No offense, but Kerry's endorsement has the opposite effect for me...

[Labors of Hercules]

Feel free to roast me alive, but I don't perceive that Kerry's endorsement is altogether helpful for Obama...
:hide:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Because you hate Kerry so much? Me to.

The fact that Edwards wanted to be Kerry's VP means there's no way I'd vote for him.

:crazy:

[aquart]

2. Why not?

[Labors of Hercules]

5. I think Kerry demonstated some genuine stupidity...

in his campaign in 2004. My opinion of his role in presidential politics is not positive. He's a great senator though.

[Mass]

3. You're entitled to your opinion.

:shrug:

[undeterred]

4. It feels sort of disloyal to John Edwards

A lot of Kerry Edwards stickers are still out there from 4 years ago. Its just a reminder of how fragile these political alliances really are.

[LittleClarkie]

49. I had illusions about their partnership. I'm finding out that they indeed were illusions

No love lost there.

[rodeodance]

6. I do not think so either---just a gut feeling. Slow news day sure made a splash though.

[Labors of Hercules]

8. Looking at Obama's face in the photo's I've seen...

He doesn't look altogether sure himself if this will benefit him. Maybe I'm wrong... :shrug:

[onehandle]

7. I think it's a wash for Obama. Kerry however, looks petty.

Kerry wanted a headline. He got it.

I unsubscribed from his emails this morning.

[Lerkfish]

17. that's the overall effect, I think

It probably doesn't help or hurt Obama much, but it serves to make Kerry look odd.

[BlueIris]

42. Well, you sure got him good!

Unsubscribing from his e-mails! You are the KING.

[LittleClarkie]

50. I'm not sure why people think he looks petty

Why couldn't it be that he simply likes Obama's message more. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

[LisaM]

9. I like Kerry, but I don't think the endorsement will help Obama

It's my recollection that Kerry chose Edwards under duress. Don't get me wrong, I love John Edwards and would love for him to be the candidate, but I think Kerry wanted to choose Gephardt and was dissuaded from it (I do think that Edwards helped him more than Gephardt would have). But this would explain why he doesn't endorse Edwards.

[karynnj]

44. I heard Durbin as Kerry's first choice

It was random gossip from a Chicago paper - completely unsourced. Kerry has never said anything.

But I bet either Gephardt or Durbin would have been mature enough to know that you use the Presidential candidate's slogan.

[Clarkansas]

10. Of course you don't

On du, if someone endorses a candidate we don't like we will call it backstabbing, unhelpful, etc
If someone endorses a candidate we like, we will say it is great.

[Labors of Hercules]

14. erm... actually:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4022084&mesg_id=4022466

[opihimoimoi]

11. Kerry a Backstabber?? Who woulda thought....?

[JohnnyLib2]

12. and I'm a befuddled long-time political junkie.

The post about all the old bumper stickers just makes it more poignant and revives the old saying that "politics makes strange bedfellows."

Wonder where this will all be by November?

[Blue_In_AK]

13. I am a Kerry supporter

and I would rather he had endorsed Edwards, but I doubt that his endorsement either way will make much of a difference.

[jgraz]

15. It's not that helpful to Obama. But it hurts Edwards

Nobody really cares what John Kerry thinks about this election. What people DO care about is that Edwards' former running mate endorsed someone else.

John Kerry continues his role as our national Turd in the Punchbowl.

[Labors of Hercules]

16. I think that may actually work to benefit Edwards rather than hurt him...

If people hate Kerry, or if they really like him but view this as a low blow... either way.

[jgraz]

19. At this point, I think anyone outside the DU Kerry group doesn't really give a shit

[tsuki]

18. Never, and I mean Never, jump into some else's race. That is

political suicide. All you have to make is enemies. I thought it was stupid of Clark, Richardson and now Kerry. Their national political careers are over.

[karynnj]

45. How is Kerry's national political career over?

He will almost certainly be re-elected and be a 5th term Senator, with a large amount of seniority.

[tsuki]

47. Yes, I agree. He will be the senator from MA. But I was really

expecting that he would be running for president in about 10 years.

Look at what Nixon did. He took a hit in 1960 and came back in 1968.

In 10 years, the generation that is still angry that we did not stay in Viet-Nam for 40 years will be gone. The pundits, and the way information is gathered will be different. The Swift Boaters will be dead from cirrhosis.

By laying low and creating a base, a run would be feasible.

As the He-Coon of NW-FL once told us, don't ever jump in anyone else's race--all you will make is enemies.

There are a lot of people that will remember that he jumped. He has made a lot of enemies, unnecessarily.

That is what I meant.

[LittleClarkie]

51. Unless, of course, Obama gives him a position in his administration

Then it won't be over.

[Fredda Weinberg]

20. Obama wanted my email address. Kerry gave it w/o asking me first.

Personally, I don't consider this ethical, but that's just me.

I didn't donate to Obama and consider any solicitation from him spam, just as if he bought my name off Kerry's donor list.

[Labors of Hercules]

22. WOW. That's an implication I didn't think of...

bloody hell. How many names are on Kerry's email list?

Now THAT pisses me off. :grr:

[Mass]

24. He did not. He sentyou an email asking for you to give Obama money.

[Fredda Weinberg]

26. Politico says you're wrong

Kerry is putting an e-mail list with millions of addresses at Obama's disposal, according to party sources.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7830.html

I did not agree to this.

[Mass]

27. And since when are they reliable sources.

Or did YOU receive an email that was not from Kerry.

[Fredda Weinberg]

31. If I do, I'll complain. I've already left a message @ johnkerry.com

I don't regret supporting him for president, but the regular rule applies. Politico, btw, was a second source ... heard it first on CNN this morning.

[Fredda Weinberg]

43. Just so you know ... got spammed today for Obama and unsubscribed

No, I'm afraid this was handled badly.

[nonconformist]

29. I got Kerry's email endorsing Obama, and promptly unsubcribed.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

21. It's not at all helpful with some independents and crossover repubs

who have been helping Obama up to now. They want change, they want an end to the war, many want healthcare, they want a president who won't embarrass the hell out of them.

That's my gut feeling, but it's also based on the fact that I'm in a highly republican county, and know republicans who are supporting Obama who dislilke Kerry, if you know what I mean. :)

I'm not particularly fond of him, either, but I admit he's done some good things in the senate.

[Labors of Hercules]

23. exactly. How many of them will see John Kerry's name and run away screaming? nt.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

25. I really don't think this is a good thing. I have a bad feeling about it.

Too many new voters who probabaly don't like Kerry. They need to be eased into the democratic party, not confront the man who they most likely voted against in the last election. These people want change, but it's sometimes hard to make the switch. it's like changing religions. There's some pride involved. I know because I've done both in the past. It's kind of scary. :scared:

Disclaimer:

I'm an Edwards supporter, , believe that Kerry does NOT owe Edwards an endorsement (although I think the timing sucks), and would be an enthusiastic Obama supporter. I'd have no problem climbing on the Obama bandwagon!

[MzNov]

28. I've been trying to be nice, but Kerry Sucks!!!!!!! nt

Sent another donation to John Edwards today!

[opihimoimoi]

36. My astute friends and I now think of Kerry as a POS...backstabber and lower than Bush

He did something one NEVER DOES...stab your running mate...fuck Kerry

I sorry I voted for the asshole

[smoogatz]

30. Agreed.

Kerry has virtually no constituency outside his home state (DU excepted), and having lived in Mass I doubt very much that anyone there gives a frickin rat's ass who he endorses.

[Reciprocity]

32. I never voted for Kerry on that ticket I voted for Edwards.n/t

[leftofthedial]

33. kerry is a quitter

and a member of the ruling class

we need change, not more of the same old oligarchical rule

[girl gone mad]

34. It plays into the negative stereotype..

of Kerry being driven solely by political photo-ops and carefully calculating each decision, rather than taking genuine risks to do what's right. An earlier endorsement of Obama might have been palatable, but waiting until now just looks bad.

[MissDeeds]

35. I think this endorsement might hurt Kerry

It may be perceived as small and petty. If he didn't want to endorse his former running mate, he could have just kept quiet until after the convention and then thrown his support behind the nominee.

I recall reading in Elizabeth's book that there was some strong disagreement about conceding the election before all the votes were counted. JE wanted to wait, as the candidates had assured the supporters that all votes would be counted prior to a concession.

Damn Kerry. I'd like to lob dog turds over his fence. :mad:

[Lex]

38. bingo

nt

[chimpymustgo]

40. Oh that made me chuckle. I agree - another tin-eared political move by John Kerry.

A low-blow swipe at Edwards. Just could NOT find his way to the high road. He's irrelevant - and this won't help.

[OKthatsIT]

37. Kerry is Skull & Bones. I can understand that.

[Incitatus]

39. I was thinking the same thing. I was leaning towards Obama, but now I'm not sure. n/t

[deacon]

41. All that work he did for kerry and kerry stabs him in the back. I have no use for john kerry anymore

[karynnj]

46. He wouldn't even use the campaign's slogan because he didn't like it.

If he didn't follow on something that trivial, I would bet that he bulked at other things. I think that Edwards had no concept of the role of VP.

In case you didn't notice:
- Kerry endorsed one candidate, but said the others were good
- Both Edwardses have spent the last year and a half generating little attacks on the Kerrys, that they did not respond to.

Kerry owed Edwards NOTHING. He gave him the VP nomination.

[LittleClarkie]

52. I thought Edwards did some stabbing first. It was no surprise that Kerry didn't go with him.

Seeing as Edwards won't even take the man's calls.

It's not as if they were chummy, after all.

[LittleClarkie]

48. No offense taken. An opinion civilly stated won't get any flames from me.

And although his endorsement might not help Obama, his resources certainly could.

[tuckessee]

53. It certainly doesn't bode well for "change". n/t