John Kerry: Obama's Public Financing Decision Will Enable Him To Avoid My Fate
We like this one. To amplify its message that opting out of public financing was necessary to combat the onslaught of outside 527 ad spending that's likely to hit Obama in the months ahead, the Obama campaign has turned to the perfect messenger: John Kerry.
On a conference call with reporters moments ago, Kerry insisted that the decision was necessary if Obama is to avoid succumbing under a barrage of such spending, as he did.
"You know, the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth hadn't appeared in July of my year as a funded group," Kerry said. "And they were funded in August, which was the time I was tied to campaign finance reform and didn't have the money to respond. And it had an obvious, profound impact. So I think in order to control your campaign and your message, it is essential to be able to respond to those and be free to respond to them."
Kerry's fate at the hands of the Swift Boat Vets, of course, continues to haunt Dems. So he's just the person to make this case and to make John McCain's refusal to forcefully rein in the outside groups on his side look that much more ominous.
Late Update: Here's the audio from the call:
















Perfect response, highlight the necessity, and highlight the nasty tactics of the Republicans that have created these problems.
June 19, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
and it highlight john mccain's refusal (or inability if you believe his own campaign) to control those nasty eliments.
its funny, barack obama is able to prevent 527s from getting funded but john mccain lacks the ability? or the will?
we all know the answer to that one.
June 19, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are two possible answers ... and both of them are bad. He lacks the will, which makes his reformer image a bunch of b.s. He lacks the ability, which means he can't control his own party. Either way, not good for McC.
June 19, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
A great move on the Obama campaign's part. It makes the rationale for opting out real and reminds voters of what could happen by looking at what did happen. It also helps to remind us that things would be a lot different right now if Kerry had won, i.e., we'd have a better economy and be out of Iraq.
Fool us once in 2004, shame on you. Try it again in 2008 and we bring out Obama!
June 19, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ux3DKxxFoM
June 19, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was totally thinking of that when I posted the comment!
June 19, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
No it's not about the money, it's about the people taking back their government.
June 19, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ultraman! Classic!
Had Obama's money come from, say, Big Oil, we'd be screaming.
But it comes from us. McCain forfeits thereafter whatever sliver of high ground remains.
June 19, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, do you know who the other media outlets were on this conference call? And, if so, could you give us a general description of them?
I'll be curious to see if these comments by Kerry make it into the reporting on this issue.
June 19, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was the one who listened in on the call. At this exact moment the identities of the other callers escape me — I was too busy taking notes from what Kerry was saying.
We should have the audio posted soon.
June 19, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for answering. I was curious more about the types of media outlets rather than individual names...
June 19, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bullshit.
Kerry didn't lose because he didn't have enough money. He lost because of the things he said, then changed, then said, then changed, ... the windsurfing, the quail hunting, the "lesbian" comment about Cheney's daughter that he almost choked on, and on and on....
not to mention he was a freakin BORE!!
All the money in the world wouldn't have changed that. People aren't so stupid you can throw enough money at commercials and mold their minds.
June 19, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
...well there was that too...
June 19, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll agree that's not the only reason he lost, but swiftboating certainly played a factor. The point is, there's no sense crippling your ability to defend against smears when you know they're coming.
June 19, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
well then there was the questionable electioneering of Ken Blackwell here in Ohio. that kinda played a role too...
June 19, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah...TheVastRightMidWestWing Conspiracy. Can't y'all ever suck it up and say, "ok, we lost, this is how we'll win next time."...? It sucks but sometimes you lose...look at us in 2006. You take it as a lesson and try to do better the next time. Everytime y'all say it was some secret conspiracy, not our candidate or message, you get it handed to you again the next time. I got a feeling we may get it handed to us this time, not because of some secret kabal electioneering against us, it's because we have John Kerry without the hair running. Quit blamming everyone else and do something to fix it.
June 19, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
June 19, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Can't y'all ever suck it up and say, "ok, we lost, this is how we'll win next time."...?"
Here's a deal: the minute the VRWC stops howling like scalded babies about the "liberal media" every time someone reports the truth about their negligent-to-criminal malfeasance, then we'll stop calling the media out on its bullshit.
Look at RaeKa's list of "reasons" why Kerry lost. Are these the critieria by which any remotely rantional, informed citizen wants his leader chosen?
Until the Republicans stop their constant hammering of propaganda, duly presented as "news" by the establishment media, working that media by the Dems is not complaining; it is an obligation.
June 19, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you think ABC, NBC, CBS CNN are slanted to the right you are nuts! You can go after FNC and talk radio because their commentators are more conservative. The MSM is and has been tilted to the left for years (left of center, it is possible they are right of you and Obama, but that just shows how far left y'all are).
June 20, 2008 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well Kerry could've responded by...I don't know...responding? (Not to bring up any bad memories but...)If Kerry had ever signed the forms allowing the release of his 201 file he could've beat down any false claims.
June 19, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah i think that was a stupid mistak kerry made
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/dwc-checklist-4-change-part-1/
June 19, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the whole enchilada in a nutshell (to mix metaphors with complete abandon).
McCain demands Obama unilaterally disarm with absolutely no concomitant promise to quash the inevitable "Radical Muslims for Obama" 527s. Perhaps Obama should have tendered his surrender at one of those absolutely essential town halls that McCain also demands.
Because McCain should call all the shots on where, when, in what format, and with how much money Obama campaigns. This is a joke.
June 19, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
O Greg, we don't just like this, we love this!
Perfect explanation for the thing! Thanks for this post.
June 19, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kerry lost for a lot of reasons - one of which was the 527s. (but not the only one)
June 19, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
grrr - hate the comment software. This was in response to Rae & SFC.
June 19, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yah, he mainly lost due to Diebold in Ohio.
But his campaign was not all that well run, either. The Swiftboating really took a toll.
June 19, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain can push this as a negative all he wants, but we can tell from cable what the media think is important: Muslim headscarves and candidate spouses. Campaign finance is a faint whisper next to those blaring sirens.
June 19, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: "I want a fair fight in this election. Alright Obama, now tie the arm with all that money behind your back. Okay, now we're ready to go...
"Oh, wait, I forgot to mention - I have my Tiny, my 130-pound rottweiler here with me and he has been known to bite."
Not again, Republitards. We know you're gonna fight dirty.
June 19, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
{{giggle}}
Great comment.
June 19, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
They better do a better job of getting this message out because the lady who was supposed to be representing "the left" on MSNBC earlier this afternoon was flailing around pretty pathetically as the right-winger kept yelling about Obama breaking his promise.
June 19, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
And McCain is getting fawning treatment from The Page and Politico.
June 19, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Zero traction. On the first, and presumably biggest, day of media response with the McCain pushback, there is absolutely no traction. A Republican on CNN just said that he would have been "crazy not to opt out." Everyone knew it was going to happen. McCain will certainly bring this up in debates, and maybe in commercials, but no one cares.
June 19, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can just hear the next salvo from Mavericky McSame:
If Obama won't opt for public financing and let my stealth minions destroy him in August, he's not fit to lead the US.
In other news, old man shouts at clouds and shakes his fist at the sky.
June 19, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
From one concerned citizen of U.S.A,
Dear American Voters, reporters, media. professionals, political parties, and presidential Nominees,
Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics.
The critical differences between the two of these presidential presumptive nominees in my opinion are as under:
1. Presidential "Temperament and Caliber".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" experience.
3. "Vision and mission" for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, " first U.S.A Centric" than any other country [ ies ] centric.
In my professional opinion Senator Obama leads in all above qualities and attributes.
Senator Obama and his administration along with congress will address all the critical current and future domestic and foreign issues, challenges, and opportunities in coming the years.
Our citizens have and follow attributes as under:
" Family, Friends, Fellows, Faith, Funds, Foundation [s], Fun, with Freedom & Fairness and without Fear, Favor, & Failure" .
Please stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Please do not allow any seduction, deception, and or confusion by some partisan media and leaders effect your vote [ What I label as Psychological Terrorism of deception, seduction and Brain washing perpetuated by some media outlets for decades. These Meedia outlet and so called pundits claim to care about our Nation].
Dear Americans, please do not allow yourself be duped, seduced, and brain washed this time ].
Yours truly,
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas
PS: Please talk about the " Presidential Temperament And Caliber " of our presumptive presidential Nominees. We do talk about the "Judicial Temperament" of our Supreme Court Justices nominees and so far we have failed to talk about the " Presidential Temperament " of our presumptive presidential nominees. The " Presidential Temperament " is the ultimate and in my opinion only requirement of our president as that effects every living soul here and around the world.
Thanks again.
June 20, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm absolutely behind Obama in his decision to opt out, but Kerry's advocacy in which he deflects personal responsibility instead claiming he had his hands tied financially, making him unable to respond is ridiculously over the top to any informed constituent in 2004:
Kerry dithered for almost two weeks, mired in his own indecision and allowed the swift boat fables to take on a life its own to the point where they're still repeated and accepted as fact by those in the right wing blogosphere. The disorganization and indecisiveness of Kerry in retrospect is stunning by his sheer incompetence on the matter. So I wouldn't be surprised if Kerry's defense in the conference call wasn't taken seriously enough to make it to the MSM airwaves.
June 30, 2008 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink