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Politics : Proof that John Kerry is Unfit for Command -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (20745)	10/21/2004 9:15:06 AM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 27181

John Kerry and the Politics of Fear -------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial by CK Rairden October 20, 2004 Many political observers are waiting for an “October Surprise” from either George W. Bush or John Kerry that will break this race wide open. But as John Kerry’s support has seemed to reach its ceiling democrats have no surprise yet, only the same mundane plays out of a dusty old playbook—the politics of fear. It reeks of desperation, but it appears it is all they have. First they go for the elderly as they can be counted on to vote and there are plenty of ways to frighten them. But alas, the Kerry campaign couldn’t come up with anything original so they went to the old standby by implying that republicans and namely George W. Bush are planning on taking social security away from them. “Now he's asking for another four years to privatize the [social security] program, and undo the sacred compact we've made with our seniors,” Kerry warned seniors on the campaign trail in Florida. Kerry offered no proof, only fear. Do you have a cough and a fever? No matter what it is, the fault lies with President George W. Bush. John Kerry evened linked the flu vaccine shortage to terrorism on NPR saying, “If you can't get flu vaccines to Americans how are you going to protect them against bioterrorism?" They must really think this is a winner as they brought out a scary ad that begins this way, “If you're an elderly man or woman. If you're a young child. If you're a pregnant woman George Bush and the Republicans have this to say on health care: don't get sick. That's what they said, confronted with a flu vaccine shortage of their making.” Again no proof, only fear. But what about those young adults? Sure they rarely vote, but perhaps if they are frightened they will be drafted they may vote for John Kerry. Talking with reporters of the Des Moines Register John Kerry tried to scare the younger folks saying, "With George Bush, the plan for Iraq is more of the same and [there is a] great potential of a draft.” There was indeed a draft plan, and it was introduced by US Congressman Charles Rangel, a democrat. It was defeated earlier this month in the House by a vote of 402-2. No Republican voted for it, and the president didn’t support it. John Edwards wants in on the game as well and wants to let anyone in a wheelchair know that unless John Kerry is elected they may never walk again. "If we do the work that we can do in this country, the work that we will do when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk, get up out of that wheelchair and walk again," Edwards promised in Iowa last week. This was really ugly. Edwards is not only making a promise that he can’t deliver to those afflicted with injuries and disease, but implies that another four years of George W. Bush will cause them to remain in their wheelchairs. They weren’t finished as in Ohio Kerry tried to scare black voters saying, "We're not going to let [voter suppression] happen because the memories of 2000 are too strong. We're not going to allow 1 million African Americans to be disenfranchised.'' Kerry then added later, "We're seeing efforts by the Republicans, unfortunately, in various parts of the country to suppress votes and intimidate people, to do things that bring back memories that are pretty bitter in the American mind from the year 2000." This is known to be an urban legend of the worse sorts. If John Kerry or anyone can prove this charge they should come forward and do so. Anyone who disenfranchises voters through fear or intimidation should be prosecuted. But don’t expect it, as with all of these charges, John Kerry and the democrats can offer no proof, only fear. At one time, this strategy worked for the democrats. But post 9/11 many Americans have real concerns about security and are looking for strength and stability, not fear mongering. The politics of fear just got tougher. It’s hard to tell who is ahead in this election by looking at the public polls. But one thing is certain, the Kerry campaign’s internal polling must be showing something wrong as the democrats have dug up the old standby that democrats have leaned on throughout my lifetime. If you can’t win over the American voter with ideas, pull out the Halloween strategy—the politics of fear.