Posted on 07/21/2004 4:12:27 PM PDT by Vision Thing
Several groups have invited Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) to speak to their members as the result of a statement made at the recent NAACP convention. But Kerry may have opened a Pandora's Box when he declared that as president of the United States, "you need to talk to all of the people."
The presidential aspirant was trying to take advantage of President George W. Bush's decision not to address the nation's oldest civil rights organization. The White House believes the leadership of the organization has been overly partisan and has used inflammatory rhetoric against the president. Bush will speak to the more centrist Urban League on Friday.
The Gun Owners of America (GOA) has invited Kerry to speak to its members.
CNSNews.com quoted GOA Director of Communications Erich Pratt as saying, "We're so glad to hear that you (Kerry) want to talk with us and help unite this nation. How about working with us to defend the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights?"
Pratt noted that Kerry has not shown up for most of his Senate votes this year, saying, "He did fly into town this March, specifically to ban several scores of semi-automatic firearms."
Concerned Women for America (CWA) invited presidential candidate John Kerry to speak at its national convention in September when CWA, the nation's largest public policy women's organization, celebrates its 25th anniversary. The group is challenging Kerry "to meet his own standard for the presidency as he campaigns."
"Sen. Kerry vowed that this is a prerequisite for the presidency," said Michael Bowman, CWA's director of state legislative relations. "What's good for the president is good for the candidate. We're giving Kerry a chance to prove himself just before voters come out for the election."
Bowman added, "Sen. Kerry should recognize that this invitation is a unique opportunity to directly address some of the most politically engaged of CWA's 500,000 members before November 2."
He also said, "Political pundits claim that the Kerry campaign is reaching out to conservative women. If that's true, then CWA is the perfect audience."
The Family Research Council (FRC), led by President Tony Perkins, has also taken Sen. Kerry up on his offer, inviting the senator to meet with some of its members.
In a letter to the Kerry campaign, Perkins wrote: "On behalf of the millions of families represented by [the FRC], I would like to invite you to a roundtable discussion at FRC's Washington, DC 'home' to discuss a number of issues on which you have proclaimed similar positions to those we represent."
Perkins continued, "You have proclaimed that you are adamantly against same-sex marriage, as are we. You have proclaimed that you believe in stem cell research and FRC, alongside Senator Sam Brownback, has been a leading advocate for stem cell treatments that have shown great promise. In addition, you have stated that you believe life begins at conception -- a view shared by the millions of families we represent."
He pointed out that Kerry voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, he opposed the partial-birth abortion ban, and he favors embryonic stem cell research -- positions which directly contradict his stated personal beliefs.
"It is our hope that a meeting with the Senator will help clear up the differences between his recent public comments and his voting record," said Perkins.
He probably wasn't trying too hard to make such an impression.
That's obvious, ain't it. :-)
Our side is having fun. A good sign we're winning.
I've had the opportunity to see the President on the campaign trail, and there can be no doubt that he is having a BLAST!
Yes, the NRA, not the NAACP, is the nation's oldest civil rights organization. Thanks for pointing this out idiots the NAACP is nothing more than a left-wing group.
He'll be Zotted before he'll be Zotted.
It probably never crossed his mind that his finger should be elsewhere under such conditions.
Ha!!
It could also be his 'Dukakis in the tank' picture.
Oh, but I'm sure that would change if he were to become President...
He'd probably hire a ghost writer to sit in for him.
Why don't we extend an invitation to Senator Kerry to speak at the GOP convention? We're all Americans and it would be the perfect venue to try to unite this country by reaching out to the opposition. ;-)
Don't forget his scheduled dates with an intern.
Cameras take priority.
Oh, this is GOOD!!!! I'll bet dummycrats wish he would just keep his mouth shut until the elections!!!
I thought Edwards was officially the mouthpiece these days. I too, love it when Kerry flaps his trap and has then find ways to try to wiggle out of his statements. He needs to have a long discussion with WJC concerning how to word his statements so as to be noncommital on anything.
Kerry has such a tortured, conflicted soul.
I hope that he accepts the invitation of the Vietnam Vets Against Kerry to sit on a round-table discussion at their convention next week.
EVERY conservative organization should invite him to speak. While we're at it, think the US Army should invite him to Iraq for a barbeque and a chat with the troops. I imagine he will be about as welcome as Hitlary was.
It's about damn time someone on our side took the offensive. Now lets see if they can manage to get noticed outside of FR.
Perhaps the New York Yankees should ask him to throw out the First Pitch for one of their home games.
How about Viet Nam Vets against Kerry. That would be perfect opportunity for him to meet with some regular Americans and discuss one of his favorite topics?
I'd also suggest the VFW or American Legion. He could bring along Jane Fonda as an associate speaker. She is Soooooooo popular with us Nam vets.
Perhaps the New York Yankees should ask him to throw out the First Pitch for one of their home games.
He could take Hitlary with him and they could both don a Yankee hat. On second thought, I'm a lifetime Yankee fan and wouldn't want the likes of him in Yankee Stadium.
He can thus be seen as a uniter, not a divider. He can show that he wants to change the tone in Washington. But this would alienate his base, which will accuse him of being too much like President Bush. :-)
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