Kerry debate suggestion

[ArtVandaley]

OK, the "I voted for the #87 billion before I voted against it" quote has been dogging Kerry for awhile. It was a poor choice of words, but in principle he was right. If he is questioned about it during the debate, I suggest he say:
"When the vote came up for the arms package to the troops, several senators and myself urged that we need a way to fund this package, so as not to pile more debt onto the American people. We proposed funding the bill by rolling back the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest one percent, thinking it was a small price for them to pay for the safety and protection of our troops. President Bush thought it was too high a price to pay and killed the bill. He then proposed the bill again with no plan whatsoever how to pay for it without tacking it onto the already dangerously high budget deficit. I voted against it, saying it was wrong to make these troops and the children of these brave troops to have to work to payoff the price it cost to give them supplies when they have already sacrificed so much for this country. I would have been responsible and not given the troops, their families the burden of paying off this huge debt after fighting so forcefully for us."

Would have to be tweaked a bit of course, but I think that argument would go over well (needing a way to pay for their equipment so that they would return home to a huge deficit and recession). If Kerry uses a line something along those lines it will justify his actions in the eyes of the American people and show exactly who Bush really cares about.

[mbee]

1. For the sheeple you have to KIS (Keep it simple)! He should just

say Bush hasn't funded the troops, doesn't support the troops. For crying out loud even the Thanksgiving thing Bush did in Iraq was with a fake turkey. He's the unelected, fake resident and that's what Kerry should say. The troops want out of Iraq because they know they're not fighting for their country, but for oil!

[bringbackfdr]

2. He also can deflate the flip-flop thing

All he needs to do is begin with a little self-deprecating humor (don't ask me for a specific punchline, his staff should be able to come up with one) and then give a very simple explanation for what he meant by it.

[Jane Austin]

3. NO!!! No self-deprecating humor until he's elected!

The Pubs take these soundbites and go to town with them.

The only reason Bush is even in the race is that he is NEVER self-deprecating - - never shows any weakness.

Karl Rove is sure hoping Kerry will be self-deprecating.

[fob]

4. Here's my version of that for JK.

JK: I voted for the $87 billion. I felt as persons of privelege george bush* and myself should at least PAY for this by returning our tax cuts, george bush* felt like he SHOULDN'T have to help pay the bill so he threatened to VETO the bill.

FOB: Depending on circumstances the option is open to continue regarding the bill he voted against, or just end it there, let bush* bring it up and then go with;

JK: On the second bill for $87 billion, that was left out of the budget and meant we had troops in the field ALREADY without the protection this bill was to provide, the republicans under threat of VETO from george bush*, stripped the provision that those that could well afford to forgo tax cuts to pay for the bill, and instead under THREAT of veto from george bush*, decided some future generation should pay that bill, and I said NO.