Clinton Urges Kerry to Sharpen His Attack

[gulfcoastliberal]

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 5 -- Former president Bill Clinton, in phone calls with John F. Kerry over the weekend, told the Democratic presidential nominee that he must sharpen his criticism of President Bush's record and offer voters a more compelling case in his own behalf if he hopes to win the election in November.

The conversations came as Kerry approved a series of personnel moves that will elevate two of his longtime Boston political allies to senior positions to go along with recently enhanced roles for several former Clinton advisers.

Kerry spoke with Clinton, who is at a New York hospital awaiting heart surgery, on Friday and Saturday. Clinton added his voice to that of other Democrats who were urging Kerry to change his message and strategy in response to gains Bush made during August and at his party's New York convention last week.

Clinton, according to those familiar with the conversation, urged Kerry to draw a sharper contrast with Bush and to explain to voters the effect of going to war in Iraq on domestic policies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64274-2004Sep5.html

Edited to remove perceived inflammatory language.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

1. If big dog is in pre-op saying exactly what some of us here suggested

...why have some DUers felt the need to bitch-slap the other DUers making those suggestions? Now that they are coming from Big Dog, are they "valid?"

Just askin.' Some people just ENJOY bitch-slappin' others, right or wrong.

[alittlelark]

3. No offense to DU

but that advice means a hell of a lot more coming from Clinton. Plus, Kerry takes Clinton's calls.;-)

[ClassWarrior]

12. Yup. I didn't disagree with the advice.

I disagreed with the posters who were saying, "Let's flood the Kerry office with calls and demand this!!" Volunteers take those calls - not Kerry - and they have plenty of other things to do with their valuable, donated time.

I, for one, suggested that a more efficient way to have an impact and get a hearing inside the campaign offices was to become the best, most go-to volunteer in your area.

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Exactly

There was a vicious contingent attacking and upbraiding and treating those of us who suggested the campaign needs just this with general derision and scorn.

But I removed my comments. I don't want to seem vindictive or anything.

Edit: I misunderstood your post at first. I thought it was directed at my comments. I agree with what you're saying.

[lagniappe]

15. Some on this board even accused us of being freepers.

I can't stand to see Kerry being attacked that way. At some point you must hit back.

[Malva Zebrina]

13. Yes there are some who are antagonists

who have little to offer in the way of conversation or analysis or even in establishing a rapport with other sincere posters who do not think the same way. The method is to attack them and to get a bunch of others on their side to stroke their egotistic posts,.

That is really hurtful to others who are posting sincerely.

Kudos to the people who posted their dismay at the way the Kerry campaign was being conducted. As it turns out, they were right.

[lagniappe]

2. Clinton's gloom and doom is not what the Kerry campaign

needs right now! :eyes:

<end sarcasm>

[robbedvoter]

4. Gloom and doom? WTF? Clinton?????

:wtf:

[lagniappe]

5. My post was a failed attempt at sarcasm.

[robbedvoter]

11. Oops! Getting red in the face now....

I guess the whole "positive" mantra got me too nauseated to be able to perceive sarcasm....:-(

[happynewyear]

10. Clinton is a realist!

I don't think he could say that a day ever passed in his lifetime where he was NOT optimistic!

:dem: :kick:

[NC_Nurse]

7. Clinton is the consummate

campaigner. Kerry should listen to him, period.

If you look at the '92 race, Clinton was considered out of the running and came back many times.

[happynewyear]

8. Good advice from Clinton!

I feel the same way. Too bad it took a man on perhaps his death bed to have to crack Kerry this news! :grr:

Get off of the Vietnam story - that was done and gone over 30 damn years ago and yeah, I remember what it was like myself and yeah it really did suck. Kerry was not the odd man out on his position(s) at this time!

However, the economy SUCKS!

However, the health care system SUCKS!

ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

I think not!

PROSPERITY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER MY ASS!

:dem: :kick:

[GingerSnaps]

9. It's what I have been saying

Keep up the attack!

[wildmanj]

14. sharpen attack

and not to forget the next president will probably name at least 3 new supreme court justices-----so it is important who appoints these men and or women