John Kerry Responds to George Bush’s Veterans Day Political Attacks

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Responds to George Bush’s Veterans Day Political Attacks
November 11th, 2005

Today, George Bush delivered a Veteran’s Day speech that should have been used to honor our Veteran’s and active duty troops, and been used as a tool for critcism of the growing dissent against the Iraq War. Without naming names, Bush filled his speech with more lies, more misleading statements and his usual fear and smear tactics. He reiterated the same old, “stay the course” message, repackaged into, “We will never back down. We will never give in.”

In response to Bush’s speech today, John Kerry issued the following statement from Boston, where earlier today he participated in a Veterans Day tribute to America’s veterans and active duty armed forces:

“I wish President Bush knew better than to dishonor America’s veterans by playing the politics of fear and smear on Veterans Day. Instead of trying to salvage his slumping political fortunes, the Commander in Chief should honor our men and women in uniform with a clear strategy for success in Iraq. But this Administration abandoned that path long ago, and our troops have paid the price for it.

“This administration misled a nation into war by cherry-picking intelligence and stretching the truth beyond recognition. That’s why Scooter Libby has been indicted. That’s why a statement in the State of the Union Address was retracted. It’s a dangerous day for our national security when an Administration’s word is no good. Today they continue the same games hoping Americans forget the mess they made in Iraq that’s cost over 2,000 Americans their lives and their failure to find Osama bin Laden. Americans will not forget, and neither will those of us who defend our country by asking tough questions and demanding a new course in Iraq.“

The calls for change in Iraq grow daily. Bush would do better to listen to the criticism and heed the advice of those who speak the Truth to Power. With America’s distrust in Bush growing daily, today he only succeeded in further dividing our nation.

LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1127

[Noisy Democrat]

1. Love those soundbites

Kerry delivered some very good punches there.

[bigscott]

3. good sound bites indeed

but the word LIE needs more play - enough with misleading, manipulated data etc etc - call a fucking spade a spade -

THE MFer LIED :nuke:

[glitch]

16. KaPow!

If only bush weren't a sociopath and could actually feel the pain.

[RobertSeattle]

2. Good stuff! Way to Fire back Dems!!!

:toast:

[Withywindle]

4. "Fear and smear"

That's a good one. Very apt.

[DearAbby]

5. Americans will not forget

You got that right Senator Kerry!

Great big thank you to all the Vets, who honorably served this country. To those who had given the ultimate price for our nation and freedoms that we now enjoy and those freedoms we used to enjoy.

[flakey_foont]

6. We must stay the course! We cannot back down!

Exxon and Haliburton are depending on us!!!!

[Tony_Illinois]

7. Wow!--Kerry Must Now Live Next to a Sporting Goods Shop,

because these new balls of his are getting the job done. What a simple, concise, and on-the-mark response to the whining from GWB. This is the kind of response to Bush that we need on a daily basis. Getting out the message in a way folks can understand and delivering a solid beating to these smug liars.

[barb162]

15. well said

[Vektor]

17. I've always liked his balls...

But I agree, these nice new ones are big and shiny!! :-)

[jillan]

20. Vektor -

you crack me up!:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:yourock:

[Vektor]

26. Teehee! Thanks!

I do what I can! :-)

[movonne]

8. Now this should be reported on all tv news...his speech must get

out as far and wide as bush's..

[blm]

11. His withdrawal plan is the reason Bush and McCain are pulling this crap of

theirs yesterday and today.

They know the American people will support it if they hear it. So they're trying to make sure people don't hear it by turning up their own volume for war.

[BigYawn]

12. I am holding my breath to hear Kerry's great response on TV news tonight

Have'nt heard a peep from the local radio news, which is
so short anyway. They did play excerpts from the Bushler.

[_dynamicdems]

35. That'll never happen.

They report every snarky comment made about Senator Kerry but none of his rebuttals. Free Press, ya know? :sarcasm:

[Jon8503]

9. As a veteran I really like the fact that they are addressing the issue

this is Veterans Day and this day should not be used for a campaign to try and justify what Bush is doing. If he cares about the troops, he should be using this day to honor our past and present veterans for their service they have done to their country which includes following his inept ways.

He should not be trying to save himself and using the veterans for his political purposes.

[bandy]

10. I am honored to say thank you, Jon and all vets

on DU and everywhere. Thank you and your families for your sacrifices.

[BigYawn]

13. Well said, and I am in gratitude for your service...n/t

[ProSense]

14. Perfect!

That second paragraph is it in a nutshell. That's why...

My hero.

[grasswire]

18. Lakoff would be proud...

..look at this framing:

"...neither will those of us who defend our country by asking tough questions and demanding a new course in Iraq"


Defend our country by asking tough questions!

Whoooah!

[ohtransplant]

19. I thank * for a huge political miscalculation today.

And I thank John Kerry for putting this issue in play with his Georgetown speech and recent legislation.

Veterans are pissed. * can trot out all the "facts" he likes but Vets know they're getting a raw deal - from those who are elderly and disabled to those injured returning from recent action.

Wasn't it Kerry who worked on an emergency $1 Billion funding for the VA?

Canceling the traditional annual hearings didn't help * today either.

Who is the friend of veterans - * or JK? For those who aren't paying attention - the initials are John Kerry!

[jenndar]

21. Not to mention...

who has a plan to get us out of Iraq, and who doesn't?

[mcscajun]

22. Wow, Kerry! No punches pulled in that statement.

Great to see this day. Any Day. :)

[zulchzulu]

23. Another smackdown from John

Kudos, Kerrygoddess!

[kerrygoddess]

31. LOL! Love those JK smackdowns!

:kick:

[EVDebs]

24. Bush reminds me of Captain Queeg. Keeps bumbling with the marbles

and steering for the rocks. Almost makes you wish someone would take a psychological evaluation of the guy...as in Unfit for Command, say ?

[NightOwwl]

25. Wow. Clear, concise, and very effective comeback.

OK...who wrote this soundbite for him?

Just kidding!!!

Seriously, though...I'm impressed.

[DanCa]

27. Kerry would have made an awesome president.

Why oh why did so many people vote for chimpy.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

28. I was surprised to see that Kerry was not one of the top three

democrats americans chose in an NBC pole for 2008 presidential candidate, according to Hardball today. The top choices were Hillary, Edwards and Gore, and although I don't remember the precise numbers, they was something like 43%, 14%, 12%.

[kerrygoddess]

30. I'm not surprised...

The pundits don't want Kerry to run - every republican president since Nixon has hated Kerry - he's their worst nightmae. The Noise Machine will push all the others to draw attention off Kerry purposely.

[fedupinBushcountry]

34. Exactly right

In fact on Countdown tonight when Keith was talking with , can't remember his name, the guy with glasses and just wrote a book, well anyway he let this little thing slip out.

I'm paraphrasing but he actually said the media ignores the statements Kerry puts out almost daily. Countdown will be on again at midnight, it is in the first 15 minutes.

May I say a big THANK YOU, KG for doing the job the media should be doing.

Isn't it funny how we hear all about McCain's gawd awful strategy for Iraq, but no equal time is given to Kerry's plan that has been introduced as a Bill on the Senate floor. It is disgusting, the media should not be playing games with important issues as this. hat are they afraid of?

[kerrygoddess]

37. They - the MSM - must have gotten the word from on-high...

meaning Grover Norquist, to ignore put JK on ignore in the MSM. He's been getting far too much coverage for their liking lately! LOL!

I missed Countdown. Maybe we''' get lucky and Crooks and Liars will post it.

[karynnj]

38. Ignore what he actually does and says, but spew lies

What I don't understand is why they lie - you would think idgnoring him would be enough.

[kerrygoddess]

39. It's all part of the game...

Slime ball a la Noise Machine

[rosesaylavee]

29. Thanks for the post KG

"...fear and smear on Veterans Day" I don't know about you folks, but I am dead tired of it EVERY day with this administration.

Enough already, can we impeach him now?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

32. Damn, I've hit the YES button fourteen times, and

nothing happens.:grr:

[kerrygoddess]

33. If only.. if only...

something would. He sunk himself lower today though!

[rosesaylavee]

43. Looks like we need a reboot...

:)

[_dynamicdems]

36. * has no honor whatsoever.

This day wasn't about *, it was a day of honor for our Vets. Kudos to Senator Kerry!

His words may have played like soundbites but there was real anger behind them.

[kerrygoddess]

40. 2 homeruns for the Senators from MA today

Both Kerry and Kennedy got deep under Bush's skin today! LOL!

"At the end of the day, it was two homeruns for the good Senators from MA, and ZERO for the Bush team!"

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1131

[babylonsister]

41. Wicked awesome, Senator Kerry! You

speak for me! :patriot: And thanks, kerrygoddess!

[Catchawave]

42. Thanks JK ! n/t

[lady raven]

44. It IS a great response, but...

So far, on cable news, I have heard NO MENTION of it, let alone the soundbytes themselves. However, this morning, in the space of 15 minutes, they ran *'s "counterattack" and commented on it FOUR TIMES.

It's not even Fox news. I would hate to see what's going on over there.

On edit: I just saw it ran again and there is a reporter quoting parts of Kerry and Kennedy's responses. But of course they don't include the strongest language or the good soundbytes.

They give as much time to Scott McClellan's retort.

[dogday]

45. I will never forget during the election and Kerry thought

the microphones were off and he said "These guys are all a bunch of crooks" I loved that statement. I never get tired of hearing Kerry put these guys in their places....

[lonestarnot]

46. Hehehehe

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101832.html