KERRY / BUSH PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES CANCELLED PENDING FORMAL APOLOGIES FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN (Proposal)

HughHewitt.com + Live Radio ^ | 3/10/03 | Hugh Hewitt

[Steven W.]

The difference between wrong and rotten: John Kerry crossed a line today. Working a line of supporters, one of whom encouraged him to "keep smiling," Kerry, obviously thinking the microphones were off, said "Don't worry man. We're going to keep pounding. We're just beginning to fight here. These guys, er, these guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group of people I've ever seen." The tape aired on CNN, and I will be replaying it dozens of times on air for the country to hear this afternoon and evening.

Kerry obviously meant the president, the vice president, Karl Rove and the president's re-election campaign. Given the sweeping nature of the insult, throw in the entire White House staff, Rumsfeld and the Joint Chiefs, George Tenet, and Paul Bremer. Throw in everyone working to bring freedom to Afghanistan and Iraq, and demilitarization to Libya (successfully) and North Korea, Syria and Iran. It is a massive slander, and the tone of his voice brooks no doubt about his sincerity. Kerry really believes what he whispers in a moment he believes to be unrecorded. Kerry's sheep-dipped in paranoia.

Now the media needs to call him on it. What's the evidence for "crooked," for "lying?" What's he mean, and in detail. You don't get to walk away from such outrageous charges with a laugh and a wave. Kerry was a defender of Clinton, recall, a president demonstrated to be a liar and crooked. (Not just the impeachment, wither, but Marc Rich etc.) But Bush-Cheney are worse than Clinton in Kerry's world. The president let slip once in 2000 what he thought of New York Times' reporter Adam Clymer, and the world collapsed on him. Kerry's charge is so much more serious that it defies comparison.

You can disagree with Bush on any number of issues, including the decision to go to war in Iraq. But no one candidate of the opposition party has to my knowledge ever uttered such a hate-infused polemic against the sitting president. This outburst is one with the MoveOn.org crowd's Bush-as-Hitler ads. It is bizarre. It is disturbing. It is disqualifying. Imagine a rage filled Kerry in the White House. And you thought Nixon had his demons.

At a minimum I hope the president responds by ruling out any debates with this jerk --any debates, period-- until a full apology is issued by Kerry to a full bank of cameras, a detailed and complete apology that includes everyone about whom the public might now think a liar or corrupt because of this recklessness. Seriously, the Democrats need to rethink their choice. Kerry's way off the cliff, and we have just begun to glimpse the inner Kerry: A mean-spirited, arrogant, angst-riden elitist with nothing but contempt for President Bush and the Americans who support him. And he has now given every nut in America more fuel for their inner demons.

No doubt Terry McAuliffe will be blaming the president for the low tone of the campaign that has now seen Kerry brand the president as a corrupt liar, McAuliffe brand the president as AWOL, Gore scream out his charge that the president "betrayed" the country, Wes Clark challenge the president's patriotism, and Howard Dean speculate that Bush had warning of 9/11. Don't hold your breath for CNN to report on who drove the campaign into the ditch, but there's no mistaking the party diving for the bottom.

[Steven W.]

The liberals & press are now beyond over the top - 1st the media setup & lies about 9/11 "families" & now this! NO DEBATES!

[goldstategop]

I second it. Someone who stoops to the gutter like Kerry shouldn't helped out of it. Let him stew in his hate.

[Steven W.]

Is Hanoi John Kerry a Uniter or a Divider? Is not calling Bush & Cheney a Liar creating a wedge?

[af_vet_1981]

The difference between wrong and rotten: John Kerry crossed a line today. Working a line of supporters, one of whom encouraged him to "keep smiling," Kerry, obviously thinking the microphones were off, said "Don't worry man. We're going to keep pounding. We're just beginning to fight here. These guys, er, these guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group of people I've ever seen." The tape aired on CNN, and I will be replaying it dozens of times on air for the country to hear this afternoon and evening.

Good, good, good. Save the tape and play it for the media when Kerry wants a debate.

[Kirkwood]

Sounded a little Nixon-esque.

[goldstategop]

Kerry's as paranoid as Richard Nixon.

[God luvs America]

I just hope the GOP sticks to their guns on this one.

[NormsRevenge]

Brit Hume just ran it.

Kerry is a bigger idiot than he lets on.

[Saundra Duffy]

I can't wait to see GWB make mincemeat out of Kerry during the debates. Bring 'em on!

[God luvs America]

Futhermore who's the liar here? A President who stands by his word or Mr. Heinz who goes whichever way the wind is blowing?

[Steven W.]

you just reminded me of Hanoi John's complaint that he never would have voted for the Iraq war resolution if he'd known Bush actually meant what he'd said.

[Weimdog]

Hewitt's playing it on his show now.

Listen Live -

http://www2.krla870.com/listen/

[RoseofTexas]

MOVE ALONG nothing to see here!! Just a few RATS being evil that's all...move along, giddy up!

[Texan5]

"Nixon-esque."

My first thought as well...

[Paul Atreides]

Now the media needs to call him on it.

Yeah, and maybe the media will consider Saddam to be a bad person, while they're at it.

[goldstategop]

You mean he didn't read it before he voted on the measure? Sounds like your average ignorant congresscritter.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[Steven W.]

The media did consider Saddam to be bad ... that is, during a period of a few weeks in 1998 when Clinton sent missiles that way while Monica headed to the Grand Jury in the midst of impeachment.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ouch! That's gonna hurt in the morning when it's all over the front pages (wishful thinking).