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McCain gives nod to Kerry campaign (MAJOR RINO ALERT!)
Boston Herald ^ | 6/30/03

Posted on 06/30/2003 8:47:30 AM PDT by areafiftyone

WASHINGTON - GOP maverick Sen. John McCain, whose breezy straight-talking style ignited the 2000 White House race, predicts Sen. John Kerry could rekindle the same campaign magic this time around.

``He certainly can,'' McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a telephone interview with the Herald from Arizona.

``He's smart, he's tough and he's experienced. He has the capability.''

McCain, meanwhile, was skeptical that upstart Democrat Howard Dean, who considers himself the McCain of the 2004 race, could ultimately show wide political appeal.

``He is coming out of a kind of antiestablishment role that clearly resonates with some voters,'' said McCain. ``But I don't know if that can play with the broader electorate, the American public.''

Dean's appeal to hard-core liberals has undercut Kerry, particularly in New Hampshire, the leadoff primary state that Kerry can't afford to lose.

McCain defended Kerry from Dean's recent attacks charging the Bay State senator lacks ``courage'' on such issues as tax cuts, the war with Iraq and education.

``I do not believe that's a fair criticism,'' said McCain. ``Governor Dean has spent some time apologizing to people recently for some of the things he's said.''

Kerry and McCain, both decorated Vietnam veterans, forged a friendship working on the POW-MIA issue several years ago.

Asked if Kerry was the Democratic candidate most closely resembling him, McCain demurred.

``I don't know,'' he said. ``He and I are very good personal friends, so my objectivity is probably skewed.''

McCain said he would not be surprised if political foes and the press try to pick apart or distort Kerry's combat record.

``Primaries are awful nasty,'' McCain said. ``But I would be surprised if there's anything in John Kerry's military background that would hurt him.''

McCain was victimized by a vicious whispering campaign during the 2000 South Carolina primary alleging he was brainwashed as a POW.

McCain also recalled a Senate hearing on POW-MIAs where a man accused him of being a ``Manchurian Candidate'' manipulated by his Viet Cong captors.

``I was about to lose my temper,'' McCain recalled. ``I felt (Kerry's) hand on my shoulder, and he said, `John, don't dignify it with a response.' He had a cool head.' ''

Kerry wants to borrow a page from the political playbook of McCain, whose war-hero status helped propel his underdog campaign in a string of early presidential primary contests against George Bush.

``People will appreciate your service to the country,'' McCain said. ``It's a good credential to have, but people want more.

``They want to know what you are going to do for them now.''

While painfully aware that Kerry lacks McCain's personal charisma, the Kerry camp nonetheless is modeling much of its primary campaign after the Straight Talk Express, McCain's novel presidential bid that featured guerrilla-style tactics and populist rhetoric.

Other Democratic presidential hopefuls are also scrambling to inherit McCain's campaign mantle.

Kerry calls McCain ``one of the joys of my service in the Senate.''

McCain's words of praise for Kerry, however, came with a caveat about gauging the mood of voters as the 2004 presidential race unfolds.

The Arizona Republican said the popularity of such war books and films as ``The Greatest Generation'' and ``Saving Private Ryan'' lifted his campaign, but he warned pop culture may have since shifted.

``It's hard to know what the atmosphere is out there, but I'm confident John Kerry can connect with people in the same way,'' he said. ``We were fortunate to have a volatile mixture that we put a match to.''

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TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: electionpresident; johnkerry; mccain; waahwaah
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Hey McComplain - why don't you just give up the bullcrap and join the Democreeps. You are a phony and nothing more!
1 posted on 06/30/2003 8:47:30 AM PDT by areafiftyone
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To: areafiftyone
That mass on McCain's temple must be pushing on his brain again.
2 posted on 06/30/2003 8:48:55 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (Sorry, but this tag line has been blocked by the FTC "do not tag" list!)
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To: areafiftyone
Did McStain back the Sandinistas as well?
3 posted on 06/30/2003 8:49:30 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan (Liberals - "The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked")
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To: areafiftyone
``They want to know what you are going to do for them now.''

That, in a nutshell, is the fatal flaw of democracy.

4 posted on 06/30/2003 8:51:58 AM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative (http://c-pol.com)
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To: areafiftyone
Kerry won't let us forget about his military service. His anti-war vet routine is all he has.
5 posted on 06/30/2003 8:52:54 AM PDT by Sir Gawain (Straight outta Compton. Ok, not really.)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: areafiftyone
So McCain thinks the Kerry was justified in his statements that our military rampaged thru Viet Nam cutting off heads, torturing innocent villagers and generally murdering everyone in sight?

Perhaps McC is trying to innoculate his 'good friend' from this revelation.

7 posted on 06/30/2003 8:56:31 AM PDT by OldFriend
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To: areafiftyone
Asked if Kerry was the Democratic candidate most closely resembling him, McCain demurred.

``I don't know,'' he said. ``He looks a lot like Herman Munster. I think I look more like a boil on the ass of dog.''

8 posted on 06/30/2003 8:56:38 AM PDT by dead
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To: wolf24
"Down in flames" is more like it.
9 posted on 06/30/2003 8:56:53 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: areafiftyone
Both vets, both husbands of wealthy women, both willing to do whatever it takes for attention and power. Marry money, use military status, suck up to the press. No wonder they like each other.
10 posted on 06/30/2003 8:56:53 AM PDT by VRWC_minion (Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and most are right)
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To: areafiftyone
When John McCain was first elected to the Senate, he went in for the standard spine and testicle removal operation required of all new Republican Senators. He told them to take his brain while they were at it, since he never used it.
11 posted on 06/30/2003 8:57:30 AM PDT by EternalVigilance
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To: dead
ROFLMAO!
12 posted on 06/30/2003 8:57:45 AM PDT by areafiftyone (The U.N. needs a good Flush!)
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To: areafiftyone
John McCain endorses a Democrat for president.

Gee, imagine my surprise.

13 posted on 06/30/2003 8:58:37 AM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: areafiftyone
Besides Viet Nam, they share the fact that both bozos married big money, and thus are beholding to the interests of their wives financial fortunes.

Men of the people - NOT!

14 posted on 06/30/2003 9:01:10 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: areafiftyone
Governor Dean has spent some time apologizing to people recently for some of the things he's said

McCain has suffered from Foot-In-Mouth disease for quite a while.

15 posted on 06/30/2003 9:03:33 AM PDT by NautiNurse (If Lawton Chiles runs for the Senate seat in 2004, we will **really** have Jurassic Park in Florida)
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To: areafiftyone
Did he endorse Kerry? Sounds like it..
16 posted on 06/30/2003 9:05:21 AM PDT by ewing
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To: Lazamataz; areafiftyone
John McCain endorses a Democrat for president.

Not in this article, the headline is misleading. McCain said nice, collegial things about his friend Kerry.

He's a RINO, to be sure, but he hasn't jumped parties... yet.


17 posted on 06/30/2003 9:05:52 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: areafiftyone
LOL - McComplain - I call him McPain.

I saw Kerry, along with the other Democrat candidates speaking at a major Latino organization. Kerry was shooting his mouth off about accepting and assimilating undocumented workers (illegal immigrants). I found it sick how this man can betray his country like that just to get some votes. A disgusting politician.

On the other hand, I suppose, he's not so bad unless he actually did it when he got into office and was simply using it as a tactic to get votes. Whatever it takes, I think that's fair
18 posted on 06/30/2003 9:06:12 AM PDT by Norse
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To: Norse
I found it sick how this man can betray his country like that just to get some votes

Apparently he learned from the best - Hillary and Bubba!

19 posted on 06/30/2003 9:08:54 AM PDT by areafiftyone (The U.N. needs a good Flush!)
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To: Lazamataz
Read the article, people! He did not endorse Kerry or even discuss any issues--it was personal anecdotes & "horse-race" kinds of comments.
20 posted on 06/30/2003 9:10:15 AM PDT by von Schlieffen (Keep the right wing strong!)
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