Republicans for Kerry Group Grows

[Nambe]

OPB News

PORTLAND, OR 2004-09-02 A group of Oregon Republicans, who say they're going to vote for John Kerry instead of George Bush, has picked up several key supporters.

Bill Rutherford, Oregon's former state treasurer, and Clay Myers, who was state treasurer and secretary of state, both say they'll vote for Kerry this year despite being life-long Republicans.

Speaking from a hospital bed in Arizona, Myers, says Bush has created an atmosphere of fear in the country.

Clay Myers: "The Republican party under George W. Bush has abandoned traditional mainstream principles, and they've given in to radical rightwing extremism."

A national group of Republicans for Kerry, including Oregon's former schools chief, Norma Paulus, paid for a full page ad in the New York Times this week, calling for other Republicans for follow suit.

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[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Kerry's moderation will pay off big on Nov. 2.

He really needs these voters to seal the deal. He's run a very smart campaign.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. At the risk of alienating his base, however.

I know far too many people who see no difference between the two party candidates, unfortunately. I swear, "triangulation" may work in the short term, but in the long term it drives the discourse right-ward.

In any case, the original post is good news. It WAS smart for Kerry to woo moderates. I just don't want future Dem candidates to follow suit.

[DenverDem]

3. We've got to get Johnny K in the White House first.

Then we move things incrementally back to sanity.

At least we can work with Johnny K. busholini will have us all killed in "4 more years".

[RandomKoolzip]

6. Agreed.

The idea of voting third party is not even an option for me. Kerry HAS to be elected or it's curtains for "democracy" as a benign social force.

AFTER the election, though, we hold Kerry's feet to the fire and make sure WE DON'T EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS BULLSHIT EVER AGAIN. In an sane world, this would not be a close race!

[rocktivity]

4. Let's see what kind of speech Kerry makes at his midnight rally tonight

NOTHING is worth running the risk of destabilizing your base. People want to see Kerry to go the offensive, to spell out what Bush is doing wrong and how he's going to do it right. He did that at his speech for veterans on yesterday. He has got to do the same for the general public.

:headbang:
rocknation

[RandomKoolzip]

9. I agree with all the posters I see in GD04 who are tired

of seeing Kerry just lie back and "take it." He thinks that he'll come out looking classy and dignified if he stays above the fray, but he doesn't have that option anymore.

Triangulation works to a point, then you find you've basically hijacked your enemy's cause, to their benefit, and lost whatever you were fighting for. I believe that turning point will come during the debates.

[tedoll78]

5. It is a leap of faith.

I tried telling people this about Al Gore. He tried triangulation and won. Now look at how liberal he is.. it's so incredibly nice.

I'd like to think that deep-down, he would have made policy decisions consistent with the liberal reputation that he has today. And I'm hoping that Kerry will be the same way.. moderate during the campaign, but with a flaming lefty when decision time comes to him.

[Swami Love]

8. Liberal trying to pass as moderate

This is what the Zell Millers of the world really fear...and we hope for!

[newyawker99]

16. Hi Swami Love!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[RandomKoolzip]

10. Which is why the Senate race is equally important.

It'll be impossible to make progressive legislation work if he has to fight two different branches of government and the media the whole time.

If his Senate record is any indication, he's gonna have a real fight on his hands come January.

[blm]

13. His informed base knows he has a great liberal record.

It's the newly activated Dems who had problems with Kerry's elegant use of moderate language. They weren't attuned to the language of statesmen.

[JohnKleeb]

14. not just that blm

but a slightly more liberal record than the liberal icon and Liberal lion, Ted Kennedy. Kerry's record is near simliar to his but is actually slightly more liberal, Kerry talks moderate at times but he mostly even when he does sound moderate he has a progressive outlook, like look at this speech to the rainbow coalition, I found that very inspiring and how he respected the brave men and women of organized labor. No, he's not a far left progressive socialist like but is he a progressive in the mold of Wellstone and other senate greats, yes he is. I agree many of the people who are new to politics don't realize this about Kerry, that he's been on their side for a long time.

[Politicub]

15. If Kerry is truly alienating his "base"

Then the folks who call themselves the "base" are a bunch of senseless morons. Anyone who would do something that may allow Bush to win is beyond help I'm afraid.

I would count myself among the base, and all the GOP hooting and hollering is doing is fomenting my resolve.

If anyone is waiting for perfection incarnate to throw his hat in the ring, they should probably log off and just mutter quietly to themselves.

In the meantime, we should all be working like hell to turn out votes for Kerry. Bush is making it easier each day with each new group that he pisses off.

[Just Me]

7. Awesome. Now, if we can just the press to cover this!!!!

I was having a conversation about this at local Democratic Headquarters just yesterday!!!

[llmart]

11. Thank you, Nancy.

I want to see her ad.

[Generator]

12. Even our Republicans get it in Oregon

I'm so proud. (of course these are "old time" Republicans back when it didn't mean vile vipers of venom training to become fascists to end Democracy forever)