Why do we have to love John Kerry?

[dsc]

It strikes me as rather odd than any criticism of Kerry is met with why don't you vote for Nader or Bush? Have you all loved every single candidate for whom you have voted? Have you only worked for candidates you worshipped? Ironically one of the many names those who criticise Kerry are called are naive idealists. Yet, who is the naive idealist? The one who is working for a candidate they may find less than ideal, or the ones who insist that any and all criticism of a candidate is somehow a sign that you aren't worthy of voting for him?

I have worked for many candidates who I found less than ideal. Why? I really hated their opponents. That can be a very good motivator. It may not be idealistic, but hate of a Republican can lead to very hard work for even an uninspiring Democrat. I fail to see why that is such a difficult concept for so many. But if even Raven is now seen as a Kerry hating disrupter, we have sunk pretty low.

[charlyvi]

1. Actually, I've never found a candidate

that held my views on everything. And I've been voting for 35 years. I usually go with whomever I agree with most of the time, or whomever I trust to have maturity and experience, or lastly whoever will do the least damage. I like Kerry, though. I think he's got the life and govt experience we need right now. Boy do we ever. I don't want to have a beer with the President---I want him to be a President, not my buddy.

[Tatiana]

2. I didn't know we had to love him.

I certainly don't. I didn't support him in the primaries and I don't think he was the best candidate out of the Democratic field. But I respect him and I think he'll do a thousand percent better than Bush could ever do.

[cheshire]

3. Love and support are seperate issues. The problems is with people who

have nothing at all nice to say.

[Cocoa]

4. you handled that strawman very well, dsc

set him up, and knocked him down.

:toast:

[TexasSissy]

5. I'm not crazy about Kerry. I was a Clark supporter. But I'm voting for

Kerry, whatever else may happen or not happen between now and then.

I've also never been flamed about my position on Kerry. The flamings I have seen about criticism of Kerry was because it wasn't criticism in the sense of trying to be helpful. It was just flat out dissing criticism and complaints that serve only to lower morale and not help. Statements such as wishing that one of the other Dem. candidates were our nominee. Not helpful (and not intended to be helpful).

I like some things about Kerry, obviously. He's good on environmental issues. But he's a politician, like other politicians. Politicians are what they are. They are not knights in shining armor, and they are not gods to be worshipped. But he's our candidate, and he's the only game in town. He can count on my support and my vote, and I really do believe that he's the best choice we have of all the candidates.

I think his campaign strategy could use some tweeking, and apparently that is happening. I also realize we're in the Repub bounce, so I remind myself of that. And it is quite a bounce, so it's hard to take. But I'm not going to get really worried at least until the end of the upcoming week, when I figure the bounce should start receding. Kerry is best at the close. That's not a feel good statement. That's his campaign style. So ..... I'm not a strategist. I will just vote and hope. And tell others to vote for him. (I DO wish he'd speak up more loudly, more often, and more forcefully. But we all saw that too much of that sort of thing hurt Dean, Gore and others in the past, so.....)

[dsc]

16. Read this thread

and tell me your post above is true.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=798927&mesg_id=798927

She isn't the only one to whom this has happened it just is the latest.

[TexasSissy]

26. I've read your link. You don't see what in that post caused flaming?

I do. It screams "please flame me." You don't see it?

I wouldn't have flamed her, so let me start with that. But I can see why she was flamed. She starts off calling Kerry a name (he's an "empty suit"). That's not a term you call someone you believe in but whose positions on issues you are confused about. That's what you call someone you don't support.

Second....she's all wet when she speaks about Kerry not having positions on Social Security and such. It sounds like she hasn't listened to Kerry or read his positions on the issues stated on his website. (What comes to mind is privatization - Bush is for it; Kerry is against it. That is a definite position that should be stated to others thinking about voting for Kerry. He has other positions on Soc. Security, as well.)

The poster sounds disillusioned, and more, not sold on Kerry at all. But instead of giving him the benefit of the doubt, or looking to see if she is mistaken, she has bought into the Repub talking points. I hate to see that. Esp. since it shows how successful the Repubs have been in their ad campaign to paint Kerry as someone who has not voiced his opinions.

The only issue I see Kerry as being indefinite about is his votes and stance on the aspects of the Iraq War (not the $$$$ - he's been crystal clear on that point). This last statement he made (that he'd vote for auth. again, even knowing there are no WMD) is hard to explain.

I understand the poster's frustration. But she has fallen for the Repub ads hook, line, and sinker....without checking the information out first. That's why she was flamed (and calling him a name started the post off on the wrong foot). Note the difference between her post and others that don't get flamed (maybe mine above can be used as an example? Both posts express reservations about Kerry. Both want him to do certain things he's not doing. But note the difference in the tone, no name calling in one of them, a commitment to Kerry in one of them, a tone of respect in one of them, constructive criticism as opposed to utter despair in Kerry's "failure." I understand where she's coming from. But still, it makes me wonder, who is she going to vote for? Should she be out trying to get votes, if simple questions about our candidate fluster her?

[fugue]

6. That's one of the things that worries me most . . .

One of the reasons I think Mr. Bush is bad for America is the cult of personality that's built around him. I don't think it's good for a candidate on the right or the left. I've been told by the rabid pro-Kerry contingent that I shouldn't criticize the candidate during the campaign, but that has disturbing echoes for me. ("Don't criticize a sitting president during wartime!")

I am voting for Mr. Kerry. I refuse, however, not to criticize him when I think it's appropriate. The right to criticize the leaders we support is something Americans need to reclaim.

fugue

[newyawker99]

24. Hi fugue!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Demobrat]

33. It's unpatriotic to criticize the president, um candidate.

Or didn't you get the memo? Personally, I criticize him every day. We deserve better than a poltical coward as our candidate, and I'm not afraid to say so. I may vote for him, although I'm in CA so I may not, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. Since I'm one of the anti-war freaks, supporting either candidate this time goes against the grain, bigtime.

[tedoll78]

7. The candidate I vote for could be a total asshole..

and I'd still vote for him if I agree with him on the issues. I don't care about personality - just enact the legislation and executive orders I want, and nominate the judges I want. This isn't a frickin' high school class treasurer election, it isn't a fan club, and it isn't American Idol - this is the biggest of 'big times.'

[charlyvi]

11. Righto....

I think Bill Clinton was a very good president; actually, with what he had to contend with, he was a great president. But I thought he was a pig in his private life. But his private life was none of mine or anyone else's business.

[PurityOfEssence]

8. Because people are jaw-droppingly simplistic

Most intelligent people have a streak of contrariness in them, and far too many self-reflective lefties (let's call them "virtuecrats") can't get over themselves to tactically win. People are simplistic, and this means that they can't understand how anyone can like a person without loving them, admiring their beauty, being awestruck by their intellect, and attributing all good traits to the person.

It's about winning; that's something the Republicans understand.

All endeavors like the one you and I are engaging in right now are supreme wastes of time, unless they serve to clue in some of the difficult or end the hand-wringing. Do it for my kids; they're cute, sweet, and deserve a better world than the one we're allowing swine to foist off on them.

All you need to know about presidential politics can be summed up by a few facts: "Forrest Gump" was Best Picture, and Reagan was elected twice.

[olddem43]

9. Whatever it takes to win, baby -

and get rid of *.

[Mr_Spock]

10. Because, unlike Dubya, Kerry isn't a stinking piece of crap.

n/m

[necso]

12. We do not have to love the candidate.

We merely have to support him.

And I am surprised to hear that the sparrows are going after Raven.

That someone gets a little discouraged from time to time is only natural.

And a soldier is always permitted to gripe... within reason.

[FARAFIELD]

13. I DONT FEEL I HAVE TO LOVE HIM

Im voting for him because he is way better than bush (or any other repuke). I supported Edwards and I liked Clark as well, but Ill support Kerry with no problem. If I or anyone has criticisms they are just that, just things i think he is doing wrong or right. I've earned that right. I hear a lot of FOXIES saying "all you are is AGAINST BUSH". Its not true and i think that helps us, when kerry finally is able to get his message out. THe media is so unfair it isnt even funny.

[dogtag]

14. My heart was broken the summer

of 1968. I'll probably never fall in love completely again, but I like John Kerry more and more as a person. As a campaigner he leaves something to be desired, but who doesn't? We won't see another Bill Clinton for some time.

Kerry will shine in the debate(s), that much I know. Maybe I'll start to love him then.

[gauguin57]

17. I've been in love a few times since Bobby died.

Some of my candidates didn't get the Dem. nomination, though.

However ... this year, my heart longs for an intelligent, serious man who knows his way around the U.S. government.

Kerry is that man. He may not be the love of my political life, but I sure-nuff like him enough to go steady till Jan. 20, 2013 (when, I hope, I'll start wearing John Edwards' ID bracelet!)

I'm sick of silly, disengaged, mumble-mouthed Georgie Bush.

[bigtree]

15. As an Asshole Jerk For Kerry

I want to point out that Raven or any other poster can post whatever criticism they want of Kerry. I just don't have to like it or agree with that course. Defend and support Kerry, oppose Bush. Why is that such a difficult concept?

[drdigi420]

18. I started out supporting Kerry simply because he wasn't Bush

But now that I've learned more about him, I feel better about voting FOR Kerry, not just against Bush.

[AlCzervik]

19. i want a President i can respect, Kerry i respect. n/t

[emulatorloo]

20. Nobody said you had to love him - You don't have to sleep with him, just

vote for him, talk to others about voting for him, drive people to the polls, whatever.

[OneBlueSky]

21. this will be my 11th presidential election, and I have ALWAYS . . .

voted for the lesser of the two evils . . . with the possible exception of George McGovern . . . no different this year, except that the greater evil is SO much worse than it's ever been . . .

no, you don't have to love Kerry . . . you just have to vote for him . . . and get others to vote for him . . . and be prepared to keep on his ass if he's elected so he'll actually start reversing BushCo policies and take this country in a whole different direction . . .

[LisaL]

22. Bush is the incumbent

and in this case, it's mostly about him. Do we want him for 4 more years? NO!
And there is nothing wrong with voting against Bush, in fact, in case of the incumbent president, that is what motivates most people to vote for the opponent.

[Radical Activist]

23. Just vote for him now and get a liberal to run in the next primary

in four years if Kerry doesn't do a good job. I'm willing to give him a chance though.

[wyldwolf]

27. Kerry is a liberal

[AntiCoup2K4]

29. Bullshit.

Come on, most of us here are gonna vote for the guy, but let's be honest about it..... this ain't the John Kerry of 1971 out there. Liberals don't defend senseless wars and even more senseless apartheid, even in the name of politics.

[wyldwolf]

32. not bullshit

well, I take that back...

Since the far left hijacked the terms "liberal" and "progressive" in the past few year and set up a litmus test (consisting of a few pet issues) to qualify, they eliminated many people from the designation of "liberal."

I see your litmus test consists of the IWR and "even more senseless apartheid(?)"

But to those grounded in political reality, John Kerry is a liberal.

[Cheswick2.0]

25. Kerry would get about 20 percent of the vote

if we eliminated everyone who doesn't love him from voting for him.
Criticism as long as it is well intentioned should not be freaking anyone out.

[wyldwolf]

28. I agree with this part...

Criticism as long as it is well intentioned should not be freaking anyone out.

Equally true, though, is that those doing the "well intentioned" criticism shouldn't whine about people "infringing on their freedom of speech" :eyes: when their well intentioned criticism is criticized or disagreed with.

[George W. Dunce]

30. Criticism is one thing

But I can't stand coming in here and seeing multiple threads on "Kerry is going to lose,heres why" That is counter productive and you should rethink that post. It offends others as much as the "flames" irritate you. There are many other ways to express your opinion then "were going to lose"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. We do not have to make out with him.

We don't have to love him, or sleep with him, or worship him, or carry his photo in our wallet. Just work for his campaign and vote for him on 11/2. The Bushbots have developed this weird thing where they sort of personally idolize the Shrub (for reasons I will never understand). They say he's "nice," that he's the sort of person they'd "like to have a beer with." IMO that's a stunningly bogus reason for voting for a presidential candidate. I don't care if a candidate is nice, or friendly, or fun. I want him to be smart and competent, and I don't give a rat's patoot if he's crabby or unfriendly or boring or weird. I have plenty of people to love; I want to respect my president.