Kerry's left turn scares Democrats

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 16, 2004 | Robert Novak

[jalisco555]

To the astonishment and dismay of Democratic politicians, John Kerry over the last weekend appeared to have forgotten his opponent for president. He did not seem to realize that he was running against George W. Bush, not Howard Dean. That was an understandable conclusion to be drawn from the Democratic nominee's course over four days.

Last Friday, Sen. Kerry abruptly returned to the safely buried gun control issue by decrying President Bush for permitting the assault weapons ban to end. On Saturday, he addressed the Congressional Black Caucus with a liberal harangue. On Sunday, Kerry rested. On Monday, Kerry was back boosting gun control, scolding Bush for letting the assault weapons ban expire at midnight.

Only two explanations are possible, and neither is reassuring to worried Democrats. Kerry could be making a conscious, though counterproductive, decision to reassure his liberal base. Or, he could be trapped by the calendar of events -- talking gun control because a deadline had been reached and talking civil rights because the Black Caucus invited him. Democratic strategists are particularly concerned by the latter explanation, suggesting a mindless campaign.

[jalisco555]

Or, he could be trapped by the calendar of events -- talking gun control because a deadline had been reached and talking civil rights because the Black Caucus invited him.

This makes sense to me. Not since Bush in '92 have I seen such an inept, poorly run general election campaign. Truly, these people can't think more than 6 hours ahead. Can you imagine them in positions of power?

[gunnygail]

We'd all be french fried in a dirty bomb blast and Hanoi John would still be asking the UN-americans for permission to act.

[UncleSamUSA]

"Not since Bush in '92 have I seen such an inept, poorly run general election campaign."

Exactly.

And you know what... I'M LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT !!!

[Piquaboy]

Just showing his true colors.

[ClearCase_guy]

Their actual concern was exposed by Democratic activist Paul Begala, who has been assailed for advising the Kerry campaign while appearing as my co-host on CNN's ''Crossfire.'' He said on Monday's program: ''Anyone who's worried that I'm secretly running the Kerry campaign can rest easy. ... As an avid hunter and gun owner myself, I think Kerry's move is a political mistake, because Republicans are now going to try to scare hunters.''

Or he could have said: "As someone who is totally clueless about Second Amendment Rights, I recognize that hunting is the central point to consider ..."

[austinaero]

It's actually quite amusing and fun to watch...

I vote for the "mindless campaign" as the reason.

50 days or so to go before the election and he is still hiring people??? And we are supposed to believe they are unified and solid? How many chiefs are over there running the show anyway?

This is an impressive topic for the very liberal Sun Times to run.

Go Bush!!!

[Armedanddangerous]

On the contrary sir, I need frenchie to continue yelling to the top of his lungs about gun control. More of the sheeple in my state need to hear him saying it, so they won't think I'm lying to them about it.

West Virginia is a very pro 2nd amendment state, and dumped algore because of his running off at the mouth.

Bring it on johnny..yell louder, we cannot hear you.

[mtbopfuyn]

Bush let the assault weapons ban expire? Excuse me, but am I mistaken in thinking Kerry is a senator?

[sinkspur]

Look at the campaign managers:

Dukakis- Susan Estrich
BushI- Mary Matalin
Kerry- Mary Beth Cahill

Here's another point of comparison:

HP- Carly Fiorina

I'll let you pick out the common element.

[Sender]

Kerry is alienating little pieces of his base with every word that comes out of his mouth. First he's the antiwar candidate, then he's the roaring warlord. Then he's the hunting candidate, then he wants to ban guns.

With each flip and flop, a handful of Kerry voters just walk away. Good. Keep it up, John.

[blue jeans]

If you can't lead a few folks to manage a campaign right, then how in the world can you govern the only remaining superpower in the world???

[Lancey Howard]

Kerry is still working on solidifying his base? ROTFLMAO!!!
That's all he's got left: welfare-mothers, abortion enthusiasts, gun grabbers, Hollywood drunks, athiests, screeching feminists, condom throwers, college professors, anti-capitalist malcontents, and the rest of the weirdos, losers and parasites who make up the base of the Democrat party.

[griswold3]

'Yet, his Black Caucus speech touched all the liberal bases and then played the race card. He quoted W.E.B. DuBois, the black leader who ended his career by joining the Communist Party and going into exile, calling African Americans ''a nation within a nation.'' Reinforcing DuBois, Kerry pledged ''to end the division between the fortunate America and the forgotten America.''
Still think he's not a communist sympathizer?

[Rokke]

"Not since Bush in '92 have I seen such an inept, poorly run general election campaign."

Actually, I thought Dole's campaign in 96' was worse. But when discussing disastors, I guess the scale is all relative.

[N. Theknow]

Funniest part of this is that he actually returned for a Senate vote to vote AGAINST a bill that included the extension of the AWB and then later voted FOR a bill that included the AWB.

[television is just wrong]

Edwards and Kerry did nothing about the weapons ban expiration. DUH...

[dirtboy]

Last Friday, Sen. Kerry abruptly returned to the safely buried gun control issue by decrying President Bush for permitting the assault weapons ban to end. On Saturday, he addressed the Congressional Black Caucus with a liberal harangue. On Sunday, Kerry rested. On Monday, Kerry was back boosting gun control, scolding Bush for letting the assault weapons ban expire at midnight.

Memo to the Democratic Party: This is what happens when you nominate the most liberal senator as your presidential candidate. He can be running to the center and STILL be to the left of the Congressional Black Caucus.

[LZ_Bayonet]

The only "180" Kerry hasn't done is an SF180

[PMCarey]

Here's a third possibility. This week was supposed to be National Guard Week with the CBS story leading the way into the Kitty Kelly book. However when the CBS story blew up, Kerry's campaign had to hastily put together a new theme for the week and they fell on the old liberal standbyes.

[jalisco555]

Bush let the assault weapons ban expire? Excuse me, but am I mistaken in thinking Kerry is a senator?

Kerry was not about to let Bush force him to change his strategy of not actually doing any work as a Senator. No, sir, Bush can't push ol' JFK around.