Kerry on Face The Nation

[ProSense]

Video: Kerry on Face The Nation

Talks about Libya and briefly the budget cuts.

[politicasista]

1. What did the Senator do today?

:shrug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=575946

[Mass]

2. What does that have to do with the OP? BTW, the CBS interview was good.

I think, however, I am not that comfortable with Kerry's position on that, but do you really want him to bash the WH?

[politicasista]

3. Just wondering cause it was what GD was talking about,

instead of the interview.

On edit, don't know much about the story, but no, don't want him to bash the WH. Will check out the CBS interview later on.

[blm]

4. it's called m. o. - some of us have just had enough of it. BTW, I'm not comfortable, either, with

WH always needing Kerry to take the hits for them. It was obvious Kerry wasn't saying what he really thinks about Manning's treatment. Time for Kerry to tell them that on some things they're on their own.

[Mass]

5. In any case, what is said was not what he said at a town hall meeting last week

where he was a lot more skeptical. I agree that it is getting tiring to see Kerry follow the WH this closely. Particularly when the WH is busy sending good words to Brown, which led the Boston Globe to write a frontpage article on how influential he was (the Globe cannot get enough of pushing Brown).

[politicasista]

6. They probably don't want to be seen as going against the President

as much as we agree and disagree with things the Obama Administration does.

One of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus brought this up in a recent interview. very hard to go against this President. You could say it is because of his skin color and the high expectations he faces or has faced, but realizing that everything they say could be used against or seen as undermining Obama.

If you come out against President Obama, you will be seen as aiding the media and joining the Professional Left. Many are protective of the First Family and PO and will react defensively. JAO.

[karynnj]

8. Party loyalty itself plays a role

That is part of what's behind the "Nixon can go to China and a Democrat couldn't. The fact is that there are few politicians that will ever speak against a President of their party in a sharp way.

[politicasista]

10. Oh. Ok. Makes sense n/t

[karynnj]

11. It seems that he was able to speak to some people in the meantime

and that may be why he toned things down. I agree that Obama really helped Brown out there and he usually said relatively little about Kerry when Kerry does major things that help Obama - speaking to Karzai being the only exception. When Start passed, he spoke of his work with Lugar and how he was critical to passing this - which Lugar richly deserved. Kerry was then just listed as one of the people. Now, I watched that floor debate and Kerry's defense was a tour de force - he spent hours shooting down every Republican objection, with incredible knowledge, debating skill and total calm patience. Yet, he was not singled out for a full sentence of praise from Obama.

From my perspective, Kerry and Durbin, both highly skilled intelligent Senators are taken for granted by Obama, who knows that they will work just as hard and loyally anyway.

[blm]

14. Obama's doing what Bill Clinton did...minimizing the heavy lifting Kerry does so they could be seen

as the source of the solutions and policies advanced.

Obama did this nation a disservice when he surrounded himself with Clintonites.

[karynnj]

7. Kerry refused to attack a bad WH position - and was very very cryptic

on what he really thought. The fact is that the only two elected officials I know of who have spoken out on this at all are Kerry and Kucinich. (I goggled his name and Senator Leahy, Franken, Sanders and Boxer respectively and they have not commented - these are the most liberal - I also googled McCain and Manning because of his history - they have said nothing.) Googling just Senator and Bradley Manning, I found this FDL article saying only Kucinich and Kerry "have shown any concern" - and FDL is NOT a fan of JK.

In the tape, he was attempting to do three things - that most politicians would not do. 1) Actually answer a question that he knew was volatile - most Senators would have said they had no position. 2) Unlike many on DU, he refused to reject out of hand the Obama administration position - Kerry saying the US was abusing him would have been a mega story and a firestorm for Obama. 3) Mention that this needs to be watched and there are concerns - doing this subtlety calls the Obama position into question because if he had no problems he would not have mentioned any of that.

My guess - he was being as honest as he could be without throwing a political bomb at the administration. Though people in the beltway sometimes understate Kerry's importance, all you need to do is think of the headlines - and you see that something like "Kerry calls Mannings treatment by the DoD abusive" would be a major story. (Replace with Kucinich - and you realize that it would only be in the left blogosphere. )

I hope that JK does continue to keep an eye on this - and if the treatment really is abusive, is driven to speak out in spite of his closeness with Obama. (Those of us who have heard Kerry speaking the Us does not torture, know that this is not something he can ignore without hurting his own conscience - and legacy.)

[politicasista]

9. Ok. The place seems to hate everyone except Kucinich, Sanders, Grayson

and sometimes Franken and Leahy. (really kooky! :eyes:).

Just saw that people were talking about it. After reading this, it looks like he was in a tough situation.

Hopefully, he will stay on top of this and the WH will reconsider (if that is the case). Abuse is evil.
Appreciate the Senator's honesty also. Thanks.

[karynnj]

12. I think that "torture" is overstating this - though I feel queasy saying that

It is clearly abusive and humiliating - and unnecessary, but the 10 things that Kennedy wanted legally declared torture in his defeated bill on what we called the torture bill in 2006 were all far more drastic.

Did you watch Kerry's response - he is visibly uncomfortable answering the question. I do give him credit for not blowing off the question - which is something anyone in his third decade in high office knows how to do.

[politicasista]

13. Haven't watch it yet, but will later on

Didn't know that about Kennedy's defeated bill. Won't call it torture, but more like abuse.

[great white snark]

15. It's that fine line he must walk.

He did look uncomfortable and I hope Our President didn't put him in that position. Regardless, if he knew we still torture I am sure the good Senator would put friendship aside and speak out against it. He has never failed to do the right thing.

[politicasista]

16. Bingo

Hoping that Obama (or anyone in his Administration) didn't do that. If so, he took one for the team (in a - way)

[karynnj]

17. It is the actions of Obama's administration that is doing what they are

I doubt he asked Kerry not to speak out, but it would be a serious blow if Kerry did - and I hope Kerry is using that to find the facts and push behind the scenes for change. Up until now was mostly Manning's lawyer who has described the circumstances. So, one small thing Kerry did was to confirm that his clothes were taken away. I have not seen any media other than NECN mention Kerry's comment - which suggests MSM does not want this out - likely because Kerry verifying it means it is out in the open that this is happening. If it got more play, people would be more likely to think about it and ask why.