Joe Conason: Clueless Bush distorts Kerry's 'global test'

[Dudley_DUright]

With Republicans up to and including the President blatantly distorting what John Kerry said about defending America during the first Presidential debate, let's review the Democratic nominee's remarks again so that there can be no mistake. It is important not only to understand what Mr. Kerry said, but also why George W. Bush and his supporters insist on misrepresenting him.

<snip>

Within days, however, the President was warning about a dangerous "Kerry doctrine." According to Mr. Bush, his opponent had "said that America has to pass a global test before we can use troops to defend ourselves." That is precisely the opposite of what Mr. Kerry actually said, as should be obvious to anyone who understands the meanings of "did" and "before."

Perhaps Mr. Bush doesn't understand what those words mean. While he demonstrated a remarkable range of strange faces and fidgety stances at the debate, he also proved once more that use of the English language is not and has never been among his keenest talents. So perhaps his inaccurate parsing of Mr. Kerry's answer can be excused as simple incomprehension.

That same excuse is not available to others who promoted Mr. Bush's distortion. William Safire, the conservative Times columnist who writes books about English usage, referred to "Kerry's notion that such a attack had to have prior world-public approval," although the Democrat said nothing of the kind.

more...

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=17821

[Catfight]

1. Doom Gloom and boo tactics. BORING! Bush/Cheney are terrorist. n/t

[CarolynEC]

2. It's the "L" word folks. Bush is lying.

Will JK use it in the next debate?

As in: "Mr. President, you have repeatedly lied about what I said when we met one week ago. Why?"

I think the time has come to say it out loud, I really do. The past week has made it clear.

[Maeve]

5. I'd prefer him to say...

"You have repeatedly misstated my position; are you having trouble understanding words like 'did' and 'before'?" Implying Dubya "doesn't understand" will shake him more than being called a liar.

[Lord_StarFyre]

3. Joltin' Joe Rocks!

...You have no idea how glad I am he's on our side!

Don't forget to buy a copy of BOTH "Hunting of the President" book AND DVD.

This man has well earned our support!

[Dudley_DUright]

8. Got 'em both

:-)

[nyhuskyfan]

4. Great job by Conason...

That was the slam I was proposing -- if these guys can't correctly understand simple a simple statement uttered in front of 60 million people, how can they run this country? What other information are they mis-interpreting (oh, say intelligence on Al Qaeda threatening to attack inside American or Iraq WMD's, just as a couple of examples).

[Owlet]

6. More NPR spin

I don't know why I listen to Morning Edition. It just cranks me up so I can't enjoy my breakfast. Today is Thursday "the day that we read from your emails". There was one from a listener taking Renee Montagne to task for presenting only the Republican side of the "Global Test" bogus issue. So what does Renee do? Calls upon Robert Kagan, contributing editor of the Weekly Standard for his "objective" analysis. To be sure, Kagan was wearing his "Carnegie Institute for Peace Senior Fellow" hat, but it's the same old right wing spin. Is Renee that stupid, or is it simply that NPR doesn't give a shit about objectivity now that they have Joan Kroc's $200 million.

[yellowcanine]

7. The "global test" is the credibility test - And I hope Kerry says that and

rubs it in Shrub's face on Friday.

[starroute]

9. "A decent respect to the opinions of mankind"

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

[CarolynEC]

10. THAT is good! Quote our founders, who clearly did have...

... a decent respect for the opinions of mankind."

:thumbsup: :)