John Kerry blames speechwriters for Benedict Arnold companies.

Slate ^ | 05/04/04 | Mickey Kaus

[Pikamax]

Out: Kerry Panic; In: Iraq Panic
Plus--"I meant 'Benedict Arnold' in a good way!"
By Mickey Kaus
Updated Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at 2:59 AM PT

Benedict Arnold is Flip-flopping in his Grave! In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, John Kerry has this to say about his campaign attacks on "Benedict Arnold companies":

But the Benedict Arnold line applied, you know, I called a couple of times to overzealous speechwriters and said "look that's not what I'm saying."

Benedict Arnold does not refer to somebody who in the normal course of business is going to go overseas and take jobs overseas. That happens. I support that. I understand that. I was referring to the people who take advantage of non-economic transactions purely for tax purposes -- sham transactions -- and give up American citizenship. That's a Benedict Arnold. You give up your American citizenship but you want to continue to do business and deduct and do everything else. That's what I'm referring to....

Is that really what Kerry meant by the "Benedict Arnold" line, which was a standard part of his stump speech? Let's go to Kerry's own web site, and search for the traitor's name. Here are some representative samples:

1. "George Bush continues to fight for incentives to encourage Benedict Arnold companies to ship jobs overseas at the same time he cuts job training for our workers and cuts help for small businesses that create jobs here at home. ... "

2. "Unlike the Bush Administration, I want to repeal every tax break and loophole that rewards any Benedict Arnold CEO or corporation for shipping American jobs overseas."

3. "Instead of George Bush's raw deal, we need a real deal that stands up to the powerful interests. That's built on people and products not privileges and perks.  And that closes every loophole for the Benedict Arnold companies that ship jobs overseas." 

While Kerry's proposal would merely eliminate some tax advantages for outsourcing,* it sure sounds to me as if the term "Benedict Arnold," as used by Kerry, applies to all outsourcing firms--firms that are then 'encouraged' or 'rewarded' by the tax code, in Kerry's view. And there's no mention at all of giving up American citizenship. You make the call! ... Union workers in primary states, especially, should make the call. Did you really think Kerry was only referrring to corporations that conduct "sham transactions"? ... It couldn't be that Kerry is dissembling again--letting the union workers think one thing and then telling the business readers of the Wall Street Journal another? That would be boring and cliched of him. ... More interesting but equally damning explanation: Those "overzealous speechwriters" have a strange power over Kerry, forcing him to repeat over and over again something he doesn't want to say! He complains that the words aren't what he means, but when Bob Shrum says 'say it,' he says it. Does Bush's speechwriter have that much power over Bush? ... [Thanks to reader T.S.  Emphasis added. Void where prohibited.]

[Petronski]

I heard this one on Hannity on Monday. Unbelievable: my speechwriter made me do it.

Will that excuse be used in a Kerry Administration?

[thoughtomator]

Kerry Panic?

All systems normal!

[Billthedrill]

Benedict Arnold was a brave soldier before he turned traitor, backstabber, and rat. Sounds like Kerry's found a soulmate.

[ElkGroveDan]

What a maroon. As a professional speech writer I can state categorically that EVERY politician first reviews the speech and then asks for changes. If he didn't like what they wrote, why the heck didn't he demand they change it, or ad-lib, or just drop that particular point.

Or is it possible that he's saying he's a puppet who says what ever his handlers put in front of him, without questioning the content?

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL!

[mtbopfuyn]

So, Shrillary is now moonlighting as a ventriloquist?

[Dr Snide]

isn't this the same guy who constantly complains about the Bush administration not "taking responsibility"? Yet he cusses out secret service guys when he falls while snowboarding, blames his wife for him owning an SUV, and blames Charlie Gibson for quoting him, and now blames his speechwriter for what he says among other things. What joke.

[sgtbono2002]

How did anyoine this stupid get to be a Senator.? Wait: he is Senator from Massachusetts. Thatsplainsit

[OldFriend]

Huh?????????

Does Kerry ever utter an understandable sentence?

[OldFriend]

It's possible that Heinz Corporation is suffering!!! BIG TIME!!!

[Drango]

He meant exactly that before he didn't mean it....

[Drango]

Say Mickey, I see you are published by Slate...Isn't it time you find a firm that doen't publish the filth of Ted Rall? Walk away Mickey, walk away....

[BunnySlippers]

Not ready for prime time.

[Dan from Michigan]

WTF? He should have quit while ahead, as calling outsourcers Benedict Arnolds was actually a good strategy IMO......

Except for the fact that Johnny Stickboy voted for NAFTA/GATT.

[AD from SpringBay]

Bad week to be, "John, I-was-in-fn-Vietnam, Kerry."

[GeronL]

LOL.

How can we keep up with this??

This is the worst run campaign in world history!!

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Aren't these people always alleging that George W. Bush is a sock puppet of the shadowy neo-con conspiracy?

Is that better or worse than being a sock puppet of your own employees?

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Unlike the Bush Administration, I want to repeal every tax break and loophole that rewards any Benedict Arnold CEO or corporation for shipping American jobs overseas."


I bet his wife Bit$$-slapped Kerry too considering Heinz is one of the corporations.

[jcb8199]

bttt

[Petronski]

He should DIVEST himself of all his investments in Benedict Arnold companies like Heinz (73% offshore).

[GeronL]

Is he really going to be their nominee?? seriously??

[okie01]

"Or is it possible that he's saying he's a puppet who says what ever his handlers put in front of him, without questioning the content?"

No. Kerry is telling us nothing is ever his fault.

In other words, he's demonstrating his liberal credentials.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Since some people started referring to him as a modern day Benedict Arnold, Kerry isn't finding ol' Benedict such a bad guy after all........

[DLfromthedesert]

I NEVER MISSPEAK!! That SOB Speechwriter tripped over my mouth!!!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[But the Benedict Arnold line applied, you know, I called a couple of times to overzealous speechwriters and said "look that's not what I'm saying."]

"But the I don't own an SUV line applied, you know, I called a couple of times to overzealous speechwriters and said 'look that's not what I'm saying.'"

"But the I voted for it before I voted against it line applied, you know, I called a couple of times to overzealous speechwriters and said 'look that's not what I'm saying.'"

"But the I threw my medals, before I didn't throw them line applied, you know, I called a couple of times to overzealous speechwriters and said 'look that's not what I'm saying.'"

Etc., etc., etc. ad nauseum.

BTW, the (persistant) "you know" line sounds nauseatingly familiar, does it not?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I thought he didn't mean what he meant before he didn't mean it. And besides, it's all his speechwriter's fault. Kerry sounds like Clinton with a lobotomy.

[Lancey Howard]

Mickey Kaus is an example of what a true "journalist" is, something totally foreign to most of today's liberal print and network newsrooms.
Kudos.

[Lancey Howard]

On another note, I believe that Kerry is the most self-centered politician I have ever heard of, including Bill Clinton. I didn't think it possible, but Kerry is quickly redefining "scumbag".

[Piranha]

Mr. Kerry, are you going to apologize?

[optimistically_conservative]

Cynthia Tucker, who never served in the military, is up in arms because Senator Kerry (who, if you haven't already heard, served in Vietnam) is having to defend his military service and anti-war activities after he made his military service and anti-war activities a centerpiece of his campaign - AND - after he and his surrogates questioned President Bush's military service and lack of war activities.

For some reason, despite the historical example of Benedict Arnold, supporters of Senator Kerry believe he has been given the stamp of indefinite-patriotic-Teflon-coating approval against examination in these affairs.

Personally, I think both men look foolish when they and their surrogates disparage each other's, and by doing so, their own, military service by politicizing it.

But what to make of Paul Rieckhoff? Why is the Kerry campaign pushing a 29 year old former Wall Street analyst and UMass-Amherst alum to the forefront of the campaign, giving him the Democratic Radio Address this weekend?

Because Paul just came back from Iraq - has been released from active duty - and he has some criticisms about the war.

So, is he a Kerry wanna-be? Is he now leveraging his brief combat service and military decorations to launch his political career as an anti-war radical - as Kerry did 30 years ago?

So far, I don't think so. Despite a few liberal clichés in his comments (perhaps remnants from his Amherst indoctrination) he seems sincere. And besides, so far he has not shown any disrespect for his uniform and has actually defended his fellow servicemen from being tainted by the criminal actions of a few.

Thirty years from now, he can be proud of that.

[Minute Hoarding Clock Watcher]

It is SO ODD for Kerry to be using the phrase BENEDICT ARNOLD!

There seems to be many similarities between Arnold and Kerry.

Both were supposed war heroes from New England.

Arnold was wounded twice. Kerry twice [or 3 times(?) but one is in
dispute and was called a 'self inflicted scratch' by his commander].

Both used Massachusetts and New York to further their careers.

Both men became embittered after leaving the service, disdainful
of their fellow officers and resentful toward Congress.

Both married socialites.

Both sided with Europe when in dispute with the American military.

http://earlyamerica.com/review/fall97/arnold.html

[AFPhys]

Not ready for prime time.

That one phrase just about wraps up everything needed to be said about Kerry.

It is amazing the Demodogs thought this was the best of their best.