Dick Morris: Bush Set Debate Trap for Kerry

NewsMax.com ^ | 9/28/04 | Carl Limbacher

[kattracks]

President Bush has set a debate trap for John Kerry that will force him to take positions opposed by a large percentage of his backers, former top Clinton strategist Dick Morris said Monday.

"What's happened is that Bush has set up a trap for Kerry," Morris told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." "He has so emphasized Kerry's flip-flopping, so-called weakness, vacillation, all that stuff, that Kerry has to take strong positions in the debate."

That will force Kerry to make his position clear once and for all on Iraq, the top strategist said - which will inevitably cost him votes.

Morris explained:

"A third of his voters are certified hawks, who say that we're winning the war on terror. . . . [But] half of his voters are doves. When he starts adopting an anti-Iraq line, anti-war line, he's going to alienate a third of his own voters."

If Kerry comes out strong for the war, however, he can say goodbye to the anti-war types who think he'll cut and run.

"Kerry has a strategic problem," said Morris. "And it doesn't matter how good a debater you are and how attractive you are. Every time he opens his mouth on a foreign policy debate, he's got to take a position that alienates a portion of his voters."

[Alia]

I agree with you in re MSM possibly being cautious; but there's no accounting for stacking the audience, IMHO. Personally, I find these townhall debates, um, icky. I prefer the more formal debate styles and techniques.

[trentk]

As I've often said here, the best thing that this candidate can do is keep his mouth shut.

[SC DOC]

"And it doesn't matter how good a debater you are..."

Kerry is a master debater
(and also a cunning linguist)

[paulklenk]

Now THAT is funny!

[ArGee]

They're going to vote for him regardless.

This is because John Kerry is ...

<Cue Ominous Music>

The Anti-Bush here at last!

Shalom.

[El Gato]

orange man shows evidence of lots of windsurfing.

Like everything else about sKerry, the tan is artificial.

[smonk]

this is the inevitable byproduct of kerry's foolish original strategy; bush looked so weak after the primaries that kerry merely wanted to maintain "minimum acceptability". their theory was that bush would crash and burn of his own accord, and kerry would stroll into the white house virtually unopposed. silly man. they just don't "give" that office away.

[tioga]

Thats third --ie the dove, behind the second --ie the waffling warrior.........LOL You can put lipstick on this guy, but he's still a dog.

[Ann Archy]

Look...it takes a LONG time to say "What about Dingell-Norwood"!

[Alia]

lol!!!

[tioga]

kerry will not be able to go over the time limit with the on camera flashing red light saying he is over the alloted time. LOL He can try it, but no one likes a "know-it-all" who won't shut up.

[Alia]

Voila! Then.... Kerry is consistent in being ARTIFICIAL, no?

[Toespi]

Looks like Kerry is now being forced to salvage one of his few bases, the transvestite vote.

[Alia]

Question: If one of the panelists (Kerry, Bush) do not go over the time limt; but instead "under"; can the other side begin; or must there be a pause? How organized is this "honk" light?

[carlo3b]

I can see it now..

AGENT ORANGE, reporting for duty!.. :o)

[WildTurkey]

their theory was that bush would crash and burn of his own accord, based on the "Fortunate Son" campaign aided by CBS/Rather and the fabricated documents.

[TJC]

I am having the time of my life giving the libs at my work a hard time about this. The posts here are hilarious!

[Cooltouch]

Morris is too close to the trees and has lost sight of the forest, I think. He overlooks the most important constituency that Kerry has -- the Bush-haters.

[tioga]

Don't know. I just read that the Bush team negotiated this point and won.

[Alia]

Thanks! Just wondering...