INCOMING: Kerry Openly Challenges Clinton
13 June 2006 8:21 pm by Taylor Marsh
INCOMING: Kerry Openly Challenges Clinton
(posted from Washington, D.C., 11:21 p.m. eastern time)
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| John Kerry on Iraq |
It was nothing less than a broadside. Well, actually, there were multiple plays: Kerry vs. Clinton; followed by House Republicans against their Democratic counterparts. It's the intramural Iraq war death match, Act I.
Kerry delivered a shot across the presidential bow of presumptive candidate Hillary Clinton
that made her look weak, feckless and fraught with political cowardice. That
the audience delivered a
crushing boo to Senator Clinton made Kerry's challenge even more
dramatic. I'm sure some missed it, but
it was unmistakable what the man was doing. One can only imagine Hillary's surprise, because she was long gone by the time Kerry went to work.
To say John Kerry was on
fire today at the Take Back America conference is an understatement. He
was relaxed, confident and his message was clearly defined, without hesitation
or reservation. He made it absolutely clear that he didn't intend to take any
crap from Hillary Clinton, or anyone else for that matter.
Kerry delivered a
tour de force, complete with audience interchange, physical confidence that
had him putting his hands casually in his pocket when delivering slight of hand
phrases, but always ready to come back to center to deliver a line, which if he'd
had cocked and ready in 2004, would have made him president of the United States, no doubt.
What a difference a crushing loss can make. Hillary, prepare for incoming.
In marked contrast to his potential 2008 rival for the Democratic nomination
for president, Massachusettes Sen. John Kerry — putting aside his reputation
for embracing complexities — made a straightforward anti-war declaration
to the liberal crowd.“Speak out and stand up against a war that is rooted in deceit, sustained
by a constantly shifting rationale, and paid for in the blood of young Americans
who are being sent into harm's way to save politicians' pride and to obscure
mistakes,” Kerry said to the receptive crowd.In his 40-plus minute speech, he showed some of the fire he demonstrated
in his famous 1971 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
and said he regretted his vote for the Iraq War.“Let me say it plainly,” Kerry said. “It's not enough to argue
with the logistics or to argue about the details or the manner of the conflict's
execution or the failures of competence, as great as they are. It is essential
to acknowledge that the war itself was a mistake … to say the simple
words that contain more truth than pride. We were misled. We were given evidence
that was not true. It was wrong, and I was wrong to vote for that Iraqi War
resolution.”The audience erupted into huge applause, whoops and shouts, as well as a
standing ovation. Kerry added, “You cannot change the future if you are
not honest about the past.”At that point it became apparent that the contrast between Sens. Kerry and
Clinton — as well as the important role a candidate's war stance is
likely to play in the fight for the nomination — was not lost on those
assembled. “Tell Hillary,” shouted one of attendees in the crowd.
To draw the contrast out even further, you had the scene after the speeches
to weigh the impact. Clinton had polite fans walking up to chat. John Kerry
was mobbed. The people wanting to talk with him after his speech rushed to the
stage. He had to know he'd not only hit a nerve, but awakened some people who
wondered if he'd learned a lesson. There is no doubt by today's performance
that he has, but it will be a very long time before we know if it's enough.
There are two people in the ring right now and I hope the fight has just begun.
I hope it's waged on Iraq, for starters. Evidently, so do the Republicans.
Enter the House… The Republicans are taunting Democrats
to dare to stand up for getting out of Iraq. But let's be clear that “getting
out” still means the reality of bases in the region and strike force
strength if things go wrong. That said, Rove has already begun.
He specifically targeted Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Pennsylvania Rep.
John Murtha.“Like too many Democrats it strikes me they are ready to give the green
light to go to war, but when it gets tough, they fall back of that party's
old platform of cutting and running. They may be with you for the first few
bullets but they won't be there for the last tough battles,” he said.
This from a man who was mixed up with the Plame affair, having 5 grand jury
appearances, just now getting cleared? A man who never saw battle in his life,
compared to a
37-year Marine and John Kerry? Republicans just can't get enough
of swiftboating
vets.
They also intend to try and trap Democrats in the web of legislation known as H.
RES. 861. House Republicans want to scare Democrats into casting a vote
that will paint them as soft on the “war on terror.” Democrats should
get in their
faces, because the House bill is an insult, using language that isn't serious,
but wholly political.
On the other side, we've got Senator Kerry's S.2766.
Kerry actually wants to accomplish something substantive for our troops and this country, which will also benefit the Iraqis.
It could get very interesting. But as I have written before, Kerry doesn't
have the support of Democrats for getting
out of Iraq. That should tell you everything you need to know, because he's
fighting for it anyway; putting it on the line because he knows it's right and Kerry deserves credit for it.
In reality, not even a desperation
drop in from W. will change the disaster
in the desert he now owns, with Rummy, on their own. Iraq is George W. Bush's
war and 2006 is about them both.
As for Kerry, it's clear that John Kerry is staking his claim on 2008. He
wants everyone to know he's coming. Will it be enough to win people back to his
side? Who knows, but it will be great to watch. It will also separate the pandering war hawks from the serious foreign policy adults. Get the message?
