Zell Miller once praised Kerry <yikes!>

Senator Zell Miller (http://miller.senate.gov) ^ | March 1, 2001 | Senator Zell Miller

[BullishOnAmerica]

My job tonight is an easy one: to present to you one of this nation's authentic heroes, one of this party's best-known and greatest leaders – and a good friend.

He was once a lieutenant governor – but he didn't stay in that office 16 years, like someone else I know. It just took two years before the people of Massachusetts moved him into the United States Senate in 1984.

In his 16 years in the Senate, John Kerry has fought against government waste and worked hard to bring some accountability to Washington.

Early in his Senate career in 1986, John signed on to the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Bill, and he fought for balanced budgets before it was considered politically correct for Democrats to do so.

John has worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment. Business Week magazine named him one of the top pro-technology legislators and made him a member of its "Digital Dozen."

[BullishOnAmerica]

This is what Zell Miller said about Sen. Kerry in 2001 -- before the WTC attacks. What does everyone think about this?

[NavVet]

Zell already explained this. He knew nothing about Kerry, but was handed a Kerry BIO to prepare his remarks. He took it at face value, but knows better now.

[kinsman redeemer]

things change. Is that hard to understand?

[ican'tbelieveit]

It was before the attacks. The whole point of Miller's speech last night is that post 9/11 is not the time to play partisan politics with our national security.

[happydogdesign]

[flashbunny]

Zeller already addressed this talking dem talking point - he was a new senator and he was reading a briefing given to him by dem leaders.

Then zell miller woke up and discovered the truth about kerry.

[HitmanLV]

He changed his mind based on changed circumstances.

He liked Bill Clinton in 1992, for example, and given his current posture I doubt that he would endorse him in 2004.

[sharktrager]

I think he was being nice to be honest.

And, as many have said, there is a huge difference between accepting him as a Senator from a liberal state, and thinking he is qualified to be President.

[Solson]

Times change. Miller has stayed consistent. It's Kerry who's running from the mainstream.

[pete anderson]

This is complete nonsense and fiction. Zell Miller would have never uttered such words about John F. Kerry.

[Howlin]

Boilerplate, 9-11 senatorial courtesy.

[ambrose]

Hmmm... what was Howie Dean saying about Kerry in January of *2004*?

[Samwise]

Zell has explained why and how he became disillusioned with the Dems. But you know that.

[dead]

I used to praise Pat Buchanan and trash Tony Blair.

[hawkaw]

That is exactly what Zell said last night when he was rudely asked about this by those reporters on CNN (who by the way were following the DNC talking points)

[You Dirty Rats]

This reminds me of a Vermont Democratic Politician who went to fight in the Civil War and, when he was home for a bit, heard it from other Democrats, who said he had changed and they hadn't. As a true Vermonter, he replied "Fools never do".

The 'Rats are still stuck on 9-10. Zell isn't.

[Pete]

I think it doesn't matter. Last night is what people will remember. Zell is now yesterday's news. Any attempts by the Dems to smear him will portray them as playing catch-up. If they want to have any chance to win, they need to get out ahead. I don't see it happening.

[ambrose]

Also, he only became Senator in mid-1999. Could be said that the more you get to know Kerry, the more you despise him.

[luv2ski]

He responded to this last night on CNN. Rush played the sound bite today. He said that when he first got to the US Senate, he saw Kerry and figured: 3 purple heart, Silver Star- this guy is a great war hero. When he researched the votes that Kerry cast, however, he completely changed his mind. He has documentation for every statement he made last night so that he would be "ready for you in the media who have Democrat talking points".

[Glenn]

What does everyone think about this?

I think Zell Miller got a snout full of Washington this last few years and it finally dawned on him that everything is not as it seemed when looking from Georgia.