Kerry Remark on Foreign Leaders Faulted

NY Times ^ | 3/15/04 | Jodi Wilgoren

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

A Republican business owner here in this November battleground state and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell had the same questions Sunday for Senator John Kerry: Which foreign leaders told you they support your campaign, and when did you meet with them?

The questions, in a volatile exchange at a forum here and in an interview on Fox News Sunday, stemmed from a comment that Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, made last Monday at a Florida fund-raiser. It was the second time in recent days that stray comments by Mr. Kerry diverted attention from his themes of creating jobs and providing health insurance.

"I just want an honest answer," Cedric Brown, 52, who owns a small sign company, told Mr. Kerry.

"Were they people like Blair or were they people like the president of North Korea?" he asked, referring to the British prime minister, Tony Blair. "Why not tell us who it was? Senator, you're making yourself sound like a liar."

Mr. Brown's repeated questions came hours after Mr. Powell said on television that Mr. Kerry's vague claim to have the backing of unnamed foreign leaders was "an easy charge."

"If he feels it is that important an assertion to make, he ought to list some names," Mr. Powell said. "If he can't list names, then perhaps he should find something else to talk about."

Mr. Powell also challenged Mr. Kerry's recent assertions that Mr. Powell had been undermined in foreign policy debates in the Bush administration.

"Name a specific issue where it looks like I have been marginalized," Mr. Powell said.

As his aides have all week, Mr. Kerry refused Sunday to cite any names of foreign officials or describe their rank, telling reporters, "I can't violate any conversation because no one would share something with me again."

Instead, Mr. Kerry disputed the wording of his comment, and tried to change the subject from individual leaders' specific support of his efforts to oust President Bush to a broader deterioration of the United States' international reputation.

"I think the quote, the quote in the comment I made publicly, I believe, was that I `heard from,' that's the direct quote," Mr. Kerry said. "I've likewise had meetings. I've also had conversations. I said I've heard from, that was what I believe I said."

The remark came at a breakfast with about 50 fund-raisers in Florida, after one observed that Europeans were "counting on us" to "get rid of Mr. Bush."

"I've met foreign leaders who can't go out and say this 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," Mr. Kerry said, according to a transcript from a reporter who attended the session.

On Sunday, Mr. Kerry said that he had not been abroad since he announced his presidential ambitions in December 2002. In Bethlehem, he told voters he had "had conversations with a number of leaders in the course of the last two years, up until the present moment," and that he had "also had friends of mine who have met with leaders, as recently as the past week I've heard from a couple."

Speaking afterward with reporters, he said the who, when and where was not the point.

"The point is that all across the world Americans and America is meeting with a new level of hostility," Mr. Kerry said, "and that there are relationships that have been broken, and everybody who follows the foreign policy of the United States understands that."

Mr. Brown said he came to the forum to confront Mr. Kerry, in part because of lingering bitterness from the Vietnam era, when as a West Point cadet he was spat on, he said, by antiwar protesters.

As many in the crowd shouted at Mr. Brown to "shut up," Mr. Kerry, a veteran of both the Vietnam War and the protests against it, calmly promised to answer all queries, no matter the tone. Then he turned the tables.

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

After Mr. Brown said he voted for Mr. Bush in 2000, Mr. Kerry added: "See? Democracy works both ways."

[Travis McGee]

Mr. Brown, I salute you!

[Texasforever]

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

What about American Mr. Kerry?

[snow scorpion]

Now we have private citizens doing the job that journalists are supposed to be doing. I wonder if the people at the Times have enough sense to be embarassed about that.

[sinkspur]

Kerry's "off the cuff" remarks are frequently lies, as we are discovering.

This guy will self-destruct, if we just give him room.

[baseballmom]

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked

Kerry is an SOB. What the heck difference does it make what party he is? He wants answers. An American voter wants answers, period.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Then he turned the tables."

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

"After Mr. Brown said he voted for Mr. Bush in 2000, Mr. Kerry added: "See? Democracy works both ways."

The NYT is so far up Kerry's Kolon that they think when Mr Brown gives an honest, forthright answer, Kerry is somehow turning the tables.

Senator Refusenik refuses to :

Release his military records
Release his medical files ( prostate cancer Feb 03, history by Kerry's own words and deeds of depression and PSTD, R/O Marfan's Syndrome )
Release the names of the " foreign " leaders he met with ( maybe Kerry is so confused that he thinks stopping at a 7/11 is the same as meeting with a head of state )

[SpinyNorman]

Speaking of undermining, when a Senator, or anyone with suffient stature for that matter, secretly negotiates and deals with foriegn powers to the detriment of our Commander in Chief, does it not rise to the standard of treason? Or at least sedition?

[Salvey]

This guy will self-destruct, if we just give him room.

It sure as hell better be before election day!

[Brandon]

"Are you saying you will only answer questions from registered Democrats? Do you not want my vote if I'm not a registered Democrat?"

[gov_bean_ counter]

My thoughts exactly. I wish Mr Brown had told Kerry it makes no difference, please answer the question.

[Travis McGee]

Exactly!

[rllngrk33]

This guy will self-destruct, if we just give him room.

I just hope he doesn't self-destruct too soon. The RATs might replace him with Hillary.

[Jorge]

How perfect. Kerry who accuses President Bush of misleading the American people is the one caught in a lie.
I love it.

[Betaille]

I'm shocked that the NY times actually printed an article that makes Kerry look so bad. His comment to the man at the end of the article is unbeleivably snotty. Foxnews should play the clip of that conversation over and over again tommorow.

[rocklobster11]

excellent article. Nothing positive about Kerry in it.

[hobson]

"See? Democracy works both ways."

What is that suppose to mean?

[Boundless]

> Now we have private citizens doing the job that
> journalists are supposed to be doing. I wonder if the
> people at the Times have enough sense to be embarassed
> about that.

Consider another possibility...

The NYT ran the story. Normally, they'd just spike a story
like this - "not newsworthy". If they ran it, they had a
reason to run it, and probably also had the blessing of
their DNC masters.

If the Clintons decide that they need Kerry out of the way,
the LLiberal Press will turn on Kerry. The NYT will be a
leading indicator.

In the initial stages of a Clintonian purge of Kerry, it
would be precisely what I'd expect from the NYT to run a
story that has "NYT house deniability". The NYT expressed
no biad, and said nothing negative here about Kerry. They
just printed the truth (which itself is out of character).

The NYT doesn't report news. They send messages. For
those not in the DNC Talking Points FAX Circle, the NYT
messages can be a bit obscure.

[hobson]

"See? Democracy works both ways."

What is that suppose to mean?

[Betaille]

I'm a registered Democrat and I would also like to know Who these world leaders are Senator Kerry. I'm pleasantly surprised that they actually included the comment about North Korean Dictator in the article.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The RATs might replace him with Hillary.

The government's chief witness against Hill in a campaign fund raising case is writing a book that a NY Post writer said could end Hill's political career. The manuscript has been completed. I just hope he has multiple copies at undisclosed locations.

[Texasforever]

I guess Kerry was just calling the guy a crooked liar.

[SunkenCiv]

Speaking afterward with reporters, he said the who, when and where was not the point.

He's right. The point is, John Kerry is a liar.

After Mr. Brown said he voted for Mr. Bush in 2000, Mr. Kerry added: "See? Democracy works both ways."

That one was from the John Kerry Nonsequitur Collection.

[Theresawithanh]

What is anything Kerry says supposed to mean? He does seem to be on all sides of any issue at any given time.

Maybe he was just tired, and needed a nappy-poo.

[Fenris6]

I hope Kerry has been advised that we don't live in a Democracy. "Its that electoral college thingy".

The "world leaders support me in secret" claim is hysterical. Like a forum troll who insists that he's gotten PM's and Emails from everyone supporting his argument...but he won't say who. LOL. Grow up Ketchup Boy!

[DannyTN]

"I just hope he doesn't self-destruct too soon. The RATs might replace him with Hillary."

Hillary doesn't want a long campaign. Too much time to dig back up all of her scandals. She wants to step in at the last possible minute.

[quesera]

What an idiot!

I hope he keeps up with these obvious lies and flip flops. Makes beating him that much easier.

[jocko12]

NADER AND BUSH JUST GOT SOME VOTES.KERRY IS TOASTED.

[Mo1]

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

What does that have anything thing to do with his question??

What?!?!?! ... are only democrats allowed to ask him anything ????

This gentlemen is not running for president .. KERRY IS

ANSWER THE QUESTION SEN. KERRY ... WHO ARE THESE LEADERS YOU SPOKE WITH???

[Ann Archy]

Kudos to the Brave Mr. Brown....Boos to the pussy weenie press.

[ducks1944]

God bless Mr. Brown, someone give this man a job reporting for media.

[bayourod]

"Mr. Kerry added: "See? Democracy works both ways." "

It means that Kerry has the emotional maturity of a teenage girl.

[squidly]

As many in the crowd shouted at Mr. Brown to "shut up,"

Odd. I'd think that even diehard Rat voters would want to know who Kerry's foreign supporters are. Perhaps they are just swept away with ABB Fever.

[Saundra Duffy]

Kerry keeps putting his foot in his mouth. I hope he keeps it up.

[KellyAdmirer]

I can't believe how amateurish Kerry sounds. But the bigger mystery is how anyone but a blind partisan could vote for this moron.

[WOSG]

Please please please QUIT WITH THE IDIOTIC CLINTON CONSPIRACY STORIES!!!

The Hillary boomlet ended last November, they just never faxed you guys.

"In the initial stages of a Clintonian purge of Kerry, it .."

Karry has the MAJORITY OF DELEGATES!! HE WILL BE THE NOMINEE!! HILLARY IS WAITING FOR 2008!

END OF STORY!

[dalebert]

I keep waiting for someone to call Kerry what he is. A fake.

[WOSG]

You know if Mr Brown had gotten Kerry just a bit more ticked off, we might have heard him say "Now sit down and shut up!"

[Spotsy]

Now all we need is someone with the guts to confront Kerry and force him to answer the question:

Senator Kerry: Which countries constitute a "legitimate" coalition?

Force Kerry to tell us that he believes France, Germany, and Russia, and Kofi must approve before the United States acts.

Kerry, the Dems, and their media henchmen continue to lie that Bush is acting unilaterally, and has a "go it alone strategy." What an insult to the coalition members serving in Iraq - as soldiers, humanitarians, and CPA officials and advisers.

[Spotsy]

But the bigger mystery is how anyone but a blind partisan could vote for this moron.

Brace yourself for November - you are going to find out just how many blind partisans there are in this country.

I can't believe how many Kerry bumperstickers are showing up on cars in my red state.

[Outraged]

Mr. Kerry disputed the wording of his comment, and tried to change the subject from individual leaders' specific support of his efforts to oust President Bush to a broader deterioration of the United States' international reputation.

I wish somebody would do the research that links Democrat politicians and propagandist news that attacks America and GW Bush, to show the relationship between leftist anti-American rhetoric and the resultant international antagonism...My point is that the DNC mouth-pieces have manufactured world and national dissent and then use their byproduct to tear at the United States and the Republican party.

[hobson]

DU'ers were discussing his health and physical energy problem and apparently it's a REAL PROBLEM. Imagine how tired he will be by November. No telling what kind of whoppers he'll come up with by then. This could be a very entertaining year.

[hobson]

Like, you know?

[Cosmo]

before election day, yes, but also after the convention.

[McGavin999]

Now we have private citizens doing the job that journalists are supposed to be doing. I wonder if the people at the Times have enough sense to be embarassed about that.

That's the second time a private citizen has had to ask a question the press was supposed to ask. But then, when people are too incompetent to do their jobs, there's always a good American to step in and do it for him.

[Mo1]

You know if Mr Brown had gotten Kerry just a bit more ticked off, we might have heard him say "Now sit down and shut up!"

Well it sounds like Kerry came pretty close demanding that Mr. Brown answer his question

It's not a smart way to win over voters ...

[Krodg]

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

What about American Mr. Kerry?

He should have said...'I'm an American citizen who will not be voting for you unless you release your military records, give proof of your whereabouts during traitorous meetings of an organization you once led and submit names & dates to back up ridiculous claims you have been making. Until that happens, consider me a vote for President Bush'.

[Main Street]

[SkyPilot]

"Are you a Democrat or a Republican — what are you?" he asked. "You answer the question."

After Mr. Brown said he voted for Mr. Bush in 2000, Mr. Kerry added: "See?

Sheesh! If the media is going to make Kerry "more likable" they are going to have to stop publishing his direct quotes.

[bayourod]

He means that he will punish any one who supports Bush.

Democracy works both ways; you have a right to vote for whomever you want, and I have the right to punish whomever I want.

It's an incredibly immature threat by an arrogant megalomaniac and a certifiably stupid thing for a presidential candidate to say.