Ex-Dem Boss Slams Campaign He Had Defended

Terry McAuliffe Says 2004 Kerry Campaign Was 'Political Malpractice'

(AP)  Kerry spokesman David Wade said although many people wish the outcome of the 2004 election had been different, Kerry is proud of the hard work of his campaign staff and McAuliffe's efforts as party chairman. "It's time to look forward, not backwards," Wade said.

McAuliffe said Kerry's camp was so afraid of offending swing voters that it didn't defend his record or criticize Bush. He said he was muzzled by Kerry's aides from assailing Bush's military record.

He said the campaign also ordered speeches at the Democratic National Convention to be scrubbed of any mention of Bush's name or his record — although McAuliffe privately encouraged firebrand Al Sharpton to go ahead with his attacks on the president in his crowd-pleasing speech.

"I thought the decision of the Kerry campaign to back off any real criticism of Bush was one of the biggest acts of political malpractice in the history of American politics," he said.

Meanwhile, Republicans went on a sharp tirade against Kerry at their convention. But when Bush said in an interview on the first day that he didn't think the U.S. could win the war on terror, Kerry did not respond. The Massachusetts senator was windsurfing off Nantucket, unaware of the president's comments.

McAuliffe said Kerry later told him that was one of the biggest mistakes of his campaign. "I should have gotten off the island," McAuliffe quotes Kerry as saying.

McAuliffe said he was "flabbergasted" to learn after the election that Kerry had $15 million left that he could have spent in the final push. "It was gross incompetence to hoard that money when the race was bound to be so close," McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe said Republicans told him they were shocked that Kerry just took the attacks on his military record, but also overjoyed. He said Bush called President Clinton while he was recovering from his heart attack in September 2004 and said, "The Kerry campaign is the most inept group I have ever seen in politics. Don't let them ruin your reputation."

He said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asked him why Kerry wasn't fighting back more. "My guy (Bush) is no great shakes, but your guy (Kerry) looks like a wimp," McAuliffe quotes McCain as saying.

Kerry's former running mate, John Edwards, also was frustrated with the campaign, according to McAuliffe. McAuliffe said Edwards was angered that the campaign wouldn't let him go after Bush, but Kerry disputed Edwards' claim and said he was frustrated his vice presidential pick wasn't campaigning harder.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[bluestardad]

Another Loser on the American Pay roll.

[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?