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.

[SCHROLL]

Nope,he just gave the Bush team more fodder for an ad. Use the video of Kerry's comments, throw in a few of his flip flops, the lie he told on CNN to Woodruff about his comments from '71 being made about the leaders and not the soldiers backed by his actual comments, end with "Looked in a mirror recently Senator Kerry?"

[Steve_Seattle]

Bush had "a pattern of standing by while other people ... do his dirty work for him."

Notwithstanding my previous complimentary post about the Clintons, this is an exact description of how CLINTON ran the White House, expecially during the Monica days. Carville, Begala, Emmanuel, Blumenthal, Kendall, etc. - Clinton had a veritable army of "bad cops" to offset his "good cop" routine.

[patriciamary]

If the republicans don't come out in full force about the
911 ads and now this! It has to stop its so out of hand that the dems and the media will control all elections the republicans better put a stop to it now or their party and views are history this is serious republican wise up or you're GONE

[patriciamary]

This guy is dangerous freepers must help wake the republicans up !!!! because it's almost too late

[Steven W.]

Caller to Hugh just pointed out the DemoncRATs are following NAZI propaganda model to the tee - in this case saying & repeating things which are known to be untrue with the goal being to say them so much uninformed people start to accept lies as the truth.

[clintonh8r]

Kerry is a steaming pile...a kept man...a cynical opportunist...a hero in his own mind...a man who promotes himself with the fotune of a dead man.

[Uncle Miltie]

Divisive

Partisan

Mud-Slinging

New Low

[goodnesswins]

POT...KETTLE...BLACK.

[clintonh8r]

The congressional Republican caucus is populated by pussies. They won't stick their heads up to support or even defend their president. They are so afraid of the RATs and the press. They disgust me.

[gunnedah]

If I were Bush I would not get within a hundred feet of the SSSOB from Assachusetts!Scum is to good a word for him.
Now I here the Democrats are pushing for receipts on voting machines showing who a person voted for. You don't reckon it is so they can pay people for proving they voted for their boy do you? I thought the ballot was supposed to be secret.
This country is being overrun by lying vermin from the left.

[Waco]

Character don't count. (Circa 1992)

[bootless]

Brit Hume just ran it.

Good!

Kerry is a bigger idiot than he lets on.

Big Time.

[JusPasenThru]

Patience, Grasshopper. W is practicing the most sublime of Zen techniques. Why point out the lack of intelligence and integrity of your opponent, when he's perfectly capable of demonstrating that on his own.

Besides, there was a recent Gallup poll revealing that many more of the swing voters (those that decide the elections after we loyalists have voted) are already viewing the Kerry campaign as dirty. I don't think the Pubs have a thing to worry about. However, please fell free to worry as much as you would like.

[sissyjane]

Chris Matthews is covering it on Hardball. Pataki saying it's just outrageous.

[Max7]

Spin, Spin, Spin your special little dance Democratic spokesmen. Let's all watch and see how they try to cover up Kerry's visceral vitriol, just like a cat in its cat box. It'll happen. The majority of the media will HELP him. It's happening right now. And they accuse the REPUBLICANS of lowering the level of the campaign?? Let's have a reality check, shall we? I hope President Bush refuses to debate this excuse-for-a-real-opponent until a REAL apology is issued ON CAMERA. Kerry has NOTHING on Bush. Absolutely nothing. Will they play this on Hannity & Colmes tonight? If they do, will Colmes take the apparent low road, e.g. "He's our guy, do or die?" Wait and see.

[Mo1]

Brit Hume just ran it.

Chris Mathews just ran it too

[Stentor]

Kerry is lower than Clinton.

Kerry happens.

[NormsRevenge]

Kerry is beneath contempt...

John Flip/Flop'n Kerry

[OldFriend]

Oh I feel so much better being labelled a crook and a liar.

[bootless]

Chris Matthews is covering it on Hardball. Pataki saying it's just outrageous.

Wow, no kidding. I guess Effin' Kerry is going to test their do-or-die leftism to the limit.