Update: Kerry heading to Nevada

[ProSense]

I have to fly to Nevada in a bit here, but I wanted to answer this question. I see a lot of the others have been answered pretty well by other commenters.

First off, thank you for the kind words.

Now to your question, in this case, of course, it's state law. That's one of the under-appreciated aspects of the voting problem; our Constitution gives great leeway to each state to set their own voting procedures. The main check on these states is the Supreme Court, which, unfortunately, now has people like Sam Alito on it (a person Barack and I and others tried to block with a filibuster, by the way).

So the number one thing we need to do is restore the balance of the judiciary away from the reactionary judges we currently have. We also need to ensure that no citizen who is registered to vote is stipped from exercising their rights. Dangerous voter ID laws that disenfranchise low income voters are being considered by the court as we speak – I hope they will chose the right path but all signs point to a disastrous decision. Keeping people from the polls is simply Unamerican.

In the Senate Barack introduced a bill, which I am an original co-sponsor, to criminalize voter intimidation. We can’t go back to the days of poll taxes and road blocks. I also support abolishing the disgraceful practice of “voter caging” where voter rolls are purged of registered voters simply because correspondence is returned from their address. This is a back handed way of trying to disenfranchise voters and that is why I am a co-sponsor of the Caging Prohibition Act which Sheldon Whitehouse has introduced (a great freshman Senator by the way.)

I am also proud to stand with Barack in placing holds on the nomination of Hans Van Spakovsky – an unacceptable nominee to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Spakovsky was the head of the inept Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department and was the architect of several voter suppression efforts. He is another example of how politicized the Justice Department has become and is unfit to serve on the FEC. It is my hope that we will be able to vote on the other commission nominees separately and have an up or down vote on his nomination. However, Republicans refuse to allow us to confirm the other nominees, even one of their own – instead they insist that the pending nominations be voted en mass because they know Spakovsky would not be supported by the full Senate. This essentially renders the FEC powerless at the beginning of the election year because they need 4 confirmed commissioners to vote for any regulations to be passed. It is vitally important that we have a functioning FEC during this election and I hope that the leadership on both sides can come to an agreement.

link

von Spakovsky block

[rinsd]

1. Kerry is wrong about Obama on Alito

Obama carefully answered the question about how he wants to define himself: "The amount of publicity I have received...means that I've got to be more sensitive in some ways to not step on my colleagues." For those who see him as a bold challenger of the system, this may be disappointing. After all, it oozes deference to the Senate clubbiness that has killed many a populist cause. And Obama has defended that club from outside pressure not only in his rhetoric but in his actions. For instance, last year he posted a long article on the blog Daily Kos criticizing attacks against lawmakers who voted for right-wing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts--even though Obama himself voted against Roberts. And in January Obama publicly criticized a fledgling effort to filibuster nominee Samuel Alito. Obama actually voted for the filibuster, but his statements helped take the steam out of that effort.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060626/sirota

[ProSense]

2. .

(click me)

[rinsd]

3. Here's Obama "standing against" Alito

http://www.newsback.com/forums/news-489-sen-obama-criticizes-filibuster-tactic.html

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., predicted on Sunday that an effort to try to block a final vote on Alito would fail on Monday. That would clear the way for Senate approval Tuesday of the federal appeals court judge picked to succeed the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Democrats fear he would shift the court rightward on abortion rights, affirmative action, the death penalty and other issues.

"We need to recognize, because Judge Alito will be confirmed, that, if we're going to oppose a nominee that we've got to persuade the American people that, in fact, their values are at stake," Obama said.

"There is an over-reliance on the part of Democrats for procedural maneuvers," he told ABC's "This Week."

<snip>

Obama cast Alito as a judge "who is contrary to core American values, not just liberal values."

But Obama joined some Democrats, including Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Charles Schumer of New York, in expressing his unhappiness with the filibuster bid.

"There's one way to guarantee that the judges who are appointed to the Supreme Court are judges that reflect our values. And that's to win elections," Obama said.



Now Kerry is supporting Obama so I understand why he wants to include him in that important fight.

But Kerry is not allowed to rewrite history

[ProSense]

5. "Obama cast Alito as a judge "who is contrary to core American values..." Here:

Obama supported the filibuster.

That's history!

[rinsd]

8. He voted for it because he knew he would get killed on the blogogsphere for not voting for it.

Kerry implies that Obama was in the trenches with him in that fight and that is not the case.

[ProSense]

10. Really?

Kerry implied trenches? Kerry: (a person Barack and I and others tried to block with a filibuster, by the way).

You: "He voted for it..."

You're right about one thing, Kerry had the courage to fight in the trenches. So it appears you're upset because he mentioned Obama by name and not Hillary (one of the "and others"), who only voted for it because she knew she "would get killed on the blogogsphere for not voting for it."

[rinsd]

12. I don't expect him to mention Hillary's name.

She was not a driving force in this move like Kennedy was with him.

She joined in the filibuster, she did not speak against it.

Kerry is lending some of his glory to Obama, the fact say otherwise.

[sandnsea]

15. That is exactly right

Obama cast Alito as a judge "who is contrary to core American values, not just liberal values."

We have to stop relying on procedural tactics and WIN THE PEOPLE OVER. Hillary cannot do that, not in a cazillion years. Obama can because he actually wants to.

[beachmom]

17. He voted against cloture. That means he joined the filibuster.

Please, other than Kennedy, name a Democrat who enthusiastically backed Kerry's filibuster attempt. If I recall "Some Democrats" went to the NYT to say Kerry was an embarrassment. I doubt Obama was one of those "some Democrats". But I think Chuck Schumer went on the record with his dissing talk. Hmmmm ... who is Chuck's junior senator?

[karynnj]

21. Obama was asked if it would succeed - he said no

Kerry and Kennedy, from their initial DKos messages said it would be a long shot, but one they had to take. Kerry did not say that he and Obama led the fight. If this is wrong, then what of HRC saying she "created" or "initiated" SCHIP or that it was the change she already created. This was a Senate created bill, that started in 1996 as a Kerry/Kennedy bill that took an idea that MA had used for its program that passed over a veto by Clinton friend, Weld. About a half year later, Kennedy accepted some major modifications requested by Hatch- giving the states more latitude and making it a 5 year bill that had to be renewed rather than an entitlement. This gave became the Kennedy/Hatch bill that passed the Senate. HRC's contribution was to push BC to keep it in the budget. If Kerry is exaggerating in that sentence, then HRC is surely exaggerating in hers.

[Inuca]

29. I cringe

each time I hear HRC refer to SCHIP as to one of her major achievements and proof of change. Which means that I cringe often :grr:

[karynnj]

19. It was HRC who told people that there

would NOT BE a filibuster. She was part of the leadership that fought Kerry on it and vilified him behind his back in discussions with the media. There are quotes where she says there will be no filibuster. I wish Obama would have sided with Kerry on that and Kerry/Feingold from the beginning, but in that time frame it meant splitting with the party leadership. The party would have been better off if they had accepted Kerry as a party leader, as he had been the overwhelming choice of Democrats, but there was a concerted effort by the Clinton wing to be the establishment part of the party. On both those issues, though Kerry was attacked, in hindsight he was the one who was right.

Kerry and Kennedy led the filibuster - he knows whose vote he had. He is entirely correct that Obama voted to filibuster.

This is a wonderful, informal response by the Senator. He does a nice job crediting the people whose bills he joined, there are some who could learn from this.

[rinsd]

20. If you have quotes showing her disdain with filibuster I would like to see them.

Because while I don't remember her being in the trenches, I don't remember her being against it.

You have always been fair.

:hi:

[karynnj]

24. There were many comments on Dkos from people

who lobbied her at the time. Many accounts on blogs showed it that way. I know those are tenuous sources, but there were many independent accounts. One account was a leaked account of the Democratic caucus where Kerry and Kennedy advocated for filibustering.

I usually look for more valid sources, but here, I am pretty sure that it was accurate. Thanks for the compliment, though I may not have earned it in your estimation after this response.

[rinsd]

25. You always earn it.

You're straightforward and honest.

Frankly you're way too good for this place :evilgrin:

[karynnj]

27. Thank you for the kind compliment n/t

[Diane R]

31. I wish we could recommend a post within a thread. Great reply.

[sunonmars]

4. Kerry in Nevada......

That will pack them in the aisles. Not.

Are we entirely sure Obama is running as a Democrat, because theres time i'd swear he's a Rethug.

[ProSense]

7. "That will pack them in the aisles." Agree:

[flyarm]

9. ahh i am one of those delegates in those pictures and myself and another delegate are heading to SC

foe Edwards!

i was center stage in the FL delegation!!

and i think this stinks to high heaven!

Kerry has now lost any of my respect he had left and i called and told him so!

fly

[ProSense]

11. "Kerry has now lost any of my respect he had left and i called and told him so!" Here you go then:

(click me)

[politicasista]

16. When this is all over, hope to see

you around someday. Best of luck to you and your candidate. :hi:

[karynnj]

26. Apparently Edwards did not lose your respect

when he has repeatedly painted Kerry in a bad light. It is kind of hard to believe that given the fact that Edwards stopped taking Kerry's calls, you would think that Kerry owed Edwards anything. (Kerry gave Edwards the nomination.)

Read Kerry's endorsement. Kerry's desire for a bipartisan healing of the rift in the country is extremely in keeping with all his values. Edwards has taken the opposite stance - that you can not negotiate with them. I assume you agree with Edwards - or you wouldn't be with him. The question I have is whether you can accept that Kerry is sincere in believing that diplomacy and bringing everyone to the table is best. If so, his endorsement is consistent with a deep commitment to work for what he thinks will be best.

Consider:
1) The 2004 Edwards was not the in your face Edwards of 2008 ie Edwards changed
2) It is 2008, not 2004 ie time and circumstances changed.
3) In 2004, Kerry needed to balance the ticket to be as successful as possible AND pick a running mate he thought was qualified (not best qualified) to be President.

In his speech and on This week, he went out of his way to say that all three are qualified to be President and all would lead the country in the right direction.

[Diane R]

32. You're correct. Both of the Edwards have gone out of their way to bash John Kerry and Theresa.

[LittleClarkie]

30. What stinks about it?

I don't understand. It just looks to me like he's standing up for the guy he endorsed. Why would that be wrong?

[karynnj]

22. Obama has a long solid record as a liberal Democrat

How many Republicans are public advocates on the South side of Chicago for three years? Look at his Illnois record passing ethics rules and health care.

I don't know who you are for, but Obama likely has a more liberal record aggregated over time than your favorite.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Very interesting. Thanks for the heads up, ProSense.

[Imagevision]

13. With no disrepect, I would prefer Kerry to just stand on the sidelines. I still

believe that there is something to the; "one member will never go against another" as is pledged in Bush & Kerry's Skull & Bones boyz club. Kerry laid down too quick after 2004 election. (but that's my opinion)

[karynnj]

23. That is idiotic

If that was the case, why would he have worked himself to exhaustion? Also, if there was such a thing wouldn't it go both ways. Kerry was hit by over $100 million of ads smearing him, not counting the free time the media gave these folks. (I wonder is anyone computed the % of TV ad money made by cable companies came from these guys - no wonder they gave them additional free time.)

[LittleClarkie]

28. Generally it's traditional after saying "I mean no disrespect" to not say something disrespectful

Just as saying "I was just kidding" after a pointed jab means little, making a disrespectful comment about the Skull and Bones "boyz" club having ANYTHING to do with 2004 after saying "With no disrespect" also makes you sound rather insincere.

I doubt Kerry will stand by as someone he has endorsed is the victim of voter suppression.

[karynnj]

35. He said he would have said the same thing even if it were not Obama who was endorsed

The point is that this lawsuit is wrong. The DNC incidentally has the same position.

[zulchzulu]

33. Tin foil hat alert

Lookee! It's a black helicopter!!!

:crazy:

[politicasista]

14. K&R

:kick:

[Cha]

18. I admire and respect John Kerry so

much..for all the work he has done towards the Democracy in our country. .and I was for Dean in 2004. I want to thank you, ProSense, for helping to keep Kerry's work recognized here on DU!~

I haven't always agreed with him in the past but he shows real class..I don't care what the hillarys say.. I don't always agree with Dean or Obama, either..I've mainly gravitated towards those who were not for bushits' endless wars.

This endorsement of Kerry means a lot to me because I know he's thought this out and gives a clear statement on why he thinks Obama is best for the US.

How Ironic..
"In the Senate Barack introduced a bill, which I am an original co-sponsor, to criminalize voter intimidation. We can’t go back to the days of poll taxes and road blocks. I also support abolishing the disgraceful practice of “voter caging” where voter rolls are purged of registered voters simply because correspondence is returned from their address. This is a back handed way of trying to disenfranchise voters and that is why I am a co-sponsor of the Caging Prohibition Act which Sheldon Whitehouse has introduced (a great freshman Senator by the way.)"

[calteacherguy]

34. Thanks, John! nt

[ProSense]

36. Kick! n/t