Our nominee? “Stop crying in your teacups. Get over it.”

[digno dave]

VERY interesting article on Kerry:

http://makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/040124_StopCrying.htm


By David Podvin

“Stop crying in your teacups. It isn’t going to change. Get over it.”

That was the response of John Kerry to a liberal who condemned the theft of the presidency by George W. Bush. If the sentiment sounds familiar, that’s because it isn’t original. Kerry borrowed his words from America’s vapid conservative posse for whom chanting the phrase “Get over it” constitutes a dazzling display of wit.

Plagiarizing witticisms from Ann Coulter is not an endearing trait for a potential Democratic presidential nominee. It is one thing for liberals who are still incensed about the stolen election to be treated contemptuously by right wing banshees – it is an entirely different matter to incur such disdain from a man who seeks to be our champion.

But it is not unusual for Kerry to parrot the Republicans or be dismissive of liberal concerns. When members of the Congressional Black Caucus approached the senator for his support in challenging the Jim Crow tactics that subverted the 2000 presidential election, he told them to go away.




http://makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/040124_StopCrying.htm

[Dark Star]

1. That's one reason I am so

impressed that the woman who oversaw the Commission on Civil Rights' investigation of the Floriduh (s)election is endorsing Clark!

[cindyw]

2. From truthout...isn't this a dupe from yesterday, but here you go

"  WRP: In terms of the 2004 campaign, the central argument put up by a lot of people in the Democratic base who are against you is that you don’t “get it.” They see other candidates as fighting for their progressive values, and they see you saying “Get over it” after the election debacle in Florida, as quoted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In contrast, your voting record in the Senate is clearly as progressive as the day is long. Where do you stand with the progressive community? Do you “get it”? Can you be their leader?

  JK: I believe that I am the most consistent, most accomplished progressive fighter in this entire field. My record over 35 years of standing up and fighting for progressive causes is clear on with respect to women, with respect to the environment, with respect to children, education, health care, our role in the world, human rights, civil rights. My record is stronger, longer and deeper than any other candidate in this field with respect to the progressive agenda of this party.

  When I say “Move on” from 2000, I’m as angry as anyone else. Votes ought to be counted. But my objective is to win. My objective is “Don’t get mad, get even.” They way you get even is to go out and take that agenda to the country and build a coalition around it. I think if you compare my record to the people in this field, I think it’s clear that I am the progressive candidate. I am the one who has stood up and taken the risks and fought for the agenda of my party with consistency.

  I think the progressives in our party need to look and see who has the ability to take that progressive agenda and still stand up and beat George Bush. We don’t need to send the country a message. We need to send the country a President."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/122203A.shtml

[JasonDeter]

4. Excellent and well said John Kerry! I'm putting away my beating stick.

And loosening up my punching the ballot arm. I'm voting for the nominee and I don't care who the nominee is at this point. I have my preferences (Clark) but if he doesn't get the nomination so be it. But I am voting for 'a' Democrat. If a coffee table gets the nomination I'm voting for the Coffee Table over bush*.

[Ramsey]

6. Sounds like another flip-flop

"Get over it" and "Move on" have entirely different connotations. One condescending and the other is rational.

Not to mention, the question itself is a set-up for an answer that allows Kerry to explain away his prior statements.

[JaneQPublic]

8. "Move on" implies he helped fight in FL. He could've, but he didn't. (nt)

[Monte Carlo]

9. Yes, he did. (nt)

[JaneQPublic]

11. Like what?

I remember Bob Kerrey making a trip or two to FL during the recount debacle, but not John Kerry.

[Monte Carlo]

15. I don't know, advice and encouragement, maybe.

Maybe Gore's campain asked for the help of certain Democrats.

[Forkboy]

17. probably should have stopped after "I dont know"

[Colin Ex]

3. I was waiting for someone to post this again.

While I am certainly not defending the theft of the election by Supreme Court judges, I don't believe (and I'm sure most people would agree with me) that removing Dubya from office because of election fraud or the Supreme Court appointing him is a viable option at this point.

At this point (and at the point Kerry said it, which is approximately a year ago if I remember right) it'd be a better use of time and energy to stand on a street corner with a sign saying "BUSH CUT OVERTIME PAY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?"

My point is this: the better-informed among the party know that Dubya stole the election (I've read Greg Palast and heard his spoken word, and it's not like there's any doubt whatsoever). I'd like to see him get thrown out of office tomorrow, frankly. But at this point that's impossible and our energy can be better spent elsewhere.

-C

[JasonDeter]

5. Your absolutely right. Well said! eom

[Walt Starr]

10. He chose very poor words to express that, then

The words a speaker chooses are at least as important as the idea being conveyed.

[blm]

12. YOU'RE RIGHT. Here's the whole picture. Podvin got it wrong.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/5635691.htm

"Presidential candidate John Kerry attempted Monday to light a fire under a lethargic Democratic Party that he said had gotten lazy the past few years.
"Addressing party activists at a luncheon at Claflin University, the Massachusetts senator urged the party faithful to go out and fight for their beliefs.

"'The way to do it is to get mad, to get angry, to get active, to get out there and get off your ...,' he said to prolonged cheers, without completing the thought. 'Get going.
"Kerry's sermonette was prompted by a questioner dismayed by the outcome of the 2000 presidential election won by George W. Bush and the drubbing Democrats took in the 2002 election.

"Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, but captured the electoral vote after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the GOP's favor by denying a vote recount in Florida.

"'Just because the Supreme Court made the wrong decision in 2000 doesn't mean we have to live with it for the next six years,' Kerry said."
>>>>>>>>

[Egnever]

18. Oh the Irony

"'The way to do it is to get mad, to get angry, to get active,"

Isnt he the guy saying we cant win runing on anger?

[damnraddem]

7. That does it! What chauvinism!

We coffee drinkers get altogether too much of this teacup-centeredness.

And, no, the stolen election is not going to change -- but we should protest about it at any and every opportunity.

[Cocoa]

13. who knew we had so many David Podvin fans here?

DU has caught Podvin fever!

[WilliamPitt]

14. Podvin Podvin Podvin Podvin...

:)

[VelmaD]

16. Is that like Pac-Man Fever...

only different? :-)