Anyone else puzzled by McCains appearance in new Kerry ads?

[59millionmorons]

I am not judging if this is good or bad, but why would a guy from the opposite party, who is Bush's re-election manager in AZ agree to appear in an ad for the rival? Is it possible that McCain may actually run with Kerry?

[adadem]

1. They are very good friends...

worked on MIA/POW issues together.

Running together? Unlikely.

[Langis]

2. McCain is in a Kerry ad here in AZ?

I need to see that. I haven't seen one Kerry ad here, all Bush all the time.

[sandnsea]

6. Watch local TV?

I'm seeing them on local network stations, probably through a cable buy. I'm not hearing anyone seeing them on CNN, etc., and they might not be shown on satellite if the campaign bought through cable.

[blm]

3. This is Kerry's way of saying he can work with reasonable Republicans

to move the country forward.

I think it's VERY smart.

[frank frankly]

12. bingo!

those ads are wonderful!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Shows Kerry is a sane and reasonable person- and a leader

quite a change from the other guy.

[sandnsea]

5. Two reasons, probably

McCain & Kerry actually did work on Vietnam POW/MIA stuff together and Vietnam normalization. Shows he crosses the aisle.

But also, the right can't start calling Kerry a commie sympathizer for working on this when McCain was right there beside him.

[Solidarity]

10. There Were No Pow's Being Secretly Held By Vietnam

There were no POW's in Vietnam secretly held by the Vietnamese after the war ended. That was an extreme right-wing claim made for years by supporters of the Vietnam war. Kerry did indeed cross the aisle and work with Vietnam war defenders on that issue.

So why is Kerry raising this matter in his TV commercial. I'll take a guess. Kerry is taking progressives and liberals for granted and is reaching out to right-wing Republicans who may be upset with the Bush government.

[sandnsea]

14. And they wouldn't use it if they could?

Vietnam normalization and the return of POW/MIA returns is a huge Kerry achievement, one he wants to use in this campaign. Putting McCain in those commercials helps insolate from those attacks.

And you bet, Kerry is reaching out to right wing Republicans. :eyes: Like they're ever going to NOT vote Republican. He's just trying to show that he's not going to govern in a partisan way, that's all. He is running for President of ALL the people. Isn't that one of the gripes against Bush? He acts as if his little group of core constituents are the only true Americans?

[Solidarity]

17. Kerry Did Not Get POW "hostages" Released From Vietnam

"return of POW/MIA returns is a huge Kerry achievement"

Guess you just don't know much about that war, your probably a young person.

ALL of the POW's were returned even before Carter became President!
So there were no "hidden POW's" that Kerry or any others for that matter had a hand in retrieving from Vietnam.

But the myth of "POW hostages" held by Vietnam was spread for years by the far right wing. I'm sorry that Kerry has in anyway associated himself with those elements.

[sandnsea]

21. I meant remains

My fault. Totally the wrong word, total brain freeze. I was never trying to remotely imply there were live soldiers left in Vietnam. Sorry.

[MAlibdem]

7. No, just shows bi-partisanship

And everybody loves McCain, or so people will have you believe

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. They go back a ways. I would imagine it's to show that Kerry

is palatable to both sides. It's supposed to be appealing to the average non partisan voter I would imagine.

[elfin]

9. I wondered if McCain

gave his blessing to be included. I bet not - however he hasn't complined about it yet unlike Dick Clarke who got riled at MoveOn.

[Bleacher Creature]

11. Maybe Kerry

is trying to run as a "uniter, not a divider." I don't think anyone's tried that before.

[guitar man]

13. In reality

they might actually have more in common that McCain and $hrub do. The same bunch of "Vietnam Vets" that are attacking Kerry attacked McCain during his 2000 run.

While I could never support McCain as Kerry's running mate, if Kerry is going to reach out across the aisle, I could think of a lot worse for him to reach out to.

[President Jesus]

15. REAL puzzling

it might be that McCain has serious pull with swing voters, and that Kerry really doesn't need to kiss the left's ass because that vote is sown up.

/sarcasm

[Solidarity]

16. You May Have It Right

I think you pretty much have it right. Take anti-war people and other progressives (ABB's) for granted and go after the Republican right and Democratic conservatives .... you know .... the Lieberman Republican lite crowd. Hell, just go on and join them!

That was a piece of cake. The progressives don't expect or want very much! Might as well put organized labor on the back burner and romance the Wall Street crowd while were at it! Where else can labor go? Anybody But Bush!

[emulatorloo]

19. OK OK I get your point. . .but what is so "Right Wing" about normalizing

relationship w Vietnam.

I am sure there will be other commercials that won't have John McCain in them. In fact there are, w firefighters, workers etc etc. It is just one commercial. Don't get all bent out of shape over it.

[Malva Zebrina]

18. It is bizarre. I am with Randi on this one

How can a man, whose wife was villified with all sorts of wild and dirty accusations, and who was practically quashed to the ground re her medications, ignore that, and his loyalty to his beloved wife, and then kiss Bush's boots?

This guy, McCain have discovered that loud talking against Bush, seemingly, will get them publicity.

McCain wants that. Personally, I think he is harboring resentment against Bush, even though he did not have the bravery to challenge
Bush when he attacked McCain's own beloved wife.

He dumped her in favor of Bush, to be frank

Do we need to hang any sort of "faith" on him?

[krkaufman]

20. McCain is likely p-o'd at the assault on Kerry's military record

I was just wondering last night whether the right-wing goons might go too far and cause McCain to step up to defend Kerry. McCain took it in 2000, and then Cleland in 2002; and I believed that McCain might not stand by and let Kerry's military record be smeared.

I don't see McCain doing any campaigning for Kerry or doing *anything* aside from vouching for his military service. I figure that's as far as McCain would be willing to go, allowing his veteran bond to outweigh fear of Rove.

[DjTj]

22. I don't think they got McCain's approval...

...I can't find a link, but I think I heard it on CNN.

Lots of people use McCain in their ads for many diffrent reasons. As long as they don't say anything that isn't true it is perfectly fine.

I mean, Bush uses Kerry in all of his ads without Kerry's approval, so there clearly isn't a rule against using people without asking them first.