Kerry: McCain-Palin's "Hate Filled" Crowds Should Disqualify Them

Four years ago, John Kerry flirted with the idea of making John McCain his running mate. Today, he is denouncing the Arizona Senator for "a stunning failure of leadership," and running a nasty, hate-filled campaign.

In a letter to supporters, the Massachusetts Democrat -- no stranger to smears himself -- ramps up his criticisms of McCain to new heights. In addition to airing disgust with the tone of the McCain crowds, he rips Gov. Sarah Palin for making "outrageous charges that only a few years ago would have disqualified someone from serious consideration for national office."

The letter reads:

John McCain has shown a stunning failure of leadership. His campaign, in a time of economic crisis and foreign policy drift, has degenerated into a negative and nasty campaign of smears.

The reports are piling up of ugliness at the campaign rallies of John McCain and Sarah Palin. Audience members hurl insults and racial epithets, call out "Kill Him!" and "Off With His Head," and yell "treason" when Senator Obama's name is mentioned. I strongly condemn language like this which can only be described as hate-filled.

According to reports, every ad paid for by the John McCain campaign is now a negative ad -- every single one! McCain allows his running mate to make outrageous charges that only a few years ago would have disqualified someone from serious consideration for national office.

We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to fight back, spread the word about what kind of low campaign he's running, and make sure people know the truth.

Kerry, like Obama, has set up a website to debunk smears in real time. And he directs supporters to the link: http://www.truthfightsback.com/page/content/smearpolitics

His strained relationship with McCain serves as a reminder of how much the political dynamics have changed in the past four years. It also begins to raise the question: what kind of reception will McCain receive either if he goes back to the Senate as a campaign loser or has to work with Congress as the next president?

Comments

[freder421]

12:00 PM on 10/12/2008

Have we all forgot who Bob Allen is?

[bgrp]

02:33 AM on 10/12/2008

Who is John McK K Kain?

[windyYooper]

08:56 AM on 10/12/2008

he wants to be the president of

AMERIKKKA

[canwatcher]

02:28 AM on 10/12/2008

This is one of the most critical times in American history. It will be a test of the country's stated belief that all men are created equal or will it show that little progress has been made since the disgraceful days of slavery by simply refusing to look beyond the color of a man's skin.
The country now has the opportunity to reject hatred and racism and rise to a higher level.
Surely the greatest country in the world has the ability to meet that challenge.
The McCain/Palin comments such as 'not like us' 'palling around' and stressing Obama's second name are inciting violent reactions from the lowest common denominator of society. Once unleashed it is impossible to reign in and all of us will be the losers.
Remember the dark days of the 60s.

[CorsaGal]

11:13 PM on 10/11/2008

I got to shake Mr. Kerry's hand at a rally of his in Milwaukee and believed he was a man of the best intentions. I'm glad he's speaking up here. I hope others will join in and differentiate between the euphemistic, catch-all phrase "negative campaigning" and this inflammatory assault on Barack Obama. The worst elements of the far right wing are stirred up and starting to shout for us all to hear. It is irresponsible and immoral of John McCain, Sarah Palin, Cindy McCain and their instigating advisors to encourage the risk of this ugly noise translating into actions.

[bigdavefromqueens]

07:22 PM on 10/11/2008

The key here is to keep highlighting the extreme reactions of the McPalin crowd.

[chf2go]

02:27 PM on 10/11/2008

What can we do at a grass roots level to remove McCain from returning to the Senate? He should be charged with intent to incite hate crimes. Palin should be charged also. Neither one of them is fit for public office, they have gone too far to a place they cannot come back from.

Now Palin has been proven to have abused her power as Governor, which we already knew about. They will try and spin this that it's not that serious, but isn't this abuse of power what got us into these wars in the first place? Got judges fired? Enough is Enough!

[cruisepuppy7452a]

06:46 PM on 10/11/2008

You have to go farther than that. Many republican and even some dems are just as racist, and biggoted, but they refuse to let their true feelings show in public. You need to clean house, period. Both houses. Way over due.

[odoreida]

10:26 PM on 10/11/2008

" even some dems are just as racist, and biggoted, but they refuse to let their true feelings show in public. "

You're joking, right?

[odoreida]

10:23 PM on 10/11/2008

"What can we do at a grass roots level to remove McCain from returning to the Senate?"

Nothing. You can't.

"He should be charged with intent to incite hate crimes."

No he shouldn't. There are a lot of people who post here, however, who ought to be.

[gregjones]

01:00 PM on 10/11/2008

Hello fellow Warriors...I am Greg Jones, National Director of Blacks4Barack....in harmony with millions of Whites4Barack...Asians4Barack...Hispanics4Barack...Jews4Barack...Republicans4Barack...Men4Barack...Women4Barack....Students4Barack....and united we are all... AMERICANS4BARACK....Together, We WILL Make The Difference !

MUST HEAR ! Donna Brazille's powerful race speech....also Alaskan Independent Party Founder Joe Voegler speaks of his hatred for America...Republican women speak against McPalin tactics... and More ! ! Listen to Obama Talk Radio.....Nothing But The Truth with Greg Jones. What MSM omits....you'll hear on NBTT !

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/HeadingLeft/The-Greg-Jones-Show/2008/10/11/NOTHING-BUT-THE-TRUTH-with-Greg-Jones

[cruisepuppy7452a]

06:44 PM on 10/11/2008

Greg you are speaking my language. Thank you for seeing that not all white people are hate filled, support McCain nor Palen, see them as the racists and biggots who are a disgrace to thier race. ya see, I am color blind, I don't see people as blacks or whites, I see them as people. PERIOD. I am fighting my tail off to make sure Barack gets the chance every American who ever dreamed of getting into the White House, deserves. If we all don't work together, we all lose. This isn't a white ship, or a black ship, its ONE ship. If that boat sinks, there isn't a first class, nor stearage, its ONE class, ONE lifeboat. I can't be near people who are racists, biggots, who see only with blinders on. I wasn't raised like that. Keep up the good work, and GOD Bless YOU! PEACE.

[Kiabell04]

12:34 PM on 10/11/2008

I agree with Kerry, McCain/Palin's obvious pandering to the extremists and KKK should disqualify them both. In comparision, look at the Obama rallies compared with the McCain ones.Obama's are diverse (larger) and calmer....whilst McCain's rallies are of one hue, and very hostile. How is this country going to fight theproblems that ail it, with the serious division McCain is putting forth. And, as an African-American, I'm terrifie of Palin getting in office. I think she'd turn back the civil rights law!

She hasn't denounced ONE SINGLE racists epithet yet.

[odoreida]

10:25 PM on 10/11/2008

"She hasn't denounced ONE SINGLE racists epithet yet."

Huh? She hasn't used any ra cist epithets. Why should she bring r acism into the discussion at all? That would really be asking for trouble.

[Halminbar]

12:08 PM on 10/11/2008

When Governor Palin tells her audience that Sen. Obama pals around with terrorists, this is as close as it gets to recommending his assassination. Years from now, people will look back and call the McCain-Palin campaign the most disgusting and un-American since the McCarthy era.

[odoreida]

01:09 PM on 10/11/2008

"When Governor Palin tells her audience that Sen. Obama pals around with terrorists, this is as close as it gets to recommending his assassination."

That's not very close, really. If Palin said Obama left his dirty clothing on the floor for his wife to pick up, or left dirty dishes in the sink that would put him at greater risk as far as some of us are concerned.

"Years from now, people will look back and call the McCain-Palin campaign the most disgusting and un-American since the McCarthy era."

More likely, they'll excoriate the Obama campaign for tying every criticism of the candidate to ray sisum and impugning the motives of people who won't blindly jump aboard the "change and inspiration" bandwagon.

[jnratliff]

03:21 PM on 10/11/2008

More likely, they'll excoriate the Obama campaign for tying every criticism of the candidate to ray sisum and impugning the motives of people who won't blindly jump aboard the "change and inspiration" bandwagon.

Do you really mean to say you want more of what we have had these past 8 years and more then that if you look at all the time the houses have been under republican control?
Do you really want people tortured? Do you really want innocent men women and children killed for fun and profit?
Who did Jesus tell you to Hate?
You really do hate the American people don't you?

[luckyrico1]

05:48 PM on 10/11/2008

One only need to hear the comments of "kill him", "terrorist", 'traitor" and see her smile to see that she is walking a very thin line.

I've voted in 6 presidential elections and this is the ugliest and scariest by far.

Palin is divisive when we need unity. She espouses fear when we are craving confidence. These are some very troubling economic times and it won't take much to incite violence, rioting and scaptegoating.

Palin and McCain used to look pathetic, now they look very, very desperate.

It will be a landslide for Obama and the hate-filled republicans need to start taking their prozac and valium now.

[englishprof]

11:59 AM on 10/11/2008

Clearly, McCain is unfit to continue in American politics. He should be censured by the Senate just as McCarthy (whose demagogic spirit he represents) was, years ago. He is unfit to serve as a Congressman and doubly unfit to even think about the White House. Both McCain and McCarthy use -isms to stoke the fires of fear and hatred; with McCarthy, it was "Communism"; with McCain, it's "terrorism." Mc Cain, however, is even more reprehensible than McCarthy, because he aspires to take his bigotry to the White House. And, of course, his fear-mongering is completely intertwined with racism. Of course Cindy takes exception to Michelle's totally understandable comments about how she (Michelle) feels proud, for the first time, to be an American. Cindy has had a wonderful time of it with her trust funds, private planes, country clubs, and privileged world, where all the hot shots are. Cindy's America is a perfect representation of the Republican America: selfish, mediocre, corrupt.

[odoreida]

12:41 PM on 10/11/2008

If you were really a professor of anything, you'd know that Senator McCarthy was never a bigot -- nor is Senator McCain.

McCarthy was reprehensible because he wanted to hijack democracy by silencing dissent -- sort of like what we're hearing in this thread.

To do this, he accused people of disloyalty, some of whom were authentically disloyal, but others not. Many innocent people's careers were destroyed because of McCarthy's witch hunting tactics.

Sadly, your candidate is exploiting his color, and has encouraged his supporters to characterize any criticism of his conduct and ideas as "racist." In fact O supporters -- and not McCain -- are McCarthy's spriritual heirs.

[JFaye]

02:26 PM on 10/11/2008

President Bush hijacked freedom of speech as increasingly anyone openly criticizing the horrid direction our country has taken, particularly with the continued occupation of Iraq, is deemed un-American or unpatriotic. This administration's witch hunting tactics under the Patriotic Act reeks of McCarthism (sp). Following in Mr. Bush's steps, Mr. McCain has silenced the media when it comes to asking serious questions of his running mate. Questions that require answers and are pertinent to this process.

Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin increasingly polarization of our nation makes all of us vulnerable to violence because there are hard-core bigots who are incited by the lies and half-truths in order to depict Mr. Obama as someone "not like them." Skin heads and white supremists are feeding off of the McCain/Palins' words and they know this.

There is something very uncivilized, un-American and evil about this line of attack. They have chosen to ignite the ugliness of bigotry, race and religion ... both well-hidden for a myriad of reasons, as the base for this party they wish to not refer to as the Republican Party.

Other than attacking Mr. Obama, is there anything Mr. McCain wants to share with voters about his ideals, policies, doctrine, etc.??? I'm willing to listen.

[odoreida]

12:54 PM on 10/11/2008

McCarthy wasn't a bigot and neither is McCain. Please explain how you think either man has anything to do with racism. If you were really a professor of anything, you'd know this.

[LisaSt]

11:09 AM on 10/11/2008

The Senate Ethics Panel is hapless and incompetent. But I do not understand why other Senators, including Republicans, are just sitting on the side lines as this increasing insanity on the part of McCain / Palin unfolds. As individuals, if they have any conscience left at all, more of them could be speaking out now. The Republican campaign is just getting more and more hate-filled. It reminds me of nazism.

[odoreida]

12:47 PM on 10/11/2008

What are you talking about? How does it remind YOU of Nazism? What are the similarities? Please be specific.

[rjcrane]

10:56 AM on 10/11/2008

There is something John Kerry and other Senators can do who are equally disgusted with the tone of the McCain campaign and the inflammatory hate-filled rhetoric that is being used to excite the GOP base: They can file a Senate ethics complaint against John McCain. Since when has it ever been acceptable behavior on the part of Senators to falsely impugn the character of another Senator even in a campaign...to make statements about a fellow Senator that would otherwise qualify as legally slanderous and possibly incite criminal behavior that injures someone?

If John McCain cared at all about his country let alone putting the country first, he would immediately suspend his campaign for good. He can't even manage his own campaign nor run a decent campaign so why would anyone believe he should be allowed to run this country?

RJ Crane, topplebush.com

[odoreida]

12:50 PM on 10/11/2008

"Since when has it ever been acceptable behavior on the part of Senators to falsely impugn the character of another Senator even in a campaign"

Senator Obama had one of his charming advisors label Senator Clinton as a Monster. The slanders against Senator Clinton by the Obama campaign were outrageous -- and endless.

"...to make statements about a fellow Senator that would otherwise qualify as legally slanderous and possibly incite criminal behavior that injures someone?"

It's not a slander to say the Obama is friends with a person who was a terroist, still -- to this very day -- regrets he did not do more damage, and -- most important of all --- says that he doesn't rule out blowing up more things in the future.

[jnratliff]

03:37 PM on 10/11/2008

odoreida
I think your arguement is obsene and incoherent, lacking cohesion, connection or harmony!

[Tunghoy]

10:55 AM on 10/11/2008

I wish Kerry had spoken out like this in 2004. But next year, I think he'd make a great Attorney General or Secretary of State. There are any number of offenses for which he could prosecute Karl Rove, who ignited these flames of racism.

FOUR MORE WEEKS! FOUR MORE WEEKS!

[odoreida]

12:51 PM on 10/11/2008

I think he'd make a great expatriate.

[jadee]

04:07 PM on 10/12/2008

OMG, shucks, and gosh-darn-it, Methinks you are identical twin to The View's Elizabeth.

[LeaderofMen]

10:37 AM on 10/11/2008

Don't worry. It WILL disqualify them.

[Kassandra]

10:18 AM on 10/11/2008

I sure never thought I'd see something like this happen in America. 'Course, we're not such great shakes after the fascism/criminality of the last 8 years.

Can you imagine these people realizing how bad they've been had? It's not gonna happen. People will forgive you for being wrong; what they can't forgive is you being right.

It really makes me sad....AND I've noticed alot more McCain coverage on the "Liberal" media than Obama coverage here lately. These people are so used to swallowing lies they can't think for themselves anymore. And here I thought we'd gotten past that after the 3rd Reich. What a fool I've been!

Just look at McCain's supporters who are spewing this hate/venom. They are not what you'd call educated, thoughtful people. They're a lynch mob. ::::::::Brrrrrrrrrr::::::::::