Posted on 09/07/2004 6:50:13 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Panicked presidential candidate John Kerry had every reason to believe that the conversation he had with ex-president Bill Clinton on Saturday - where the two discussed how to rescue his flagging campaign - would be kept confidential.
But that expectation went up in smoke on Monday, when Kerry and his campaign aides found explicit details from the Clinton strategy session splashed all over the New York Times and other media.
mong the most damaging details to surface: Clinton's strong recommendation that Kerry abandon the crown jewel of presidential his campaign - his service in Vietnam.
Kerry himself was plainly mortified over the leak, desperately trying to downplay the significance of the Clinton call by describing the ensuing press coverage as "the most overblown thing."
So who was responsible for the loose lips?
The Times cited only "officials with knowledge of the Clinton conversation."
The Washington Post was no more helpful, sourcing "those familiar with the conversation."
What is known is that "those familiar with the conversation" include just three individuals: Clinton, Kerry and former Clinton press aide Joe Lockhart. And Lockhart later told reporters he wouldn't comment.
But somebody commented - and whoever it was certainly didn't seem to have Sen. Kerry's best interests at heart.
While we don't pretend to know exactly who it was who spilled the beans, one tidbit that crossed our desk last week offers a clue.
The day before Mr. Clinton entered the hospital for heart bypass surgery, the Associated Press reported:
"With the national political conventions out of the way, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarks Friday on a two-day swing with her husband, the former president, that has the trappings of a personal campaign kickoff.
"Sen. Clinton is gearing up for a 2006 re-election bid seen by many as a prelude to a run for president in 2008 should John Kerry fail in his bid for the White House this year."
Perhaps Sen. Kerry ought to think twice about answering the phone next time Mr. Clinton calls with fresh advice on how to save his campaign.
I have to him = I have to give him
Hillary obviously.
Sabatoged? This is series!
Say what you want about Slick, he knows the deal. The GOP set up Kerry to think his military record would be needed to win, only to hang him with it. Now Kerry has nothing else left to run with but attacks.
BWAHAHA! The SS Kerry takes a torpedo from the U-Boat HRC.
Dirty tricks! Dirty tricks!
Waaahhhhhh!
(Standard Kerry Argument)
Next you'll be telling me that all of the Clinton staffers being brought on by kerry will be giving him bad advice ... Why would they do that?
The really pathetic thing is that Kerry spent 20 years in the Senate and has absolutely nothing to show for it. What a waste. The guy is a loser. It amazes me that someone so dishonest and inept could become a major party candidate for President of the United States.
The only thing I give Al Gore credit for is that he didn't use Clinton in his campaign.
*pulls on her little tin-foil hat and smiles knowingly*
How can anyone doubt this was another setup in the 2008 campaign? Kerry is nothing but a marionette who will be the 2004 scapegoat when the Dems lose the election.
ping
You know Kerry can't run his campaign without Clinton. While Clinton was in the hospital Kerry had a 90 minute phone call with him. You know that there must have been longer calls in the past. Pathetic Kerry can't run a campaign on his own. What is it with Democrats they have to beg former presidents to help them because they are clueless.
Regardless of all his faults you have to give Clinton credit for being an astute politician. He had to know perectly well that a leak about their discussion would be bad for Kerry. There is no doubt Bill and Hillary want Kerry to lose. What a perfect strategy, he hurts Kerry's campaign while seeming to give freely of his wisdom to Kerry. WIN WIN for the Clintons.
Exactly!
I find the timing of this leak AUSPICIOUS!....
LOL, These silly people, JFKerry did not take notes during the Clinton years.
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