John Kerry's slow reflexes

Senator John Kerry told a crowd in Iowa Saturday that the Bush administration is promoting a "spirit of intolerance" by questioning the patriotism of anyone who criticizes the Iraq war policy.

"Although no one is being jailed today for speaking out against the war in Iraq, the spirit of intolerance for dissent has risen steadily, and the habit of labeling dissenters as unpatriotic has become the common currency of the politicians currently running our country," the senator said.

Senator, catch up.

The president's approval rating is in the low thirties. Congressman John Murtha's phone lines overheated with calls of support when he called for troop redeployment. "Labeling dissenters as unpatriotic" hasn't worked since 2004.

Iraq is not the only issue that sends Senator Kerry into auto-pilot.

CSPAN covered one of John Kerry's appearances in one of the early primary states not too long ago, and he was telling the same stories about the same people with the same difficulties over health insurance. He spoke of the woman who had to stay at her job while going through chemotherapy because her husband was out of work and her job provided the family's health insurance. The woman was present at the event. The senator interrupted his story to point out that, thankfully, she's fine now, and her husband is working again. They're doing very well.

If you're a Democrat trying to make the point that Republicans are destroying the country, it would be a good idea to retire that story.

Maybe Senator Kerry recycles his out-of-date speeches because he spent so much time and money crafting language that tested well with swing voters and minority voters and soccer moms and NASCAR dads.

Here's some free advice for Senator Kerry and all the other candidates who are scared to say anything that might offend anybody. Fire the focus groups and hire a writer. One Ted Sorensen is worth ten thousand Mark Penns.

Copyright 2006

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