How About That John Kerry? Non-Kerry Supporters Weigh In!

[uhhuh]

I have suggested in two other threads that supporters of other candidates look at what they can see as POSITIVES for candidates they don't back right now.
Since the primarys have not begun, any of them could still be the nominee. What I hope to see here are reasons why John Kerry would be a good candidate. I would like to see those reasons from NON-Kerry supporters.

He may be our nominee, and we need to have solid reasons to GOTV for him if the candidate we support does not get the nod. Any NON-Kerry supporters care to give him some positive support?

By the way, here are the other two threads:

For Non-Dean supporters:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=35671&mesg_id=35671


For Non-Clark supporters:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=35855

If this continues to go the way it's been going, there will be others.

[uhhuh]

1. I know the IWR vote is a toughie

But doesn't anyone have something they can back Kerry on?

[curse10]

2. Good luck

there's rabid hatred for Kerry on this board :-)

But I like him because of his environmental record, his service plan, his education plan, and his experience as a senator :-)

[Brian_Expat]

5. Kerry has a strong record on civil rights. . .

For women, racial minorities, GLBT people, etc.

Kerry is honest -- when he says something, I believe him.

I think the IWR vote was a lapse of judgment, not a dishonest thing. While it did contribute towards moving me to support another candidate, I think people who attribute his stance to cynical politics are giving him short shrift.

I also think we need Kerry to fight in the Senate, and that he'd make a much better Senate Dem leader than Daschle by far!

[arewethereyet]

3. I like Kerry a lot (Edwards is my choice)

he is a fine and principled statesman

[carols]

4. I'm a Clark supporter and I like Kerry

I saw him speak at the Dem Convention in Florida and he was very impressive. He was very strong on education. He is utterly fearless and I think would do well in the GE debates. Plus I just talked to someone who interned with him many years ago and she told me about how he would go and help small communities work on local issues like clean water...actually go and listen to the people and then help them formulate an action plan. A real public servant - what a refreshing concept!
Carol

[uhhuh]

7. Thank you

And the posters above for your input. Kerry has a good record in most things, and has a lot of positives, as you cited. Thanks again!

[dsc]

6. Kerry has a great liberal record on many issues.

He has been a true friend to gays, women, the enviroment, and many other important groups. He was my third choice (after Gore and Dean)at the beginning of the race. I would proudly support him as our nominee.

[mouse7]

8. Worst campaign since John Glenn in 1984

Terrible, just terrible.

As far as Kerry on the issues, it's hard to keep track of whether I'd agree with him or not. He's already issued a statement at one point saying he was wrong on every single defense vote he made in the 1980s. It's hard to keep track of where someone stands when the start issuing blanket disassociations of entire decades worth of their voting record.

[dsc]

9. These threads aren't for this

there are times that old adage about not saying anything at all comes to mind.

[uhhuh]

12. I know it's easy to trash somebody you don't like

But can you think of any positives for Kerry? Please try. That's the subject of this thread.

[mouse7]

15. I'm not saying Kerry is bad, but his campaign has been awful

Therefore the obvious comparisons to the John Glenn campaign. Strong candidates on paper that just did terrible when campaigning for President.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

21. Why do so many people care about the campaigns - what about

people records and their stance on the issues?

THAT'S what should be important.

[uhhuh]

22. I agree

I wish the media would be inclined to try to give a real representation of all the candidates, or at least a decent amount of attention, so people could learn about them and what they stand for. They are all pretty good people.

[mopinko]

10. he is abb

i dunno, he has been a good senator, but i just have a hard time voting for any current denizen of the d.c. swamp. i know this is a cynical view, and i try not to fall into that too much. i would not really have a problem with voting for him if he was the nominee. his record is good. but iwr is a hard one to swallow.

[andym]

11. Kerry is great

Kerry is a great candidate and I would be happy if he were the nominee.
His greatest strength is his great record fighting for liberal causes.
His greatest problem is a touch of aloofness at times. I think he would be one of two or three best choices to beat Bush.

[uhhuh]

14. Good points

On both his good qualities and what he needs to work on. Well done!

[quaker bill]

13. Kerry has a good record on environmental issues

While having a good record on the environment is a low risk proposition for a Senator from MA, Kerry has gone well beyond the call of duty here. I have read into his record here in the federal documents and have found nothing to disagree with.

[Jerseycoa]

16. No problem

I'd have no problem whatsoever voting John Kerry for president. He's lived his entire life in public service. He's stood for every liberal cause I have ever believed in. He has a thorough understanding of foreign policy and national security. He takes a royal screwing here on DU, but I think he'd make a great president.

[bain_sidhe]

17. Kerry could be a great president

He has rock-solid liberal credentials on the environment and social policy. He has good "centrist" credentials on business and foreign policy (meaning he won't scare off the centrist voters either, while retaining the liberal voters). I'm not thrilled with his IWR and PATRIOT Act votes (OK, I HATE his IWR and PATRIOT Act votes), but I could definitely support him in the general election.

But he's a lousy campaigner. I can say that because I started off as a Kerry supporter - I had been intending to support him since *last* year at this time - but his early campaign convinced me that he doesn't have the campaign smarts to take on Bush/Rove. If he could lose *me*, how's he going to beat Bush?

Sorry to be negative in your positive thread, but I still feel let down by him. He coulda been a contenda!

[imhotep]

18. He would be a good candidate IF

he got a new personality....
a new face.....
had a positive message....
apologized to the families of the soldiers he sent to die.....

[uhhuh]

19. Not very positive

Can you think of any thing about Kerry that he is already doing right?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. I've always liked Kerry. He's a close second behind Clark for me.

He's intelligent, well spoken. I don't know why he hasn't done that well - it's quite sad to see...

I was angry when he voted for the IWR but in a way I understood. They got railroaded in Congress. Also the way that they vote is to see where the other Senators or Representatives stand and they usually vote as a "bloc" - Kerry's a team player. That's the way things work in Congress. He was just being realistic... I think he figured that if everyone else was going to vote for it - why should he stick his neck out and damage his Presidential run? He made the wrong bet.

The IWR was just one vote out of thousands of votes that he's made.

[FrenchieCat]

23. Kerry is a good guy....

and besides Clark is the guy that the GOP doesn't want to face...that's why they started donating to the Dean campaign back in June....knowing that fundraising is an important part of getting media coverage.

Kerry like Clark has gotten very little media attention...but unlike Clark, he was unable to substain his poll numbers without the coverage due to his campaign approach and style.

Kerry is the most reliable liberal candidate...even more liberal than Kucinich in many ways (see abortion).....

Kerry's problem in actually being in congress and having to vote has handicapped him tremendously......

Kerry has consistently attacked Bush...way before anyone else would....I remember watching C-Span and seeing him on the senate floor....he would really decry Bush and Bush policies.

Then 9/11 happened and the rest is history...as they say.

[Gore1FL]

24. I'm still undecided for the most part

So I don't know if that makes me an "non-kerry" or an "additionally-kerry".

I like any of those running with the possible exception of of Lieberman, who I'd still vote for over Bush. I have no major issue with any one of them. None have been able to get me to commit one way or another.

[WarNoMore]

25. dk is the one

for me, however, I would have absolutely no problem voting for Kerry. He has a really good voting record and he ran a fantastic and *honorable* campaign against Weld. During the Ashcroft confirmation hearings, when I called his office, they asked me at that time to join his campaign(health issues have been in the way). My feeling during the Iraq vote was that he was setting Bush up to abide by Un approval. Also, (blush), I had a dream about him-- he was really hurting about the state of our country ( the dream was very comforting. HaHa!

[Jack_Dawson]

26. Kerry Means Well but he Needs to Drop Out

Anyone mortgaging their house isn't going to win, period. I like Kerry and think he would do well against Bush head-to-head but it's not going to happen so do the right thing for the Democratic party.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. and if Clark dropped out that would immediately help Kerry

not that this was the point of the thread .... :shrug:

[Padraig18]

27. Excellent credentials on civil rights and the environment.

:hi:

[blindpig]

28. Kerry has a fine environmental record n/t

[exclark4dean]

29. Hes really really tall and fought in Vietnam and won some medals

Even if he did throw them away in protest. He can probably get them replaced. He should walk around in a uniform , like vets do in parades.

[poskonig]

30. I like Kerry's experience, professionalism, and issue positions.

:kick: