public connection between Saddam and Al Q.

[McGruff]

Kerry ended the interview by bringing up the fact that Karen Hughes had been born in Paris.... Kerry indicated that he had made a joke.

I saw this and don't remember Ketchup boy saying it was a joke.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Kerry: It appears, as they peel away the weapons of mass destruction issue, and--we may yet find them, Chris. Look, I want to make it clear: Who knows if a month from now, you find some weapons. You may. But you certainly didn't find them where they said they were, and you certainly didn't find them in the quantities that they said they were. And they weren't found, and I have talked to some soldiers who have come back who trained against the potential of artillery delivery, because artillery was the way they had previously delivered and it was the only way they knew they could deliver. Now we found nothing that is evidence of that kind of delivery, so the fact is that as you peel it away I think it comes down to this larger ideological and neocon concept of fundamental change in the region and who knows whether there are other motives with respect to Saddam Hussein, but they did it because they thought they could, and because they misjudged exactly what the reaction would be and what they could get away with.

Here is the Democraps slogan when we DO find the WMD's (or finally publicise the fact that we have!!)

Demowhine - "Yeah, you found the WMD's, but they're not where you said the were - you lied - wahhhhhhhhh!

[bushfamfan]

Karen was born in Paris because her father was an Army man stationed there. Her father fought in WW2-leading a platoon storming Normandy, Korea and Vietnam. Her father should be President! Kerry thinks he deserves it for 4 MONTHS! Karen brought up the fact that Kerry is ONLY running on his 4 MONTHS in Vietnam and his campaign is quoted as saying that is the issue and that's when she brought up how that's funny since he came back and called those serving over there war criminals committing attrocities and her father had served over 2 yrs. and she doesn't think that is right for Kerry to slander them and here he's running on Vietnam.

[mountaineer]

I have talked to some soldiers who have come back

Name two, Effin. Perhaps he really was talking to some of those foreign leaders who are begging him to defeat Pres. Bush, and he just got confused.

[McGruff]

Karen was born in Paris because her father was an Army man stationed there.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like Kerry has stepped in it again. It's not a good idea to make fun of Karen Hughes.

[wayoverontheright]

...and--we may yet find them, Chris.

There is no way the Kerry camp would make this concession at this point unless they know WMD HAVE BEEN FOUND, not only found, but found in quantities with proof of origin, such that the media cannot continue to obscure the fact.

[tioga]

all kerry needs is enough rope to hang himself, he couldn't even handle this softball interview.......

[mware]

It appears, as they peel away the weapons of mass destruction issue, and--we may yet find them

It sounds like Kerry is listening to John Loftus to me.

[tioga]

The left likes to ridicule women (ie Condi Rice and Katherine Harris) but it never works. kerry is just another joker who thinks he can mock a strong woman and be macho. It just makes him look like a jerk.