Kerry Slams McCain's "Myth Of A Maverick"

2004 Democratic Nominee Says He Doesn't Recognize Man He Once Considered As A Running Mate

(AP)  Sen. John Kerry, the one-time presidential nominee whose campaign crumbled under attacks on his military service and consistency, told fellow Democrats on Wednesday that he doesn't recognize Republican John McCain a man he once considered as a running mate.

Kerry, his party's pick in 2004 who failed to defeat incumbent President Bush, said McCain's changed positions on the Republicans' tax cuts, climate change bills and immigration leave him shaken. Kerry paraphrased himself, telling the Democratic National Convention delegates: "Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you're against it."

Kerry, a McCain friend for almost 22 years and fellow Vietnam War veteran, collaborated with the Arizonan in the 1990s on a Senate investigation of prisoners or war. The two enjoyed a close relationship and Kerry considered McCain as a vice presidential pick; he eventually chose North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Their ties have since dissolved as they have sparred on the current war in Iraq and Kerry has said McCain is a flip-flopper - a charge that hounded Kerry's campaign.

"To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain," Kerry said.

"Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself."

Kerry's loss was, in part, to an independent group's attacks on him. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran ads that misled voters about Kerry's own military service. His campaign was slow to react, and by the time they did, many voters believed Kerry lied about his war record.

McCain denounced those ads and defended his one-time friend. Four years later, some of the same folks have returned with ads critical of Obama's ties to a 1960s radical; McCain has refused to denounce them.

With a nod to his own failures, Kerry said "no one can question Barack Obama's patriotism."

Kerry also painted McCain as a warmonger who marched with Bush into Iraq. Quoting a New York Times profile of McCain, Kerry quoted McCain telling troops aboard an aircraft carrier just months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: "Next up, Baghdad."

[minnick8-2009]

Kerry said "no one can question Barack Obama''s patriotism."

That is because he hasn''t done anything yet to demonstrate his patriotism.

[abbe91]

Myth of a maverick ? Indeed. But his military record is certainly a myth too ...

[watching_you]

Dear psychotic Mr. trrrorislam5:

MCCAIN COLLABORATED ONCE ---- WILL HE DO IT AGAIN?

We KNOW McCain told his captors is the locations of US bases: information that got lots of Americans killed. Oh yeah and McCain made propaganda films for the enemy. Can you imagine the media feeding frenzy had John Kerry been captured and made propaganda films for the enemy? It would be an automatic disqualifier for the office of dog catcher much less President. We''d never have heard the end of it. McCain always gets a pass.
HTTP://WWW.DAILYKOS.COM/STORY/2008/8/10/231144/262

---------------------------------------------------

Despite the strict military code of conduct with respect to collaboration ----- %u201Cname rank and serial number, or kill me%u201D ------ McCain began caved after 4 days as a POW. Subsequent to being shown the extent of his injury, [McCain] said: %u2026%u201DO.K., I''ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital."

ARTICLE BY JOHN MCCAIN, MAY 14, 1973 IN U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

[watching_you]

Babykilller: Good point about Kerry. He was swift-boated our of the running by character assassins hired by T Bone Chicken (T. Boone Pickens) ------ the billionaire geezer who now wants to run the country on wind power. He could start by harnessing one of the major sources of greenhouse gases, Rush Limbaugh.

[jedi080808]

Babykilller: Good point about Kerry. He was swift-boated our of the running by character assassins hired by T Bone Chicken (T. Boone Pickens) ------ the billionaire geezer who now wants to run the country on wind power. He could start by harnessing one of the major sources of greenhouse gases, Rush Limbaugh.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Watching_You

Kerry is a peon compared to Limbaugh! Limbaugh is going to pull out a bunch of stuff he has on Obama since day one but has been waiting until the Dems were past the point of no return with Obama.

[watching_you]

TO: trrrorislam5: Just a heads up, terror-boy
Thanks to your corporate fascist regime and its illegal surveillance, all of our domestic E-mail, cell and landline communications are swept up by the NSA%u2019s huge antennae array and processed daily. This data is screened by data-mining and data-sorting algorithms which search, among other things, for key words or phrases. Data meeting certain threat thresholds are passed on to analysts.
Analysts then review suspect data, giving priority to repetitive (odd, psychotic-sounding) postings, which are characterized by racial slurs, hate speech, terroristic threats ----- or, frankly, anything which looks like it was created by someone in a dingy cellar surrounded by Marxist publications.
Watch for an unmarked, grey Crown Vic in our rear view mirror.

[watching_you]

jedi080808:
Yep. But, like everything else, Limbaugh will pull it straight out of his enormous a$$, where it will be sniffed by mental defects like you ----- who will doubtless forget to vote anyway.
Here%u2019s a thought: think for yourself, instead of listening to some clownish, drug-addled republican shill.

[sleepyric]

ha...Limbaugh....can''t believe anyone would spend moments of their lives listening to that fat, retarded doper...anyone who listens and gives that blob a living, is just as retarded and a sucker.

[concerns47]

Loser

We can be millionaires, but most lower income people do not see the value of a good education until it is too late then blame the rich for their problems.

I worked my way up from poverty and see everyday those who just want others to give them a head start, step up to the plate yourselves.

The government, corporations and the rich do not owe you anything, you owe it to yourselves and your children to improve your way of life by fighting hard for what you want, earn it.

McCain, at 72, earned the right to have houses, Obama, earned the right to own a million dollar house and will own more when he is 72. Get off your butts and earn it like they did, take responsibility.

[fsw3]

Terrorislam5, why do I have the feeling that you spend all day in old unwashed pajamas, huddled over your computer, with a day old beard, in the same room your mother tucked you into bed? You are watching FOX News, and grumbling while wondering what is that bright light that keeps coming through the window. You haven''t gotten out of the house for six or seven years because you know the world is a dangerous place with people all out to get you.. Be Afraid, very afraid!

[fsw3]

KERRY, damnit, I believed in you, worked hard for you. You were a hero of mine, when I was in high school but only looking forward to a tour of duty in Viet Nam. You spoke up then, but somehow failed in 2004 when you ran for president. If you had only said, yes, I would now vote against the war in Iraq and as your president the heroic soldiers come home. If only. About three thousand good men and women have died since then. Some have lost limbs. This hurt, really hurt.

[actornaught]

...You haven''t gotten out of the house for six or seven years...
Posted by FSW3 at 07:42 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Similar to what i envision. I like the part about the spit windshield wiper on his monitor, shrieking the typed words at it, eyes bulging...

[actornaught]

Addled John is no maverick, that''s just a buzzword he got going to cover up how much he screws up and shoots off his mouth.

Lucky for him, he''s able to walk the neocon line now, since he''s forgotten his record. Look for the cell phone pressed to his ear, getting his latest "position".

[mydiatribe]

The only Double Talking Democrat who is LESS RELEVANT to today''s political scene is John Edwards!

These two birds of a feather were CRUSHED in ''04 just as will Obama and Biden be CRUSHED in ''08.
To the Democrat''s credit they have at least chosen candidates of a higher character this year. Compared to Kerry & Edwards they had no where to go but UP!

[actornaught]

Posted by mike071067

Typical ''con attack-the-messenger post. I''ll even say you''re effectively right about Kerry.

Kerry is right as can be about Addled John McCain. He has a record of years of bad judgement and changes in direction. And all of it is perfectly relevant to considering him for POTUS.

JOHN MCCAIN - YEARS OF PROVEN CONSISTENTLY BAD JUDGEMENT

[ademeyer]

Kerry is twice the man McCain is. A greater military hero, a more ethical politician, a more insightful statesman. I''m proud of the superior politicians we have in the Democratic party: Kerry, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Biden, Wesley Clark, Kennedy, Bill Richardson,
Mark Warner, and on and on.

[liberalme]

These two birds of a feather were CRUSHED in ''''04 just as will Obama and Biden be CRUSHED in ''''08.
To the Democrat''''s credit they have at least chosen candidates of a higher character this year. Compared to Kerry & Edwards they had no where to go but UP!

Posted by mydiatribe at 07:49 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Awww come on--I''l have to admit Edwards really screwed up--but lets not throw stones (Larry Craig).

It''s common knowledge Diebold promised Bush the 2004 election and by golly they came through!
Kerry screwed up by not attacking back--for Gods sake, Kerrys military record is mountains above Bush and Cheney.
And if one can win an election by being a POW, then McCain will win--however there are thousands of troops from WWII to current who have been POW''s and some walking around without limbs, with brain injuries and a vast array of medical problems, BUT they are''t using that to promote themselves.
My uncle got shot up in Korea, had a purple heart---he had silent pride--as do many.

So you go ahead and vote for someone because he keeps repeating his POW experience (Songbird John), I''ll vote for someone who has plans and ideas for all Americans to make us the USA we have always been proud of!!!

[concerns47]

Obama is a myth

Those voting for Obama are uninformed, if you live in cities where the black population is 40% or more, you realize the crime that they commit makes voting for Obama objectionable. His winning will empower the criminal blacks and give the blacks more attitude than they already have. Walking down the street in 4 across, not letting others pass unless they are black, pushing to the head of the line on social programs (whites can''''t get the same benefits but blacks know how to use the system for freebees), this is what I endure every day. Murders, high crime, and attitude that puts fear into the minds of whites, we live in fear everyday while those of you with a minority population of blacks think Obama will do no harm, I do not believe you know the real story when living with blacks and they attitude of entitlement. The American blacks are not slaves (their own people sold them into slavery), and should no longer expect us to pay their way. Many have stepped up but in the prisons, in big cities, they are the majority of those who cause crime to esclate.

As an independent, I will never vote for a black until they clean up their act, fathers should step up and accept responsibility, women/girls should stop having babies out of wedlock and going on welfare and expecting the taxpayers to pay for all their social programs to cure their social ills.

[liberalme]

As an independent, I will never vote for a black until they clean up their act, fathers should step up and accept responsibility, women/girls should stop having babies out of wedlock and going on welfare and expecting the taxpayers to pay for all their social programs to cure their social ills.

Posted by concerns47

Check on how Obama handled this in Ill. Get over the black thing---the Black Pathers aren''t going to have run of the White House.

[actornaught]

Posted by concerns47 at 08:34 AM : Aug 28, 2008

You are a clueless, racist POS. You trogs will never be a legitimate part of American culture, you''re a disease. You could at least start to realize that you can be part of the solution by just keeping your mouths shut. I''m sorry i read as much as half that post. feh...

[jmurrieta1]

McClone--never has earned a thing for himself.

Child of privilege, skids greased by the rich and powerful, married an heiress who likewise had never lifted a finger for her millions.

And McClone is somehow going to understand and represent the average American?

I don''t think so!!

[liberalme]

libere and concern47, I was talking to some black friends the other day, of course, interrupting their dinner of watermelon and fried chicken. They were a bit upset because in order to vote for Obama, they''''d had to get up off their lazy butts and actually do something besides collect a welfare check. So they sat there and complained about slavery and racial discrimination, and how whitey has really screwed them over. Yep, what''''s with the uppity dude who worked through the system, became editor of the Harvard Law Review, worked with desparate families, moved up the political ranks, to become President. Does this dude think he''''s white?

Posted by FSW3 at 09:02 AM

WOW--bigotry is ignorance and fella you are the poster child for ignorance!!

Obama is an excellent example of opportunites for everyone---
Obama worked hard for what he has and he will NOT let these people continue to live off the government--he changed it in Ill.

Lazy comes in many colors, but if just one person--black, white, yellow or green is encouraged by Obamas success then he has achieved something good----but I have a feeling Obama has encouraged many.

There will always be the losers--they like who they are--it''s easy to be stupid and that pertains to all colors as well--don''t just single out one.

[fsw3]

liberalme, I am afraid you missed the irony and sacarsm of my post. Aside from my father the greatest man I ever knew was an African-American. He was my inspiration to stay in school and become a professional. I actually remember watching the I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH. It was considered a weird, way out dream back then. Now, I am glad to see it really becoming a reality.

[lilvinnyb]

None of these politicians represent the "average american". They are ALL wealthy and powerful. You think Obama knows anything about average americans? If he did he would have never asked people in Iowa if they have noticed how much "argula" or whatever that stuff costs.

Do you know how Obama won his first seat in the illinois house? He ran UNOPPOSED after having everyone else disqualified for "bad signatures" on the petitions. If a petition signature was printed, rather than signed, he had them disqualified. How many African Americans do you suppose were disenfranchised by that move.

He had a well respected, favorite-to-win-the-election (black woman by the way), kicked off the Ballot....THATS THE REAL OBAMA FOR YOU.

[rudy654-2009]

If I were Kerry, I would have sued the swiffyboobers as they deserved to lose their pants for lying. These people have no conscience and are beyond hope. McCain may have condemned them, but it was weak even then.

[rudy654-2009]

Does this dude think he''s white?

Posted by FSW3 at 09:02 AM

Everytime you see someone post that Obama is arrogant, that is exactly what they are saying: How dare he think he is anything more than a lowly darkie.

[liberalme]

liberalme, I am afraid you missed the irony and sacarsm of my post. Aside from my father the greatest man I ever knew was an African-American. He was my inspiration to stay in school and become a professional. I actually remember watching the I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH. It was considered a weird, way out dream back then. Now, I am glad to see it really becoming a reality.
Posted by FSW3

I am so sorry, I didn''t recognize the sarcasm--*** and I''m so good at it myself!!

I wasn''t raised to discriminate and neither were my children.

This is such a great time for this country and for all people to understand that if you want something bad enough, you have to work for it--some harder than others--but at the end, it''s worth it!

[peterp111]

Why not let the government attempt to care for our every need, to heck with the future of our children, close your businesses, retire, let it fall apart on Obama%u2019s watch. Maybe when it all falls apart or we%u2019re attacked again because of Obama%u2019s policies and naiveti, the people living here will once again come to remember and think about how we got this far as a people. Maybe then reason will make a comeback and it will be time to vote responsible Republicans, Blue Dog Democrats and Independents back in office - to clean up the mess.


The mess that Senator Obama%u2019s imposition of Mediocrity upon America will bring. The Mediocrity imposed by government handouts to create dependence and secure your vote, instead of a hand up. The Mediocrity caused by the over regulating and socializing of businesses. The Mediocrity caused by unjust wealth redistribution which stymies the creative individual spirit and initiative. The same Mediocrity that will cause the hard working, innovative Americans and the small businessmen and women to resent the government%u2019s hand being so deep in their pockets in exchange for some votes does not come without consequence. The same Mediocrity will cause the job producers to close shop or lay people off rather than deal with such idiocy, bureaucracy and taxes.

Vote MCCAIN. THE SMARTER CHOICE

[liberalme]

The same Mediocrity that will cause the hard working, innovative Americans and the small businessmen and women to resent the government%u2019s hand being so deep in their pockets in exchange for some votes does not come without consequence. The same Mediocrity will cause the job producers to close shop or lay people off rather than deal with such idiocy, bureaucracy and taxes.

Vote MCCAIN. THE SMARTER CHOICE
- Posted by Peterp111

ell lets see--the "government" currently rewards companies who have moved their production overseas claiming it''s cheaper for the huge corporations to operate---NOT telling us that by hiring people like---oh lets say Nike---who pay Vietnamese sweat shop workers $29.00 a MONTH of the over 200% PROFIT---
What a deal!!!!!!!!!!!!

By rewarding big corporations to move overseas the small business ALREADY resents the government--what are you talking about???

I know it takes time to go through the withdrawls of Faux news, Lintball and Hannity---but really---you''d be doing yourself such a favor to dry out!!

[actornaught]

None of these politicians represent the "average american". They are ALL wealthy and powerful...
Posted by lilvinnyb at 09:43 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Joe Biden''s net worth, including investments, is $100-150k. I know truck drivers worth alot more.

Just call him Average Joe.

[broadwayphi]

By definition John McCain is not a maverick. He is smack center of the most regressive iteration of the G.O. Pee we have seen since Nixon.

And he voted with the leader of the G.O. Pee over NINTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME.

He is an Abramoff-fed lobbyist meatpuppet.

[dante805]

Kerry: The Myth of a Senator. He''s why America has a 15% approval rating of Congress

[actornaught]

... He''s why America has a 15% approval rating of Congress
Posted by dante805 at 10:43 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Not at all. I''m sure the majority wishes he was president all along.

Congress'' disapproval is due to the ineffectiveness of the dems to override the ''pubs & w''s vetoes. You''ll know that''s true when more ''pubs are replaced with dems this fall.

In other words, the 15% approval is because of the ''pubs.

[dnsallday]

Awesome speech last night, Senator Kerry!!
It didn''t really get the attention it deserved, being in between the headliners President Clinton and Senator Biden.
Fortunately, I watch the convention on C-Span because I like to listen to the whole speeches and not have them interrupted by pundits who think they, themselves, are the show.
I do watch some of it on PBS though because they actually have Political Historians do an analysis after the speeches (and they actually know what they are talking about).)

[armydog2]

mccain is no maverick he is bush''s sidekick!

[hologram5]

they are all crooks and need to spend time in the big house, I don''t mean the White one...

[noloyalisti]

Grampy McSame offers nothing but more more. He voted with McBush 95% of the time.

Your right wing extremists should grow up and talk about the issues that affect me and my kids. Instead of just criticizing President Obama, give me one reason to vote for McSame. Just one, please.

[questionnews]

Just once I would like to see him do an impression of Lurch from the Adams Family. He has the build & the face to do a great Lurch. I think he could nail it!

[jmurrieta1]

"AMERICA Slams HANOI JANE FONDA KERRY''''s "Myth Of A PATRIOT HERO",,,

THE GUY''''s a TRAITOR,,, and should be SHOT,,,"--

Posted by trrrorislam5



And John McClone, while a POW, collaborated with the North Vietnamese. He issued statements condemning the "U.S. War of Aggression against North Vietname", and made radio broadcases praising NV air defense systems.

During the Korean War, this would have been viewed as treason.

But John McClone gets a pass from the Righties. Why?

I don''t fault someone for what they do under duress.

But it''s hardly a major talking point to McClone''s credit.

[leftyintexas]

THE GUY''''''''s a TRAITOR,,, and should be SHOT,,,"--

Posted by trrrorislam5

You can only be talking about DUMBYA, and in that case I agree.

[noloyalisti]

Honestly trrrorislam5 just keeps looking like a bigger and bigger a fool, have you no shame? You can''t keep spreading lies, half-truths and other ignorance like the right wing talk show people and not be considered an ABSOLUTE MORON.

Moron trrrorislam5 must think that police and firemen are socialists because they work for the government. Support stem cell research to grow a brain trrrorislam5

[realpatriot1]

small brain + even smaller ding dong=trrrorislam5.

[Torilin]

reminds us of what''''s WRONG about America"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by trrrorislam5
YOU reminds all of us what''s wrong with USA. White trash inbreeds that are under/un-educated to get the bigger picture. The lack of ambition lack of dream of better future for our later generations. War benefits few but kills many both physically and financially!

[Torilin]

trrrorislam5 -----------Everyone said that abotu Bill Clinton that he is not ready to be commender in chief but guess what? He was at least 10 times better than H.W. Bush. and about 100 times better than W. Bush. Not Ready? Just some Bull S hit made up by GOP to drag America down!

[vranger]

"Everyone said that abotu Bill Clinton that he is not ready to be commender in chief but guess what? He was at least 10 times better than H.W. Bush. and about 100 times better than W. Bush"

You can only have this opinion if your head was completely in the sand for the last DECADE!

9/11 was not planned in the few months after Bush took office. It was planned during and as a response to Clinton policies. Clinton let those terroist camps thrive and grow without lift a finger to go in and root them out, despite repeated attacks on American facilities. Yeah, he fired a couple of cruise missiles at long abandoned camps ... bet the sweat from that workload glistened him all up.

People seem to forget that after 9/11 this entire country wanted to get the guys responsible. Not an easy job, but for the most part they''ve been rooted out, and their remnants have only been able to attack soft targets in Afghanistan and Iraq since then ... not US soil.

Its not really better that the victims are in the Middle East rather than here, but in all honestly, you like it better that way.

Bush had to clean up for Clinton''s neglect of the growing problem. He''s taken a lot of flack for it once the initial horror of 9/11 wore off, but he hasn''t complained about the work or the criticism.

He did your dirty work, he did Clinton''s dirty work, and he deserves a hell of a lot more credit that those ''playing politics'' will ever give him for it.

[n0morerepubl]

I like little boys

Posted by trrrorislam5

HEY YOU ARE A SICK-O, YOU NEED HELP!

[n0morerepubl]

I voting for Ralph Nader

Posted by trrrorislam5


WOW THATS GREAT, THATS A BETTER CHOICE THAN MCCAIN

[broadwayphi]

Quite the bounce for Obama




Gallup Tracking:

Obama +6



RCP Average

Obama
47.2

McCain
44.3

Obama 2.9


Where are the gleeful trolls who
Usually post the polls?
I guess they are in hidin%u2019
From Barack O%u2019Biden

[idnnsg]

"it is time to consider how much more it will cost if we do not defeat fascist nazi terrorislam" -- terrorislam5

A FEW PROBLEMS with that statement:

1. Most muslims are NOT terrorists, so the word "terrorislam" is meaningless. FYI, re.****, the Arabic word islam means "submission" %u2014 specifically, submission to the will of God.
2. No true muslims is a fascist. and
3. No true muslims are nazis.

So, who the hell do you think you are talking about? You don''t have a clue who your "enemy" is! Despite your complete ig.norance, or possibly because of it, you continue to rant and rail against one-fifth of the world''s population. You''d be better off just to SDASTFU.

[broadwayphi]

For those who missed it, here (thanks to a request from a good friend) is a list of things Obama can help us achieve:

The beginnings of health care reform (as opposed to McCain''s plan to TAX my health care benefits).

A sane plan to end the war and re-focus on Afghanistan (which ALL sides agree is a good plan).

A fighting chance for American Labor (as opposed to the union-busting plutocrat, McCain).

The end of Trickle Up in the form of the tax cuts for the middle class which McCain would, instead, make permanent for the wealthy.

NAFTA reform. (Fair Trade, as opposed to the disaster that NAFTA has been.)

An energy policy that funds real change away from carbon-based fuels as opposed to McCain''s "voluntary" plan -- ie, no plan at all.

For starters.

If McCain was a man of the people, why would would he
TAX health care benefits?