Kerry's (AZ) state campaign accused of using religion (against Lieberman)

[pruner]

Chip Scutari and Elvia Diaz
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 29, 2003 12:00 AM

Religion is being injected into the presidential race at the state Capitol as some of the leading Democratic candidates scramble to get endorsements from legislators who can help them win the coveted Feb. 3 primary.

Supporters of Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said two operatives for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry are using Lieberman's Jewish faith to persuade some state lawmakers to switch sides in the Democratic presidential race. Three legislators who support Lieberman said Mario Diaz, Kerry's campaign manager in Arizona, and state Rep. Ben Miranda told them to switch to Kerry because Lieberman "can't campaign three days a week." That is a reference to his policy of not campaigning from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown because he's an Orthodox Jew.

Both denied saying that or even insinuating that Lieberman is at a disadvantage because of his religion.

"It's a very unfair political tactic," said Rep. Manny Alvarez, who was courted by Diaz and Miranda. "Lieberman's religion shouldn't be a factor."

Alvarez, who represents a border region, said he supports Lieberman because he genuinely cares about immigration issues and other matters important to Latinos.

Rep. Robert Meza said Miranda, a former Lieberman backer, is using religion to push people to Kerry's team.

<snip>

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1029lieberman29.html

[La_Serpiente]

1. The Democratic Primary

is going to be very ugly. I can already tell that things will be heating up within the next couple of weeks.

[wtmusic]

2. He can't campaign three days a week? No big deal

The liability is whining seven days a week.

[Lady President]

3. This is too ugly

In GD there is a discussion about Sharpton calling Dean a racist and here Lieberman is calling Kerry an anti-Semite. These are not accusations that should be thrown around lightly. Lieberman has done nothing helpful for the Party in a long time and it's natural some of his endorsements will do to other candidates.

This makes Sharpton and Lieberman look desperate and hurts all Dems.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[pruner]

6. attacking me does nothing towards addressing the issue

thanks for playing.

:bounce:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[pruner]

8. the issue is whether the actions mentioned in the article are taking place

and if so, whether Kerry is aware.

I am not the issue, and neither is Dean.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[pruner]

11. whatever…

I posted the article for the purpose of discussion and have made no comments on the veracity of accussations made in it.

IMO, there's simply no way of knowing.

the fact you're willing to blindly dismiss the claims shows how biased you are.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[9119495]

14. I appreciate your vigilance

I hope to see this identical post transfered to other threads where Howard Dean is attacked. Glad to have you aboard.

What's this thing about "hijacking the nomination?" Won't the votes determine the nominee? Would you vote for Dean if he was the nominee (even if you're sure he won't be the nominee?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[ModerateMiddle]

15. but it passes...LOL

I want a President, not a warm up act.

Amen.

[Lady President]

19. What the heck happened here?

Edit to add: I hate this article, but I'm glad you found it. We need to know who are enemies are both in and out of the Party.

[La_Serpiente]

5. And didn't Kerry just find out that he was Jewish?

I read that while I was skimming through his new book.

[Lexingtonian]

10. it's a little longer than that

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml

"For the past 15 years or so, Kerry says, he knew his paternal grandmother was probably Jewish, and he also knew the Kerrys came from the former Austrian empire. But he said he did not know, until informed by the Globe earlier this year, that his grandfather was a Czech Jew named Fritz Kohn who changed his name to Frederick Kerry to escape a violent strain of anti-Semitism. According to a story passed down to at least one family member, Kohn and his siblings randomly dropped a pencil on a map of Europe, spotted Ireland's County Kerry, and adopted the name. Kohn and his wife, Ida Lowe, who was born Jewish in Budapest, changed their name to Kerry, were baptized as Catholics in 1902, and immigrated to the United States in 1905."

[FightinNewDem]

20. What a crock, armatt

That's it, it must be Lieberman's fault for pointing out the underhanded tactics of rogue Kerry operatives.

Ever heard the term "blaming the victim"?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. Lieberman campaign's comment

"We were greatly disturbed by news reports this morning that John Kerry's campaign attempted to use Senator Lieberman's faith against him for political gain. We are confident that this type of divisive political campaigning doesn't reflect the fairness of the people of Arizona and the importance that faith plays in their lives. If true, John Kerry should take swift action to rebuke these statements and disassociate himself from these individuals who have used these tactics on his behalf."
http://www.joe2004.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6087

Not only is Lieberman NOT the one who 'pointed it out', he doesn't sound all that convinced that it's true.

[Padraig18]

22. I don't think Kerry knew or approved.

I'm not a huge Kerry fan, but I just can't see him doing this or approving of someone doing it on hgis behalf. Doesn't pass the 'smell test'...

[Lady President]

24. Seriously?!?

You seriously believe that Kerry with his long impressive history of supporting liberal ideals is an anti-Semite? It doesn't make more sense that the AZ reps. made early endorsements of Lieberman assuming that after his 2000 VP run he would be the strongest candidate. Then, after seeing a few debates and learning of Lieberman's recent votes, decided to change their endorsement.

Also, it seems odd that in the last two days we've discovered that Dean is a racist, Kerry is an anti-Semite, and Gephardt is a homophobe. :eyes:

[blm]

18. Considering that Kerry is part Jewish, I doubt this is sanctioned

in any way by his campaign, IF it is true.

[dsc]

23. This really doesn't pass the smell test

Now, think for a minute. Lieberman must be the most well known Orthodox Jew in the political universe. It strains credibility that elected figures in Arizona (not Mars but Arizona) would not already know both that Lieberman is Jewish and that he wouldn't campaign on the Jewish Sabbath. Even people who don't follow politics all that closely know that and these people are professional politicians. Why would anyone think this attack would work? It would be like telling politicians to switch support from Dean because he signed Civil Unions. Any politician who didn't know that would be an idiot. I really don't think this happened the way it is being reported.

[Padraig18]

25. I don't think Kerry would do such a thing.

I'm not a fan, but I just can't see him stooping that low.

My $.02.

[polpilot]

26. Kerry's stooped low to misrepresent Dean as 'anti-middle class'. That

was a 'low stoop'. Yep I'd say he qualifies as a low stooper.

Dean '04...Upright to the end