A Republican Subs for Kerry With Relish

NY Times ^ | June 29, 2004 | PAM BELLUCK

[neverdem]

THE DEMOCRATS

BOSTON, June 28 - So much for party unity.

First, John Kerry, the putative Democratic presidential nominee, decided Sunday not to attend the annual meeting of the nation's mayors here, refusing to cross a picket line of police union members feuding with Boston's mayor.

Then, on Monday, Boston's mayor, Thomas M. Menino, who is not only a Democrat but also the host of the Democratic National Convention here in July, welcomed a stand-in for Mr. Kerry: Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of Massachusetts.

Mr. Romney, not generally considered a friend to Democrats, seized the opportunity to praise Mr. Menino and needle Mr. Kerry.

"I wanted to indicate my support of Mayor Menino," Mr. Romney said.

"He's a man of courage and integrity," he added, saying, "In the executive responsibility, you put first the people and not the pickets."

Mr. Romney had declined an invitation to attend the conference on Saturday because of scheduling conflicts, said his spokeswoman, Shawn Feddeman. But when he heard about Mr. Kerry's decision on Sunday night, he called to ask if he could take the senator's slot.

Mr. Romney insisted Monday he was "not here to make any comment or statement on Senator Kerry."

So, to whom might he have been referring when he said:

"A mayor, a governor and a president have a responsibility to make tough decisions and balance budgets. A senator doesn't, and that's a big difference. Senators don't have to balance budgets. Senators don't have to make those kinds of trade-offs. That's what the mayor has to do, and that's why I want to be here for him."

Mr. Romney capped his comments by calling Mr. Menino a "good Democrat."

In an interview on Monday, Mr. Menino said: "I love that. To be called a good Democrat by a Republican - that's great. That shows respect."

Not like Mr. Kerry, the mayor suggested.

"Some of the mayors here are disappointed, frustrated, angered by Kerry not showing up," he said. "It's all about respect of the mayors, and there was no respect of the mayors."

While Mr. Menino said he was not about to withdraw support from his party's candidate, he added, "John Kerry will have to live by this decision."

Mr. Menino and the city's largest police union, the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, have been at an impasse for months, and the union has been trying to make things increasingly difficult for the mayor as the convention approaches. While the union will not be trying to block access to the site of the convention, Jim Barry, the union's political director, said that if no agreement was reached, pickets would be dogging Mayor Menino during the convention, protesting outside the delegation parties where he was host and staging a rally outside City Hall.

Mr. Barry said the union members, who have been without a contract for two years, wanted a 16 percent raise over four years. The city has offered 11.9 percent.

Several mayors at the conference expressed frustration and resentment toward Mr. Kerry.

Mayor Rich Borer Jr. of West Haven, Conn., a Democrat, said he believed that Mr. Kerry should have attended and might even have been able to mediate an agreement between the city and the union.

"It makes it a little more difficult for me as a man to sit there and say Kerry is the guy when he didn't show up," Mr. Borer said.

But Mayor Wayne Smith of Irvington, N.J., a Democrat, said he understood Mr. Kerry's decision. "I thought it was a wise decision not to get embroiled in the politics of what is essentially a local issue," Mr. Smith said.

[pacpam]

Ambivalence, just what is needed in a President. NOT

[hoosiermama]

. "I thought it was a wise decision not to get embroiled in the politics of what is essentially a local issue," Mr. Smith said.

Seems to me that not shoing up puts him smack dab in the middle of the local political fight.....He's obviously taken sides....against the mayor.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

"with relish"? Heinz 57 type relish?

[dano1]

"A mayor, a governor and a president have a responsibility to make tough decisions and balance budgets. A senator doesn't, and that's a big difference.

LOL. Kerry seemed to have a lot of trouble even deciding whether or not to attend. God help us if he is President and has to face a real crisis.

[Katya]

"But Mayor Wayne Smith of Irvington, N.J., a Democrat, said he understood Mr. Kerry's decision. "I thought it was a wise decision not to get embroiled in the politics of what is essentially a local issue," Mr. Smith said."

And isn't Mr. Kerry their local Mass. Senator? In fact, Menino is his mayor.....

[TexasTransplant]

Mr Kerry missed an opportunity ...

He could have shown his support for the Union and his support for the Mayor (at the same time)

This Convention is going to be a hoot.

[TexasTransplant]

Kerry couldn't decide whether or not to show up, so he showed up and didn't 

 

 

[no dems]

He actually showed up before he didn't show up.

BTW, did you know that he was in Vietnam?

[bitt]

Fox News said earlier tonight that Kerry was assured by the Police Union that since he didn't cross the lines today, that they will not protest him personally during the convention.

So he bartered for his own self interests...typical for the ALTER Boy.





b

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

But Mayor Wayne Smith of Irvington, N.J., a Democrat, said he understood Mr. Kerry's decision. "I thought it was a wise decision not to get embroiled in the politics of what is essentially a local issue," Mr. Smith said.

WHAT! Kerry is not a local? Hmm. I guess you are right. Kerry probably has lived out of state spent five times the amount he has lived in state. Sorry Mayor Smith.