John Kerry, at conference in London, to address ending rape as weapon of war

[karynnj]

44. The First of all Kerry can not campaign on anything -- the Secretary of State is not suppose to do t

Look at the list that Kerry proposed - in the link in the OP. These are all things that the State Department has the power to do. THAT is action. The list does include many things that could make a difference on this issue.

Consider what it would mean if President Obama - or Kerry representing him, actually made this an issue and pushed for a vote on that. Would you want that vote before November -- when the Senate is at stake? There is a huge population of people who are very America centric. This would be cast as giving an international body control over America. I would be willing to bet that many Democrats - especially some up for re-election would vote "no". What would the international message be if this got less than 50 votes - a rather likely possibility.

I doubt the Democratic nominee - no matter who she or he is - once this issue out there in 2016. That dynamic that it is always before some election will likely keep this off the Senate floor until the opinion in the population changes. Changing opinion is something that people outside government - including ex-Presidents - can do. President Obama will leave office a relatively young man. (Kerry when he leaves as Secretary will not be young, but he is clearly very energetic and his roots are as an activist. It will be interesting to see what he will do. Note that both Al Gore and Jimmy Carter were from the conservative end of the Democratic spectrum -- yet look at where they have been advocates.