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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dr. Id who wrote (146916)	10/3/2004 3:16:21 PM
From: Brumar89	Respond to of 281500

Proof Kerry's always subordinated his FP positions to short-term political considerations: The nuclear freeze in particular was a cause celebre. Kerry and [Democratic rival congressman James] Shannon both courted the pro-freeze crowd intensely. This came easily to Kerry, who in June 1982, while running for lieutenant governor, had spoken at a massive antinuclear rally in New York’s Central Park. In that race, Kerry had indeed tried to make the freeze his signature issue, but it never gained traction. Two years later, as Reagan sought reelection, the political action committee Freeze Voter ‘84—which called for a U.S.-Soviet moratorium on nuclear weapons—released a questionnaire for national and statewide candidates. Paul Walker, a former Freeze Voter ‘84 executive, says “Every point you won or lost” on the questionnaire, “potentially represented thousands of voters.” Kerry and Shannon each filled it out, and Walker graded their responses. Shannon scored a perfect 100, while Kerry scored a 94. So Shannon would receive the group’s endorsement. Or not. Soon afterward, Walker, though he was supporting Shannon in the primary, contacted Kerry campaign manager Paul Rosenberg and explained how Kerry could modify his answers to gain a perfect score. Rosenberg then sent Kerry a memo—dated May 23, 1984—that was made public by the Boston Globe last year. “According to Paul Walker,” Rosenberg wrote, “your stated position on the Trident is what marked you down.” He continued: [Walker] feels that the correct position is to say that you are against funding the Trident sub or missile at this time, and that we should rescind funding for the last six subs because this would put the United States in violation of SALT II. . . . I think it is critically important that we get a 100% rating from this group. You should explain (or Jonathan should explain to Paul Walker) how your position was mis-interpreted so that [Walker] will correct the rating before it is distributed to the board tomorrow evening. . . . Rosenberg noted that “Walker is favorably disposed to change the grading” because he knows “what you must have meant.” Just like that, Kerry revised his questionnaire and tied Shannon with a perfect score. Freeze Voter ‘84 decided to split its endorsement between the “liberal twins.” celluloid-wisdom.com