Dems Doubt Kerry -- "Anybody But Bush" Brigade Getting Desperate

Washington Post ^ | June 14, 2004 | Jim Vandehei

[GarnetGirl04]

John F. Kerry has shattered fundraising records, unified an oft-warring party and pushed past President Bush in some national polls. Yet many Democratic voters, officials and even members of Kerry's staff express an ambivalence -- or angst -- about their presidential candidate that belies this strong public standing.

These Democrats say the enthusiasm for defeating Bush runs much stronger and deeper than the passion for electing Kerry. The chief reason: The senator from Massachusetts, they say, has not crisply articulated what a Kerry presidency would stand for beyond undoing much of the Bush agenda.

[GarnetGirl04]

Quick quiz:

What's more important to Dems: Their support for John Kerry, or their blind hatred for President Bush?

OK, so we already know the answer to that one: They hate Bush more than they like Kerry. But now the press is finally waking up to this.

Clinton's old chief of staff is a bit worried:

"There is a danger in that [ambivalence]," said John D. Podesta, White House chief of staff in the Clinton administration. "You can't just be against something. [Voters] want a positive vision of where the country is going, and he has to provide that."

After the must difficult months in the Bush Administration's tenure -- Abu Ghraib, the 9/11 Commission, Iraq casualties -- John Kerry still has not blown out of the box. What's it going to take for Kerry to start to win the public? President Bush getting caught with his pants down in the oval office??? (Wait -- nevermind that ... that might actually help him WIN democrat votes).

Democrats do not have a positive vision for the future. They're just hateful anti-Bushers, still angry over what they (wrongfully) believe was stolen from them in Florida four years ago. How pathetic.

[sarasota]

Don't expect to see this perspective anywhere else, except possibly on Fox.

[HarleyD]

If articles are starting to pop up like this in the left wing Washington Post then the RATS are more than worried.

[Jalapeno]

They're just hateful anti-Bushers, still angry over what they (wrongfully) believe was stolen from them in Florida four years ago. How pathetic.

I disagree, I think the last election is just the excuse for "outrage". These people love to hate, and live for it.

[Mister Baredog]

What's more important to Dems: Their support for John Kerry, or their blind hatred for President Bush?

IMHO there will be a new "term" coined after Nov 2. It will be "Bush Democrats".

All Democrats aren't like the media wants us to believe.

I would refer doubters to Mayor Koch and Zell Miller as examples.

They will actively campaign for Bush.

[finnman69]

The LW fruitloops dont want to admit it, but all that negativity and hatred is not a great motivator to get to the polls. Yes the kooks who hate Bush will show up, but they were going to vote anyway, or not. People want positive reasons. Negativity will keep voters at home.

[End Times Sentinel]

"You can't just be against something. [Voters] want a positive vision of where the country is going, and he has to provide that."

 

Exactly.  People don't vote against someone, they vote for someone.  In this case, people will just stay home.

 

Kerry is in an unenviable position of having to try to convince people that things are worse than they really are.  That message isn't going to reverberate with the public, who are overwhelmingly positive, optimistic people.  Of course this is often what a challenger has to do, but with Kerry's dour appearance and delivery, he will turn off huge swaths of the American public with his gloom and doom message.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Badeye]

You are correct, "darkness in America" doesn't stand a chance against "Morning in America".

I also think one of the most underappreciated aspects of this election cycle is Al Gore's effect.

The vast majority sighs in relief he didn't end up as President. And he has reinforced that feeling since December of 2000 repeatedly.

We can't afford a Democrat in the Whitehouse at this particular moment in history. We thought we could during the 1990's.

[stylin_geek]

The other problem Sen. Kerry has is that if he actually was pushed to the point of defining what he is for, he would have to admit he is for raising taxes, bigger government, and a weakened military that is subservient to the U.N.

[areafiftyone]

Already posted Here

[Clara Lou]

I think the last election is just the excuse for "outrage". These people love to hate, and live for it.
I think you're right-- 2000 is just an excuse. For decades the Left has protrayed the Right as hatefully as possible. And the Right hasn't given in kind until recently.

[DJtex]

Kerry is so cautious that he'll stay out of sight if he thinks he's even in the polls. He's not going for a knockout and Bush can keep things quiet by just not starting his campaign until after the 'Rat convention at the end of July. After that, watch things really heat up.

[mattdono]

...has not crisply articulated...

Sounds like the beginnings of seed-sowing..."We didn't get our message out", "The Republican media machine prevented John Kerry from getting his message to the voters", etc., etc., etc.

I can already hear the excuses.

[ThePythonicCow]

These people love to hate, and live for it.

Wide ranging hate and anger usually cover fear and doubt.

They have lost touch with the spirit, the true source of strength in our lives. They are afraid, and filled with bitterness and rage.

Reagan is such a study in contrast.

[bobjam]

It may be only a matter of time until the dems decide that their money and efforts would be better spent strengthening their position in the Senate and preparing for 2008. With some key wins Senate wins in November, the dems could gain control of the Senate and make Hillary majority leader. That would set her up for a 2008 run.

[thoughtomator]

Kerry's had what - 8 months? 10? to lay out a positive agenda for what he would like to do as President, and hasn't.

What would make any person think that he could, or would, do that in the five months remaining?

Kerry will go into the election as the not-Bush candidate, and lose like Mondale in 1984.

[counterpunch]

The John Kerry Files

[Sender]

Kerry is in an unenviable position of having to try to convince people that things are worse than they really are.

Not only that, but the Democratic party is in the unenviable position of hoping things get worse than they really are.

[Ciexyz]

Is Sargent Shriver still available? (grin)

[Wyatt's Torch]

These Democrats say the enthusiasm for defeating Bush runs much stronger and deeper than the passion for electing Kerry.

And this is why this election is going to be the blowout nobody saw coming...if there's no reason to go to the polls, they won't go to the polls. See Dole 96...