Posted on 09/25/2010 2:20:32 AM PDT by billorites
It’s the electorate, stupid!
A testy U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday blamed clueless voters with short attention spans for the uphill battle beleaguered Democrats are facing against Republicans across the nation.
“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday.
Conservative political blogger William Jacobson, who writes Legal Insurrection, immediately pounced on Kerry’s comments, saying that attitude is why voters are looking to shake up Capitol Hill by electing upstart candidates such as U.S. Sen. Scott Brown.
“It just continues the Democrats’ theme that the reason people are upset is because they don’t understand. They’re not smart enough. That sort of rhetoric just gets people even more upset,” said Jacobson.
Democratic consultant Phil Johnston, former chairman of the state party, jumped to Kerry’s defense, saying, “That’s absurd. He’s just making the point that people have real lives to lead and most people are not spending a lot of time worrying about politics, particularly in a tough economy. I’ve known John Kerry for 35 years and he doesn’t look down on people.”
Kerry made the remarks on voters following questions about U.S. Rep Barney Frank’s re-election campaign and queries about securing federal funding for the Hub hospital.
“I think a lot of the anger today - while it’s appropriate because Washington is broken - is not directed at the right people,” said Kerry. “Barney is prepared, as others are, to explain what we’re doing. I think when people hear the facts and they see what we’re doing, it frankly makes sense.”
In the interview, Kerry added that voters should be mad at stonewalling Republicans and “big money” in politics instead, referring to a bill blocked by Republicans Thursday that would reveal corporate and union leaders who fund big-bucks political ads.
He went on to blame the legislative logjam in Washington, D.C., for fewer federal dollars sent to the state.
John Feehery, a Washington D.C.-based Republican consultant, said Kerry’s comments mark yet another embarrassing stumble for the gaffe-prone senior senator. In 2006, the former presidential candidate had to apologize for a statement he made at a California college that U.S. students who did not study hard and stay in school would end up “stuck in Iraq.”
“I think that arrogance sums up why John Kerry didn’t get elected president,” Feehery said. “He’s out of touch.”
I guess Kerry thinks we need to be re-educated?
Oh my gosh, I hope the liberals don’t listen to Kerry. If they take the time to talk about healthcare, give more speeches about it, and remind voters they supported it, we’re sunk!
/crosses fingers
In a way, he’s right. Uninformed voters put the present administration into place, and now the Democrats will hopefully pay a high price for their low expectations of their base’s collective lack of principles and thinking capabilities.
“I’ve known John Kerry for 35 years and he doesn’t look down on people.”
John Kerry, barging a line at a fast food restaurant: “Don’t you know who I am?”
John Kerry: a real egalitarian.
Why didn’t he say, “Democrats’ woe stem from stupid voters who didn’t go to Harvard”?
Didn’t John Kerry serve in Vietnam?
I’m sure I heard that somewhere...
agree. Some of the Republicans, especially in the Senate, have the Kerry opinion about the unwashed masses.
I just returned to the US but have been following the mood of the country via online, but being here and sensing the anger is amazing to witness. Proud to be part of it!!!!!!!
Keep those faxes and call pourring into DC folks!!!! Dont let up and never surrender!
Exactly! I saw the headline and wondered "What's his complaint? Uninformed voters are the only reason Dems ever win anything!"
Well, there's also misinformed voters . . .
He definitely served in Cambodia
I heard that somewhere
How can a guy be out of touch when he has to dock his Yacht in a neighboring state to avoid state taxes in his home state? That sounds tto me like he is in touch with at least taxes.
Bassackwards liberal thinking. A bad economy tends to make people pay more attention to the news and politics, not less.
Uninformed voters put Obamacrats in power. Now that they’ve had some time to see the results, they’re less informed?
I can just imagine the Rats’ wailing and gnashing of teeth come November.
President elect Nixon sent him there on Christmas.
President elect Nixon sent him there on Christmas.
>>I just returned to the US but have been following the mood of the country via online, but being here and sensing the anger is amazing to witness.
I’m glad to hear that. It feels pretty angry around here, but it’s nice to have it confirmed by a bit of an “outside observer.”
How can a guy be out of touch when he married an overweight old bag who just happened to be worth about $5 Billion?
Well, this has been true in past. We elected people, we thought we could trust, to represent us so we'd be free to have "real lives". We wake one day to find you stupid, selfish, lying bastards had screwed up everything we'd been working for. So, now you get to "reap the whirlwind".
About the first time I agree with Kerry on ANY subject.
Yes, those voters who have repeatedly voted for Kerry have their heads either in the sand or up their rear ends.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.