Posted on 09/25/2004 1:12:58 PM PDT by hope
Kerry Taps Controversial Elian Attorney It may prove to be a critical factor this year as well – thanks to John Kerry who just tapped a key figure in the Elian controversy for his campaign.
Kerry must have forgotten that after the Elian brouhaha record numbers of Cuban Americans in Florida voted against Al Gore – ceding the closely contested Florida race – and the presidency to George Bush.
The Miami Herald reported Saturday that "a lawyer unpopular with many Cuban Americans for his role in the Elián González case will help prepare John Kerry for the upcoming presidential debate to be held at the University of Miami.”
That lawyer’s name is Gregory Craig, a well-connected Washington attorney who represented Elian Gonzalez’s father.
Craig worked closely with the Cuban government and Attorney General Janet Reno to gain custody of little Elian.
In the end, armed federal immigration officers stormed the home of Elian’s uncle and seized the boy. With the help of Reno and the Clinton White House, Craig successfully returned Elian to Castro’s custody.
Now, Craig has been tapped by John Kerry’s campaign to prepare him for his first debate with President Bush, which is scheduled for Sept. 30 in Miami.
Craig will also reportedly play the role of President Bush in a series of mock debates with Kerry.
Craig’s new role in the Kerry campaign underscores Senator Ted Kennedy’s strong control over the Kerry effort.
Craig has been a longstanding Kennedy operative, and the Herald noted that Craig had "served as a top foreign policy advisor to Sen. Edward Kennedy . . .” Superlawyer Craig also served as Bill Clinton's lead impeachment lawyer.
The Craig appointment is in keeping with NewsMax Magazine’s recent cover story "Teddy’s Back!”
Authored by best-selling author Richard Poe, the report reveals that Ted Kennedy is the driving force behind the Kerry campaign and that Kennedy operatives – including Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill and political adviser Bob Shrum – are calling the shots.
But the selection of Craig will be seen as a major slap in the face to Cuban American voters – a voting bloc Kerry has been trying to woo.
Kerry has sought to outflank Bush by claiming Bush has been too soft on Castro and Venezuela’s Marxist dictator Hugo Chavez.
Just this month the Kerry campaign even opened a campaign office in Miami’s Little Havana and began broadcasting radio ads in Spanish attacking Bush’s Cuba policies.
But Kerry’s efforts in Miami may be for naught with the Craig appointment.
Even the Herald noted Kerry’s error, calling the Craig appointment a "misstep, signaling a campaign that is still learning its way around Florida -- and Miami's -- complicated mix of politics, six weeks before the election.” Editor's note:
Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004 2:07 p.m. EDT
The Elian Gonzalez controversy was the single most critical factor giving George Bush the presidency in 2000.
108-108-108-108-108-108-101-101-101-101-101
Shows what a weasel Kerry is...and what a pro-Kerry-ote Craig is.
Flash to all Florida families...!
That confirms my suspicions upon seeing the pictures of him with his hands all over Edwards.
This is great, let the Cubans in Miami know who is helping you Kerry, okay. They will remember this I am sure when they go to the polls and vote. Ha ha, Kerry makes another misstep.
That's a bit up the evolutionary scale for him.
The Cubans could found a 527 organization, "Swift Raft Survivors" against Kerry.
My name is Greg Craig, and I'm special counsel to the president.
I'm here today on behalf of President Clinton. I'm here to argue that he is not guilty of the allegations of grand jury perjury set forth in Article I.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/impeachment/trial/craig_1-20.html <-- More Gregory Craig
BIGGGGG MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good think I caught myself before an image of those two together popped into my head. Could have ruined the whole weekend.
Cute. I would also like to see "Bay of Pigs Veterans" against Kennedy, er, Kerry.
This one decision should guarantee that Kerry won't have a chance to win in Florida. Even without Kerry's problems in many of the battleground states, this should assure that Kerry cannot win in the Electoral College. As Don Meredith used to sing on Monday Night Football, "The party's over ...."
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "Kerry Hasn't Read a History Book"
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That's what he's famous for and should have been the headline IMHO.
This has all the earmarks of yet another dumb move by the sKerry campaign. There is only one constituency who will notice this appointment, and they are decidedly against the guy. It could serve to really energize FL Cubans, and others.
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You beat me again with the thought... but I'm used to it by now, CBB ...
ping
blast from the past PING.
I was just wondering about Elian, too . . . thinking what Cubans have sacrificed in order to come to the US, remembering that his mother and others died for their chance to win freedom.
Craigs association with Cuba eh?. Boy, the Soros sponsered far left groups that control Kerry aren't even trying to remain anonymous. Im saying this over and over, these folks are using this campaign to build a global movement. Its about far more than this election.
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