The issue Kerry should introduce to change the debate: The Supreme Court

[WI_DEM]

John Kerry should introduce an issue which will move the debate beyond the Swift Boater Lies. It is a winning issue for democrats in my opinion. He should make a major speech on how this election will be critical to the future of the US Supreme Court. How just one new conservative appointment in the Scalia and Thomas mold could set back social and economic progress for decades to come. He should bluntly say that if the Bush evangelical conservatives are returned to power that there is every indication that Roe v Wade could be overturned. He should put it on the line that this election matters with regards to civil rights for people of color and minorities. He should be clear that the last court appointment was ten years ago and that in all likelihood there will be 2-3 Supreme Court vacancies in the next four years. After making a major speech on this issue he should include it in every rally and campaign speech he makes. We should produce radio and television advertisments to put this issue over.

This is a winning issue for democrats because some on the left still haven't embraced Kerry because of the Iraqi resolution vote. This issue could be what makes these people decide in the end not to sit out the election or make a protest vote for Nader or Cobb or someone else but to vote for Kerry. It could be a critical issue with independent voters as well. Many independents are economically conservative but socially liberal. Many independents would oppose a radically right US Supreme Court.

I think the introduction of this issue into the campaign would take the media's attention away from the Swift Boat lies and put the focus back on real issues. If Bush responds and we get an actual debate going on this issue--we have the winning arguements.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Bingo!

[Child_Of_Isis]

2. Roe vs. Wade

will be overturned if shrub stays. Count on it.

[Warpy]

3. Yes, point out the extremist dissents Scalia has handed down

rulings so bizarre that he and Thomas were usually the only dissenters. Put out an ad saying this stuff would pass under a Bush appointed Supreme Court.

You want to scare the rubes, use this stuff. Scalia is completely bonkers, and Bush adores him.

[UTUSN]

4. Uh, We and Barbra Introduced the Supreme Ct as an Issue in 2000

That probably contributed to our winning about a half million votes just by itself.

[WI_DEM]

6. yes, but I think it has to be a major thrust of the post labor day

campaign. In effect we should make it THE issue. Bush can try making Swift Boat lies his issue we should counter by making this the dominent issue of the campaign--along with Iraq.

[Droopy]

5. That's a good proposal

Because I think it is one of the major issues of this election for people looking beyond the hype and the lies. Or at least should be.

[AntiCoup2K4]

7. It's the best issue Kerry has to run on, so why shouldn't he use it?

Bush has no legs to stand on here. If he claims (and it would be a lie anyway) that he would nominate moderates or liberals to the court, he would lose the religious reich fringe. I have no doubt that there are right wingers out there who can't stand Junior, but are salivating at the thought of a right wing lock on the courts for decades, so they'll put up with him.

[snyder]

8. Hate To Tell You This ...

... but anyone who's undecided ain't gonna make the decision on the Supreme Court. If Kerry wants to win, he's going to have to make sure he utters no word longer the two syllables and hammer on the same three things time after time after time.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. Ask him plainly, and publicly: "do you believe in evolution?"

George Bush is out of the mainstream; THAT'S what needs to be shown.

He refuses to believe endless evidence--much of it from panels he's brought into being--that there's global warming and that it's tied to the burning of fossil fuels.

He dismisses all evidence that his policies have diminished the wealth of the middle class; ask him how much he's benefited from his own tax policies. (He's saved more than $250K.)

Ask him why, if he believes in capitalism, does he award huge no-bid contracts to his friends; competition is the soul of true free-marketeering...

Yes, the Supreme Court is an issue that should rope in some straggling perfectionist extremist lefties, but we also need to sway conservatives and the crossover independents. Paint the little dictator as the insane primitive that he is. The Republicans want to abolish the minimum wage. They want to privatize Social Security. They've already crushed overtime for many people. Portray them as the dangerous lunatics they truly are.

[WiseMen]

10. Rove Want's to Change the Subject. He wants to freeze Public Opinion Now!

The worst thing for Kerry is to change the subject. He needs to
keep the subject hot while his supporters rub Shrub's face in
the slime of lies, defamation and cowardice that his operatives
have spewed. A backlash is their worst nighmare.

[WI_DEM]

11. kick