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GOP Aims to Pull a 'Dukakis' on Kerry
Guardian ^ | July 27, 2004 | Will Lester

Posted on 07/27/2004 12:03:52 PM PDT by Vision Thing

BOSTON (AP) - Republicans ridiculed Democrat John Kerry's primary campaign contortions about the war on Iraq on Tuesday and handed out pictures of Kerry clad in a hooded blue anti-contamination suit as he climbed out of a NASA space shuttle orbiter.

The GOP effort to pull a "Dukakis" on Kerry is shifting into high gear.

In 1988, Republicans were able to turn Michael Dukakis from a Democratic presidential front-runner into a caricature soundly beaten by President Bush's father.

Key elements of that transformation were a constant drumbeat of criticism of Dukakis' alleged "liberal record" as governor of Massachusetts and a photo of Dukakis riding in a tank while wearing a helmet. At the time, Republican strategists for Bush's father compared the governor in the tank helmet to "Rocky the Flying Squirrel."

Asked the significance of the photo of Kerry in the anti-contamination suit, Republican chairman Ed Gillespie smiled broadly and said, "We just thought it was a great photo."

Republicans gathered at the GOP war room on Tuesday tried to pick apart a suggestion by former President Clinton that Kerry has the "strength and wisdom" to keep America safe.

"Part of wisdom is having a vision and being consistent with that vision," said Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman. "With Senator Kerry, we have seven different positions on his vote against the 87 billion dollars for Iraq.

"At one point he said it would be irresponsible to vote against it, at another point in time he voted against it, then he said he voted for it before he voted against it, now he says he's proud he voted against it."

Coleman noted that liberal filmmaker Michael Moore, director of "Fahrenheit 9/11," had a seat of honor at the Democratic convention.

"We had Michael Moore in the presidential box, someone who said Americans are stupid," Coleman said. "Michael Moore sits with President Jimmy Carter in his box. Is that the foreign policy coming out of this convention? Does that demonstrate the party's commitment to make tough decisions?"

While Republicans praised Clinton's speech Monday night, they turned on the Democrats Tuesday and claimed they were making false statements about the Bush White House record. The Republicans said Democrats are exaggerating the threats to Social Security, Medicare and a federal program that put extra police on the streets.

"You can say these things with a smile on your face, sound like you have a positive message," said Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, adding that statements distorting Bush's record are "still a falsehood."

Republicans say Clinton's successful Monday night speech will make things harder for Kerry on Thursday when he accepts the nomination.

"It's going to be difficult for Kerry to wrest control of these folks from the thrall of Bill Clinton," said veteran GOP strategist Rich Galen.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dukakis; kerry
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To: dead

What a JO.


61 posted on 07/27/2004 1:29:23 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Tamsey

I thought I was losing my mind for a second.


62 posted on 07/27/2004 1:29:31 PM PDT by brewcrew
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To: onyx

Course, must be funnier ways to describe him, you think? LOL.


63 posted on 07/27/2004 1:29:53 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

"Actually, this is mine and my bride's personal fave."

64 posted on 07/27/2004 1:32:52 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Vision Thing

This doofus could give Alfred E. Newman (Mad Magazine) a run for his money.


65 posted on 07/27/2004 1:33:30 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Liz

Course, must be funnier ways to describe him, you think? LOL.






Aaaaaaaaah, yes............
now "go ahead" LOL!!!!


66 posted on 07/27/2004 1:39:45 PM PDT by onyx (The FRENCH capitulate. Are you FRENCH or GOP? BUSH/CHENEY '04.)
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To: Vision Thing
Welcome to sKerryLand! (don't forget your blue hamster suit!)


67 posted on 07/27/2004 1:39:45 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Snuffington

Why the smile?


68 posted on 07/27/2004 1:42:19 PM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: cubreporter

I remember seeing video of Dukaka trying to throw the football around and it was funnier than tank shot.


69 posted on 07/27/2004 1:44:39 PM PDT by 100%FEDUP
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To: Avenger

If you really want a gross Kerry pic, check out post #20 on this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179642/posts


70 posted on 07/27/2004 1:45:23 PM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no steenkin' tagline!)
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To: Vision Thing

O.K.,....a French Terrorist Snob....


71 posted on 07/27/2004 1:46:38 PM PDT by Red Badger (I coulda' swore we elected a Republican President last time.........)
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To: Avenger

Post #71 here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179666/posts?page=1#1


72 posted on 07/27/2004 2:15:45 PM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no steenkin' tagline!)
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To: Vision Thing
I think the GOP should run an ad showing Bush's pitch at the World Series in 2001 next to Kerry's lame bouncer last Sunday at Fenway. That alone should turn the election.

Hey, if Kerry continues to act like a doofus dork, he's guilty of shooting himself in the foot. If the Dims are concerned about John Feminine Kerry being portrayed as a fool by the GOP, they should have nominated someone who isn't a fool.

73 posted on 07/27/2004 3:40:34 PM PDT by My2Cents ("Fair, balanced...and unafraid.")
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