Ex-Dem Boss Slams Campaign He Had Defended

Terry McAuliffe Says 2004 Kerry Campaign Was 'Political Malpractice'

(AP)  Former Democratic Party boss and Clinton friend Terry McAuliffe is lambasting John Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign, calling his effort to unseat President Bush "one of the biggest acts of political malpractice in the history of American politics."

In his scrappy memoir, McAuliffe criticizes the 2004 campaign that he was responsible for defending but ultimately lost to what he describes as a more organized Republican machine. McAuliffe calls the Kerry campaign gun-shy, distracted and incompetent.

McAuliffe is close to Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton and will support her presidential bid if the New York senator runs in 2008. McAuliffe's book, published by Thomas Dunne Books, could serve as the opening salvo against a potential Clinton rival as Kerry weighs another bid.

However, McAuliffe has kind words for other possible candidates, such as Sens. Barack Obama and Chris Dodd, and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

The book, "What a Party! My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators and Other Wild Animals," goes on sale Jan. 23, but copies have already shown up in some bookstores.

McAuliffe plans a 25-city tour to promote the memoir and parties to celebrate its publication — Feb. 8 in Washington hosted by Mrs. Clinton and Jan. 22 in New York City hosted by former President Clinton.

The book is full of revelations from McAuliffe's years among the power elite — getting a startling leg rub from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at a dinner, watching movie stars Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow smooching during a showing of "Good Will Hunting" at Camp David and being chastised by former President George H.W. Bush during the 2000 election for treating his son with such "disgrace."

He had an insider's look at the Clintons' marriage during the Monica Lewinsky scandal — going along on a chilly Clinton family vacation to Utah a month after the impeachment vote and watching Mrs. Clinton silently click through channel after channel reporting on her husband's infidelities before settling on ESPN. He wrote that the president described the period to him as "an absolute living hell."

McAuliffe served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005, although he says Kerry's aides wanted to oust him once the Massachusetts senator secured the nomination. He said he was never invited to a single meeting at Kerry headquarters.

[jsilver2th]

If he's such a genius how come the Democrats lost House and Senate seats in the 2002 election when he was DNC Chairman- it should have been a no-brainer?

[bluestardad]

Another Loser on the American Pay roll.

[bildooreilly]

How about the fact that Bush and Kerry are 3rd cousins and skull and bones blood brothers... You call that an election??? I call it a Dog and Pony show.... It's no different than Saddam only putting his name on the ballot... enjoy your illusion of democracy, because that's all it is anymore.

[meboard]

Come on folks... I'm still scratching my head as to how W managed to get a second term. Something had to be screwy on the Dem side. I know we had big time organizational problems at the local level where I live. Can't wait to read the book!

[kesac4650]

Terry McAulliffe had the demeanor of s smart *** 14 yr. old during that election. Kery didn't inspire any confidence with all of his "secrets" that he claimed for Bush and for himself, but I will guarantee that McAulliffe cost his candidate a few percentage points, and that by itself lost Kerry the election.
If Hillary is smart, she will avoid this bozo, and go with the guy who put her hubby in office with only 44% of the vote.

[bellal-2009]

It's obvious they've made Kerry the fall guy prepping for Hillary. John Kerry has been dumped on by both parties, I almost feel sorry for him.

[anvilheadsix]

Kerry could have EASILY won in 2004. His campaign refused to be aggressive in showing Americans what a fool Bush is (it should have been obvious but then again our country is obsessed with Britney Spears' genitalia and living on McRibs)

[bildooreilly]

How can you all just sit there and ignore the FACT that Bush and Kerry are 3rd cousins and skull and bones secret society blood brothers? Keep burying your heads in the sand, you get the government you deserve.

[fairandbal]

I think what's happening here is that CBS and other news outlets are giving a microphone to anyone who will say that the Democratic presidential candidates and Dem leadership are bad. Got to show disunity in the party. Got to show that the public made a bad choice in electing Dems this november so CBS, CNN and the others can get their Republican pals in office again and give out all those corporate and high end tax breaks.

[jsilver2th]

Bush & Kerry aren't third cousins dude check it out:

"Well, 16th cousins, three times removed, to be exact. But cousins, nonetheless." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4286105/
"I believe everybody on the planet is related if you go back far enough," said Harrison, 51, whose Millisecond Publishing who made this discovery.

[agnim]

"McAuliffe calls the Kerry campaign gun-shy ..."

A very very accurate characterization of Kerry's attitude.

We find this with a lot of vets; they seem to lose their backbone and will allow cowards-for-life to run roughshod over them.

John McCain ALSO displayed the same kind of spinelessness when our dear leader and draft dodger was lying and savaging him in the North Carolina Primary.

These PRETENDERS, Kerry and McCain are DIRECTLY responsible for the devilish leadership that has been plaguing America for two terms now.

These gun shy and spineless PRETENDERS (Kerry and McCain) mislead Americans into thinking that their military 'courage' would cause them to take on the power-hungry warmongers who would DO ANYTHING TO ACQUIRE POWER and take America to hell!