Dem Bob Kerrey: "Uncertainty About Obama"

In a Politico article titled "7 Worrisome Signs For Obama," sign #4 is that the bad economy could be good for John McCain. Supporting the argument is a quote from former Democratic Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey:

"John McCain is a known quantity," says Bob Kerrey, who thinks Obama will ultimately prevail. "You don't look at John and say, 'Who the heck is he?' he's a veteran, he's a guy who got pretty banged up in Vietnam. He can deal with crisis. There's some uncertainty about Senator Obama."

Kerrey previously made waves in the Obama campaign with this unhelpful would-be compliment:

"The fact that he's African-American is a big deal. I do expect and hope that Hillary is the nominee of the party. But I hope he's used in some way. If he happens to be the nominee of the party and ends up being president, I think his capacity to influence in a positive way . . . the behavior of a lot of underperforming black youth today is very important, and he's the only one who can reach them."

Kerrey continued: "It's probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim. There's a billion people on the planet that are Muslims, and I think that experience is a big deal."

Kerrey said a day later that Obama attended a "secular madrassa."

Comments

[MyrtleJune]

The Clintons are staging a revival of Hillary's bid for the nom. This is part of it. The papers released are part of it. The Edwards takedown is part of it.

The Clintons are going to screw this up for us. Stop them.

[leftintheoven]

Mr moderator, I sent you an email asking where my post from yesterday at 11:30 EDT was. I am still waiting for a response. My comment was appropriate and met your rules completely. I got a response saying it was awaiting approval but it never displayed. What happened?

[southafrica4obama]

I was just passing, but those eyes caught me

[widollar]

Little Johnny McCain is an expert at absolutely nothing, which qualifies him to continue to ruin America in the Bush Cheney tradition. The NASCAR crowd loves hero's and little Johnny qualifies and that's good enough for them. The fact that this old fool has no new ideas for America does not matter, hey little Johnnie spent five plus years in a cage in North Viet Nam getting crapped on daily. This would make a world leader out of anyone. Go Little Johnny Go!

[YouThinkAndTalk]

John McCain is a known quantity all right, which means we all know how he will push the country over the cliff.

I wish all these Clinton supporters would come out and say "we don't like a black president" or "Hillary or nothing" instead of making "comments."

Can the Clintons just go away. They have become more trouble than it is worth.

[fishoe2]

It looks to me as though Joseph Robert Kerrey is officially part of the older generation. Older generations are slow to see shifts in the political landscape and slow to adapt to a changing world. Bob has become a waterboy for the Clintons - it started with his "educational" remarks about Sen. Obama's middle name and how wonderful it was - (did Hillary promise a Defense Secretary role, Bob?). Now he is touting his old buddy McCain's foreign policy experience (emphasis on OLD) and reminding us that Sen. Obama's experience is limited - same things they said about that guy Lincoln and a young Bob Kerrey when he ran for Govenor of Nebraska. Bob, I hate to say it because I ALWAYS supported you - but you're an old tired war horse who needs to go to pasture. Why don't you help us get rid of the mess and the messmakers in Washington instead of prolonging our country's misery. Your friend John Mac can't even keep the players straight in Iraq. He, too needs to give it up - go enjoy retirement and let the younger crew take the reigns. God knows we have a big mess to clean up and we need strong backs and fresh minds. Time has passed you by... Omaha Democrat (one of the few, the proud and the brave).

[sector1463]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with most of the comments here. The Democratic Party has always welcomed different points of view. To hide them or deny them the right to be heard goes against the Party"s traditions. If being an Obama Democrat means I can't disagree with his FISA vote, or his support for the Supreme Court ruling that Washington, DC can't restrict HANDGUN ownership, or his disagreement with the Supreme Court ruling that the DEATH PENALTY for RAPE of a child is unconstitutional, then it is not the party I have been supporting for the past 40 years. Once you stifle one person's voice how do you know that your voice won't be stifled. If this is what the Party becomes then I will refuse to support it any longer.

Bob Kerry is a Vietnam war hero! A Medal of Honor receipient. He deserves our respect. He gave when many of us would not.

[TJ]

Kerry - too racist to support Democratic Party's nominee, Obama, for President?

[riverhouse]

It's stupid to talk like that. He's been around the New School too long.

[MsLiz]

Kerry is old school.

[iswideopen]

If other democrats, whomever they may be, can not take the "high road" and do as Senator Robert Byrd did and endorse Obama's candidacy, then they need to change their status to independent and vote for John McBush. Enough of the negativity and chatter. Either one has love in their hearts, or they have that bigoted hatred and are stuck in the ugly past of American history. What is so striking in thought is that all of these people proclaim to believe in GOD. What kind of GOD do you serve? GOD IS LOVE. Please ask HIM to clean out your hearts.

OBAMA '08

[ReportThis]

Bob Kerry doesn't have two legs to stand on.

[sector1463]

That is so low!

[narberth]

The good news for Obama?
Few people even know who Bob Kerrey is.
Even fewer care a thing about what he says.

[Sloane7]

Look at the sneer on Kerrey's face. It speaks volumes.

[MsLiz]

Did you really think the photo had anything to do with the story?

[66rock]

Another old white guy who wanted to be president!

Kerrey=sour grapes, so jealous!!! Get over it.

[joanno]

Enough already! Dems need to get 100% behind their candidate! The primaries are over. Clinton lost. Period. We desperately need a Democratic president and could easily have one if we'd just grow up!

[condawg]

Well it's the "growing up" part that is problematical with you democrats.

Good luck in Denver. Watch out for party-crashers (in more than one way).

[Harinama]

and it's "acting human" that is problematical for republicans.

Denver will be the grand event of the summer...where is the repub convention anyway???

thats right, no one cares about the rnc convention...