# Kerry is an asshole **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986 "2008-01-10T15:18:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/21 "2008-01-10T17:56:34Z")
Edwards was reportedly very frustrated with the Kerry campaign in '04, mostly because of their weak to nonexistent response to BS attacks like the Swift Boaters. He wanted to come out swinging, and they wouldn’t let him. I think history judged him right on that, but in the process I’m sure he said plenty of things that lost him some friends in the Kerry camp. Anyway, there’s no point in endorsing Edwards at this point, because he’s not going to win. He’s been my candidate all along, but I’d love to see him drop out and support Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/22 "2008-01-10T18:00:01Z")
Here’s the most recent source for what I was talking about - it’s a Times article from November. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/politics/21edwards.html?\_r=1&oref=login](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/politics/21edwards.html?_r=1&oref=login) > [@](#): > > Kerry aides complain that Mr. Edwards never stopped running for president — a Democratic Party official recalled some aides wearing “Edwards for President” pins at a fund-raiser long after they were working for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. Kerry supporters say Mr. Edwards refused to play the traditional vice-presidential role of attack dog even going up against a purebred, Dick Cheney. And Mr. Kerry had barely conceded the race, they say, before Mr. Edwards was aiming for 2008 and embarking on what one campaign aide called the “it wasn’t my fault tour” around his home state to distance himself from the loss. > > For his part, aides said, Mr. Edwards felt frustrated by Mr. Kerry’s public agonizing over the war in Iraq and a campaign that seemed to change consultants and message constantly. To Mr. Edwards, Mr. Kerry seemed unable to get out of his own way. He ignored Mr. Edwards’s warning not to go windsurfing, one aide recalled, which led to the infamous “whichever way the wind blows” advertisement mocking Mr. Kerry’s statements on the war. And in the end, Mr. Edwards concluded that Mr. Kerry lacked fight for not filing a legal challenge to the election results. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/23 "2008-01-10T20:15:57Z")
EDWARDS is supporting Obama over Clinton. Get your head out of your ass. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/24 "2008-01-10T21:23:31Z")
[QUOTE=Enginerd] When you make decisions based on loyalty rather than merit, you end up with horse breeders running federal agencies. No thanks. [/QUOTE] I see. When you choose a vice president who you think can help you get the presidency and figure he’s not worthy of being president four years later, then clearly you’re putting yourself ahead of the country. I agree that republicans put a higher premium on loyalty than democrats. I’m reminded by how Kennedy subverted Carter in 1980, amassing around 1500 delegates against an incumbant democrat president. And of course someone mention Gore’s endorsing Dean over his running mate Lieberman in 2003 early on. That’s why democrats can never quite get their shit together. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/25 "2008-01-10T21:31:34Z")
From a letter to Andrew Sullivan: > [@](#): > > Maybe Kerry himself isn’t that helpful, but I know one thing the Obama people are thrilled with today: the voter file. Obama now has access to the largest, most recent presidential campaign voter file. The millions of email addresses, phone numbers, addresses and invaluable as Obama starts to go national. I imagine the information Kerry has from 2004 could easily double the size of Obama’s voter file in states like South Carolina and Nevada and maybe even triple the size in states like California and New York. Also, Obama now has access to activists and supports of Clinton who - in all likelihood - where in Kerry’s general election voter file. So while the man himself probably won’t give him that big of a boost, the fact that Kerry just pinned his email list is pretty significant in terms of data and list building. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/26 "2008-01-10T21:33:27Z")
From a letter to Andrew Sullivan (from a political consultant): > [@](#): > > Maybe Kerry himself isn’t that helpful, but I know one thing the Obama people are thrilled with today: the voter file. Obama now has access to the largest, most recent presidential campaign voter file. The millions of email addresses, phone numbers, addresses and invaluable as Obama starts to go national. I imagine the information Kerry has from 2004 could easily double the size of Obama’s voter file in states like South Carolina and Nevada and maybe even triple the size in states like California and New York. Also, Obama now has access to activists and supports of Clinton who - in all likelihood - where in Kerry’s general election voter file. So while the man himself probably won’t give him that big of a boost, the fact that Kerry just pinned his email list is pretty significant in terms of data and list building. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/27 "2008-01-10T21:34:50Z")
[Howard Dean] Hey John, it could have been worse… Al Gore could have endorsed you. [/Howard Dean] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/28 "2008-01-10T21:37:49Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] I see. When you choose a vice president who you think can help you get the presidency and figure he’s not worthy of being president four years later, then clearly you’re putting yourself ahead of the country. [/quote] Yeah, that’s politics. But you’re right - if time and experience change your opinion, you’re a jerk. Kerry liked John Edwards as a Vice President four years ago and should be required to like him now. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/29 "2008-01-10T21:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] I agree that republicans put a higher premium on loyalty than democrats. I’m reminded by how Kennedy subverted Carter in 1980, amassing around 1500 delegates against an incumbant democrat president. … That’s why democrats can never quite get their shit together. [/QUOTE] Because Republicans never ever do that sort of thing. (Reagn v Ford in 76; Buchanan v Bush in 92) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/30 "2008-01-10T21:42:57Z")
Yeah, its just this sort of thing is why they never win any elections. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/31 "2008-01-10T21:50:36Z")
Kerry and Edwards weren’t even getting along _during the campaign_ in 2004, and after the election the break was obvious. Edwards was furious with Kerry for not fighting Ohio’s count. They have been, at best, acquaintances for the past 3 1/2 years. The Kerry/Edwards relationship was nothing like the early Clinton/Gore relationship (before Bill did his thing and Gore turned into a schoolmarm just before the 2000 campaign began). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/32 "2008-01-10T22:35:11Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Maybe he is trying to help Edwards? [/QUOTE] Yeah, it could be the kiss of death for Hillary. Makes her look more “establishment”. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/33 "2008-01-10T22:35:37Z")
Wow, **Flying Dutchman** must be John Edward’s biggest fan if he’s this angry about a non-existent slight on his behalf. Sounds like _someone_’s got himself a little crush… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/34 "2008-01-10T22:43:20Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] Because Republicans never ever do that sort of thing. (Reagn v Ford in 76; Buchanan v Bush in 92) [/QUOTE] Ford wasn’t elected, Buchanan never was a serious threat, an independant and in both cases there were serious ideological differences. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/35 "2008-01-10T22:46:49Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] Wow, **Flying Dutchman** must be John Edward’s biggest fan if he’s this angry about a non-existent slight on his behalf. Sounds like _someone_’s got himself a little crush… [/QUOTE] A non existent slight ? It never happened ? If I had a crush on a presidential candidate it would be Hillary. That lady is one hell of a woman. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/36 "2008-01-10T23:44:09Z")
Not shocking. Kerry obviously supported Edwards before he didn’t support him. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/37 "2008-01-11T00:02:07Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] A non existent slight ? It never happened ? [/QUOTE] You haven’t shown that there was ever any expectation Edwards expected or even wanted an endorsement from Kerry based on the fact that they ran together in 2004, thus making the non-endorsement a slight. It would be like you getting mad at me for not pulling out my wife’s chair at a restaurant, when in fact she would prefer I not pull out her chair. The not-pulling-the-chair out part happened, the slight part didn’t. But you know that. You’re just pretending to be mad because you’re a tedious partisan retard getting on a jump on your poo-flinging nice and early. (It’s going to be a long election year.) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/38 "2008-01-11T00:15:51Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] [Howard Dean] Hey John, it could have been worse… Al Gore could have endorsed you. [/Howard Dean] [/QUOTE] I would be willing to lay odds that any Democrat in the race would be thrilled to have Gore’s endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/39 "2008-01-11T00:40:23Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Yeah, it could be the kiss of death for Hillary. Makes her look more “establishment”. [/QUOTE] :smack: Why did I think he endorsed Hillary. It was Obama. I don’t know if that’s good or bad… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986/40 "2008-01-11T00:51:50Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] You haven’t shown that there was ever any expectation Edwards expected or even wanted an endorsement from Kerry based on the fact that they ran together in 2004, thus making the non-endorsement a slight. [/quote] You need to keep up with current events. Kerry **did** make an endorsement, but not for Edwards. As for flinging poo, your BBQ record suggests you do that at least twice as often as I do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-is-an-asshole/432986.md?page=3)