Talking Point: Kerry's Keynote Was Positive, Bush's Keynote Is Anti-Kerry

[DrFunkenstein]

This is obvious to anyone and everyone, but that is precisely why it needs to be called out. Having Zell Miller as the keynote speaker has nothing to do with bipartisanship. It has nothing to do with promoting Bush's strengths and leadership (cough). There is one reason: to attack John Kerry and the Democrats.

Kerry has done a fantastic job of putting the winks and nods of the Bush campaign out in the open. Everyone know the swift boat guys are a front for the campaign, but Kerry actually goes out AND SAYS IT. This has been very effective in nuetralizing attacks.

Using Zell Miller can really backfire if Democrats get on top of this. It is important that it doesn't sound like sour grapes because he jumped ship. Dems have to emphasize Bush's choice in best highlighting the Republican Party. So, what does he do - instead of finding someone who can speak positively about their own vision (cough), they find someone who has repudiated the enemy.

We have to point out that Kerry has gone to great lengths to create a spirit of bipartisanship akin to that so often found in the Foreign Relations Committee ("politics stops at the water's edge"). Bush, on the other hand, runs from his record and straight to the attack position. Which is a more positive vision for America?



The more they attack Kerry, the better he looks!

[RobertSeattle]

1. Or just compare the home pages of both campaign webpages

www.johnkerry.com > positive only one small picture of Bush/Cheney
www.georgewbush.com > mostly negative, flip-flop crap, bogus 50 cent gas tax BS, "Cowboy" Bush

[DrFunkenstein]

2. Here's Some Nice Zell Miller Quotes From 2001

"My job tonight is an easy one: to present to you one of this nation's authentic heroes, one of this party's best-known and greatest leaders -- and a good friend. He was once a lieutenant governor -- but he didn't stay in that office 16 years, like someone else I know. It just took two years before the people of Massachusetts moved him into the United States Senate in 1984. -- U.S. Sen. Zell Miller (Remarks to the Democratic Party of Georgia Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2001)

Kerry "Strengthened Our Military":

"In his 16 years in the Senate, John Kerry has fought against government waste and worked hard to bring some accountability to Washington. Early in his Senate career in 1986, John signed on to the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Bill, and he fought for balanced budgets before it was considered politically correct for Democrats to do so. John has worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment." -- U.S. Sen. Zell Miller (Remarks to the Democratic Party of Georgia Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2001)

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?ReleaseID=34926

[Catfight]

3. His nose is awful big! LIAR!

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Notice The "Growth" Over His Head

Hey, Pinnochio!

[rumguy]

8. Flip - FLOP

Zell doesn't come across to well these days. I have a feeling his speech is going to suck big time.

[democrat_patriot]

10. I would hope Kerry's campaign has these

to trot out after his 'speech'.

Republicans don't support *, they had to put this loser up there.

[DrFunkenstein]

11. Exactly - This Isn't About A Positive Agenda

It's about a lack of vision.

[comsymp]

5. Kinda early to characterize Bush's Keynote, isn't it?

While I agree that the Dems have to get out in front on Zig-zag, I can see it being portrayed by R's as "See? We have a Dem keynote. TOLD ya Bush is a uniter! How much more bipartisan can you get?"

/just sayin'

[DrFunkenstein]

6. Why We Have To Emphasize That This Is Not The Spirit Of Bipartisanship

But of attack. Zell Miller is not a reach across the aisle, it is a repudiation of the Democratic Party.

[comsymp]

7. Sure, but that's reality

which, as we've seen countless times, is tough to sell. I was alluding to the perception, which is what the R's will spin.

Gotta remember, most folks prolly don't even know who Zell is, let alone share a DU level of contempt for him. Therefore, all they'll get out of the keynote is that a Dem Senator is giving it, which must imply bipartisanship. Frankly, I don't see it as much of a win for the D's OR R's- think it'll ultimately end up as a (probably literal) 9-days' wonder. Best case, it'll just end up as another he said/she said wash.

Not suggesting that we just blow it off- agreed that D's have to spin our angle just as hard as, if not harder than, the R's.

[atre]

9. Let's hope the someone successfuly spins this

into an opportunistic attempt to hawk his vile book.