Posted on 01/30/2005 11:40:13 AM PST by CyberAnt
Billionaire investor George Soros, the biggest financial contributor to the failed effort to defeat President George W. Bush in November's election, said Democratic challenger John Kerry was a flawed candidate.
Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management LLC, spent $26 million in last year's campaign that he said was undermined by the candidate he supported.
"Kerry did not, actually, offer a credible and coherent alternative," Soros, 74, said yesterday in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "That had a lot to do with Bush being re-elected."
The comments by the Hungarian-born Soros marked his sharpest criticism of Kerry, a Vietnam War veteran who later spoke against the war and focused his campaign against Bush on the war in Iraq. Republicans gained four seats in the Senate, including the defeat of the Senate's highest-ranking Democrat, Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Republicans have 55 seats in the 100-seat chamber.
The Kerry campaign "tried to emphasize his role as a Vietnam War hero and downplay his role as an anti-Vietnam War hero, which he was", said Soros. "Had he admitted, owned up to it, I think actually the outcome could have been different."
Alternative Needed
Soros said he also now questions "what the Democratic party stands for." Democrats need to counter "a very effective conservative message machine", he said. "There really needs to be an alternative."
Still, Soros said the money he spent was worthwhile, and that he will remain active in U.S. politics.
"I don't feel it's an investment that's gone bad, because when you stand up for principles you have to do it whether you win or lose," Soros said. "I'm distressed that Bush was re-elected, but I don't feel that I wasted my money."
Soros donated millions to the Media Fund, a group that ...
(Excerpt) Read more at drudgereport.com ...
I heard FOX telling that Kerry said that Bush was suffering from "hubris" etc. - which I believe were the talking points for last week .. Kerry is still behind the times. And .. even Bob Beckel (whom I detest) commented today that whoever was advising Kerry had made a gross error in judgment - re Kerry's comments about Iraq. Even he thought it was dispicable to disparage the Iraqi's vote for freedom today.
Perhaps the lesson of the 2004 elections is that the American people cannot be BOUGHT OFF by some goofball swengali like we were a Fortune 500 merger.
"I don't feel it's an investment that's gone bad, because when you stand up for principles you have to do it whether you win or lose," Soros said. "I'm distressed that Bush was re-elected, but I don't feel that I wasted my money."
Sure you don't, you loser.
Yeah .. I loved it when Kerry kept saying he had all these "plans" but he couldn't divulge them now because he was concerned the repubs would steal his ideas. What a crock!
I can really warm up to unpretentious people pretty quickly.
Your professor sounds like someone I'd like.
In my case PhD stands for "Pretty Hard on Democrats" as you already know...
Unlike your real PhD friend, my most successful literary effort was filling out the menu card when I was in the hospital...:0)
This deserves a
George Soros: I spent 30 Million to defeat George Bush and all I got was "Hanoi Kerry".
Kerry said something along the lines of 'we shouldn't get too excited about this vote today'.
Can you imagine if someone had said that about the first balloting in a newly freed South Africa?
You're right - but Soros would never take the word of conservative .. never! That's their downfall.
You forgot one - his anti-military stand. Zell Miller said it right - after Kerry says he supports the troops and then votes against every military armament - Kerry was left with "spitballs" to fight a war against a faction which killed 3000 of our people on our own soil.
Only the anti-war people agreed with those Kerry votes. They want Iraq to become another Vietnam - and that can only be accomplished if there is a President who defunds and de-arms our military - just like the DEMOCRATS DID in Vietnam.
"I could have told him that for a lot less than $26 million."
I would have told him that for 20 million, lolololol
"Then how did we get to be the most successful and the most powerful"
Is that the "we" you are commenting on ..?? If so - the WE stands for America. If you don't believe America is the most successful and the most powerful .. that's your choice.
They did. So did Soros's failings.
Well then .. let's keep after our reps about changing the 501C laws.
Every dollar Soros spends promotes a lefty crackpot who can't win. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. ;)
Did you have to sully my thread with this creep's botoxed face ..?? LOL!!
He's a "naturalized" citizen I believe ..??
I agree!
Yes, he had the greatest sense of humor. A lot of his Turkish friends worked in the same company - and he was always saying, "what do you expect - I'm working with a bunch of turkeys". LOL!
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