Kerry surrogates are bombing on Kerry's Iraq War stance.

[mzmolly]

Egads, 50% of DU'ers could handle the media better on this one.

Question from Matthews: Kerry said he would have voted for WAR knowing what he knows today, blah blah blah ~ cackle cackle ...

Kerry surrogates: Trippi, and others ... Well, I don't really know what he was thinking on that, erm uhm ...

WHERE WERE/ARE THE TALKING POINTS FROM THE KERRY CAMPAIGN ON THIS!?

Kerry should have sent clarification on his position to EVERYONE on his email list.

Here's how a DU-er would have handled that question:

Kerry never said he would have voted for the WAR Chris, he said he would have voted for AUTHORIZATION AS A LAST RESORT. He believed the authorization was necessary to get inspectors back into Iraq, and if you recall, the plan was working. Look, anyone who remembers Kerry's passionate speech on the Senate floor on the morn on 10/2/2002 knows Kerry was in favor of inspections, and he supported the war ONLY as a LAST resort. This President ABUSED his authority Chris, and the fault lies with him.

KERRY CAMP ~ IF YOUR LISTENING, GET THAT RAPID RESPONSE TEAM IN GEAR, AND GET THOSE TALKING POINTS IN ORDER going forward. *Sheesh* I hope the campaign learns from this. We all need to be on the same page when this kinda stuff happens.

:hi:

[NJCher]

1. you are absolutely right

They discussed it on our NPR station this way, too (WNYC)! I can't believe they don't have a better handle on damage control.


Cher

[mzmolly]

2. I hope they learn NOW. We can't afford these kind of screw ups.

I don't fault Kerry for answering the question as much as the CAMPAIGN for failing to reel this in ... EARLY.

I'm on Kerry's contributor list, everyone who ever contributed to the campaign should be emailed PRONTO when this stuff happens.

Perhaps they should hire Trippi? He'd be a great addition. :shrug:

[dennis4868]

3. Kerry surrogates

are the worse!

Example of a media whore question to a Kerry surrogate:

Q: Bush did not lie/exxagerate about the threat from Iraq before the war, right?

surrogate: There is evidence that Bush did.

Q: When did Bush lie/exxagerate?

surrogate: ummmm, well, ummmmm.....

These people do not come with their talking points and do not bring with them the facts....HEY KERRY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO GO ON CABLE TV......THE FACTS ARE ON OUR SIDE....USE IT DAMN IT!

[mzmolly]

6. It's frustrating, and the CAMPAIGN is responsible. They need to get

us all on the same page, quickly!

:hi:

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Kerry Voted To Hold Saddam Accountable, Not For Incompetence

And even in that 2002 speech, he spoke fervently about the need to prepare for the post-invasion scenarios, which he predicted would be the much more difficult phase.

Kerry never imagined that Bush would systematically ignore the advice of his own Sec. of State, Colin Powell, and the voices of virtually every General in the U.S. military, in favor of tough-talking chickenhawks at the Pentagon who know nothing about running a large-scale military campaign.

How's that for talking points?

[mzmolly]

5. Great!

:toast:

[WiseMen]

7. Even Gary Hart didn't get the "Talking Points." On "Real Time" could not

explain Kerry position.

As I said before, I believe the Kerry campaign screwed-up in not
protecting Kerry from these media hounds. There was no reason for
Kerry to be pushed into responding to this hypothetical question.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=607751

On more reflection, he could have answered more clearly and
his surrogates could all be on the same page to defend his
position in the media.

[mzmolly]

9. Failed on two counts. Lucky for us the campaign has time to recover.

We can only hope they LEARN lessons from the experience and handle these things far far better going forward.

Though Kerry will have to answer on his war vote, and you can bet the debates will cover this question in the future.

[swag]

8. If somebody doesn't beat me to it,

I'll cross-post this at joetrippi.com

Joe Trippi should know better.

[mzmolly]

10. Thanks.

:hi:

Love the avatar.

I think the Kerry camp needs better communication, PERIOD. Trippi and all of us should have had an immediate response in our emails the day after the statement in question.

I think Trippi should go and work for Kerry, they could REALLY use him in cases just like this.

The Dean campaign communicated regularilly, beautifully with their supporters, Trippi was key.

[senseandsensibility]

11. Did you send this to Dem Stategist?

He says he wants specific examples,and this is a biggee. Why it hasn't been handled before now is beyond me.:eyes:

[mzmolly]

12. No but I will, thanks.

:hi: