Rudy wins the night thus far with the litany of Kerry flip-flops and then stating “maybe that accounts for the need of John Edwards’ two Americas.”
Indeed, Rudy has been able to attack Kerry directly without seeming angry, or actually “attacking” per se.
Update: Here’s the exact quote via The Command Post:
My point about John Kerry being inconsistent is best described in his own words when he said, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.”Maybe this explains John Edwards’ need for two Americas - - one where John Kerry can vote for
something and another where he can vote against the same thing.
Classic.
And so obscenely misleading. It is a well written line, but if one person can honestly tell me that represents a flip flop I will be shocked. Nuance apparently isn’t allowed in professional politics.
Comment by Bill K — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 10:20 pm
How anyone could call it anything other than a flip flop is beyond me. He clearly voted against the $87 billion to try and prove his anti-war bona fides so as to politically challenge Dean. His lack of conviction is quite clear.
And it isn’t about nuance–that’s a cop out. The quote itself was a lame attempt by Kerry to use Senatorial procedure as cover. So yes, I can honestly tell you it was a flip flop.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 10:25 pm
Because you are in his head and NOTHING in the bill changed from the beginning to the end?
Comment by Bill K — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 10:27 pm
The flip flop was voting for the war and then voting against the funding. And further: to try and claim both sides of the issue with the quote in question was a clear attempt to deflect criticism. You can’t vote for one version of a bill, but vote against the final version, and then claim to have actually voted for the bill–no, you didn’t, you voted for a different bill.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 10:30 pm
So you have a bill that says we are cutting taxes 1% across the board. You like it, you want to vote for it. Then an admendment is added legalizing gay marriage. So you vote against the bill in total. When somebody asks you why you voted against a tax cut what do you say?
Comment by Bill K — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 10:33 pm
HELLLLLLLLLLL YES
I missed McCain’s speech, but Rudy knocked it out of Yankee Stadium all the way to Fenway. (Blogs For Bush has the text of McCain’s here, and Rudy’s here). Compare his message to John Kerry’s…
Trackback by Right On Red — Monday, August 30, 2024 @ 11:41 pm
Blog-o-sphere Reacts
The Blog-o-sphere reacts to the RNC: Right On Red In The Bullpen Right Wing News Poliblog Blogs For Bush (Credentialed) Slant Point (Also There)…
Trackback by The Politicker — Tuesday, August 31, 2024 @ 12:08 am
You don’t say “I voted for the tax cut, before I votd against it.”
To clarify: the main flip-flop was voting for the war, and then voting against the funding.
And do you really think that the vote against the $87 billion was a principled stand? It seems quite clear it was the result of pure political calculation.
And it is flip-floppery to try to be on both sides of the issue, which is what he wants to do on that vote–and the difference between the two versions of the bill were by no means as radical as your example.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Tuesday, August 31, 2024 @ 6:57 am
As he has said, he didn’t vote for the war because he wanted a war, he voted for the war because he thinks the President is owed the right/power to do it.
Anyway, your stating it is a flip flop isn’t based on anything except the perception that he is a flip-flopper. It is a ridiculous as me saying the President only went to war to protect our oil interests.
Comment by Bill K — Tuesday, August 31, 2024 @ 9:28 am
I would refer you here.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Tuesday, August 31, 2024 @ 9:39 am