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.
Love it.
I don't think Kerry thinks of the consequences past the evening newscast before he opens his yap.
ZING!
NRA Convention?
I'm waiting breathless for the Couric story on this.
I love it.
Well, he left himself an opening to decline the invitations, saying that he's not [yet] the president.
Let's see him flip flop out of this.
Oh, this is GOOD!!!! I'll bet dummycrats wish he would just keep his mouth shut until the elections!!!
Why not? He should address the Nations oldest civil rights organisation.
He is going to flip flop on this so fast we'll get whiplash..
CWA Challenges Kerry to Address Conservative Womens Conference 7/20/2004
Washington, D.C. Today, Concerned Women for America (CWA) invited presidential candidate John Kerry to speak at CWAs national convention this September when CWA, the nations largest public policy womens organization, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
CWA challenges Sen. Kerry to meet his own standard for the presidency as he campaigns. He taunted President Bush at the NAACP convention earlier this month, saying, When youre the president, you need to talk with all of the people.
Sen. Kerry vowed that this is a prerequisite for the presidency, said Michael Bowman, CWAs director of state legislative relations. Whats good for the president is good for the candidate. Were giving Kerry a chance to prove himself just before voters come out for the election.
Sen. Kerry should recognize that this invitation is a unique opportunity to directly address some of the most politically engaged of CWAs 500,000 members before November 2, Bowman said. Political pundits claim that the Kerry campaign is reaching out to conservative women. If thats true, then CWA is the perfect audience.
CWA has also invited President George W. Bush to speak at the convention. CWA eagerly anticipates receiving responses from both candidates
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.
This is so rich! I love it!
These conservative leaders have done a fine thing in exposing Scary Kerry's rank hypocrisy.
Wonder if he'd speak to survivors of homicide victims, given his anti-death penalty stance?
Yup. When he said that he will be the president of all the people, he was opening himself to an invitation to register on the Free Republic.
There is an ad in this...for the Bush campaign.
Sure. Why not?:
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?
Look at that photo....the moron is joking on a gun range with his finger on the trigger of a loaded gun .......with a child in the background.
He sure looks like a goober with that gun!
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