Kerry bashers unleash barbs with no limits - (media flip/flops on standard

[papau]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040901-123956-8063r.htm

Kerry bashers unleash barbs with no limits


By Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


NEW YORK — The word to Republican speakers at the national convention is that bashing Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry is fine.

Unlike Democrats, who put out word that they were editing speeches to tamp down on harsh criticism of President Bush at their convention in Boston in July, the Republicans are not shying away from full-throttle engagement.

Headlining Monday night's action, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani referred to Mr. Kerry a dozen times, at one point saying the Massachusetts senator might even subjugate U.S. interests to the will of other nations.

"Just a few months ago, John Kerry kind of leaked out that claim that certain foreign leaders who opposed our removal of Saddam Hussein prefer him. Well, to me, that raises the risk that he might well accommodate his position to their viewpoint," said Mr. Giuliani, prompting the crowd to break into a round of boos.

<snip>

[papau]

1. WashPo: - Giuliani Charges (against Kerry)Lack Context

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50256-20...

Giuliani Charges Lack Context

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 31, 2004; 6:44 PM

<snip>For example, Giuliani said: "In October of 2003, he told an Arab American institute in Detroit that a security barrier separating Israel from the Palestinian territories was a barrier to peace. Okay. Then a few months later, he took exactly the opposite position."


The context: When Kerry made his statement about a "barrier to peace," he was referring to, as he put it, the "Israeli government's decision to build the barrier off of the Green Line -- cutting deep into Palestinian areas."Kerry's stance was similar to the position taken by President Bush a few months earlier, in July 2003, when he said in the Rose Garden: "I think the wall is a problem, and I discussed this with Ariel Sharon. It is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank." The Bush administration has spent months negotiating with the Israelis the precise route of the fence. Both Kerry and Bush opposed involvement of the International Court of Justice in the matter.


Giuliani: "I quote John Kerry: 'I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.' "

The context: The administration's request for the funding was controversial, even among Republicans, and various attempts were made to split off $67 billion for the troops from the $20 billion for reconstruction, or to turn the $20 billion grant into a loan, or to fund some of the spending by raising taxes on incomes greater than $312,000. Kerry voted for a different version of the bill, just as Bush had vowed to veto a version that originally passed in the Senate that would have converted half of the Iraq rebuilding plan into a loan.


Giuliani: "Just a few months ago, John Kerry kind of leaked out that claim that certain foreign leaders who opposed our removal of Saddam Hussein prefer him."

The context: The reporter who provided a pool report on Kerry's comments at a fundraiser in March later said she had mistranscribed the comments, and Kerry actually did not use the word "foreign." He also did not refer to Saddam Hussein. Speaking to supporters who noted the opposition to Bush overseas, Kerry said: "I've been hearing it, I'll tell you. The news, the coverage in other countries, the news in other places. I've met more leaders who can't go out and say it all publicly, but boy they look at you and say, you gotta win this, you gotta beat this guy, we need a new policy, things like that." From the full conversation, it appears clear Kerry is speaking about dislike of Bush and his policies by leaders overseas, but not necessarily the invasion of Iraq. <snip>

2. The comment that really got to me

was Arnold using Nelson Mandela as an example of the world looking to America. He said something like "When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, American's cheered."

I almost puked.

Talk about leaving out the context!

I wonder what Mandela thinks about his name being used in support of someone he considers a psychopath? (if I'm remembering the gist of his recent comments about Bush correctly)

[WiseMen]

3. Repub Following Standard Campaign Theory: Negatives More Memorable

Democrats were trying something "unconventional" in an effort not
to turn off the "swing" voter.

Problem is: the "undecided" is often so because they don't "get it,"
they don't pay much attention to the issues. AND it is the NEGATIVE and the SECTACULAR that gets the attention of these folks.

[papau]

4. Saddly true - sometimes ONLY the negative gets attention n/t

n/t