# Why didn't John Kerry run Simpsons clips in his campaign? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 31, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450 "2005-08-31T17:09:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/41 "2005-09-01T03:03:16Z")
According to the article, it’s because he believed that was "“the right authority for the president to have.” He also believed that Bush misused his authority, as the following sentences in the article made clear. Now: what talk, and why haven’t you withdrawn your previous claim now that you’ve been shown Kerry didn’t change his mind regarding the $87 billion? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/42 "2005-09-01T03:16:26Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Have you read ANY of the rebuttals to the “flip-flopper” stance that have been posted to this thread. Yes, as a matter of fact, he has read them. > [@Stephe96](#): > > Um…is it really a ‘smear campaign’ to call a flip-flopper a ‘flip-flopper?’ > [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > It is when the Simpsons make fun of your party using it in campaigns 10 years before you do. > [@Stephe96](#): > > No offense, but this ‘response’ makes no sense at all. He just didn’t understand them. **Stephe96,** the point is that back in 1994, _ten years_ before the Bush campaign, _The Simpsons_ had this flip-flop joke. _The Simpsons_ were ahead of its time. “Flip flop” will go into the history books as one of the Bush campaign’s main strategy. It’s the one of the oldest tricks in the book. The funny thing is that from now the Republican party will be lampooned for the flip flop. Everyone will forever know what this means. Flip flop will go down in history. And the Simpsons writers knew all along - flip floper. Ha! ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/43 "2005-09-01T03:28:27Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > **Stephe96,** the point is that back in 1994, _ten years_ before the Bush campaign, _The Simpsons_ had this flip-flop joke. _The Simpsons_ were ahead of its time. “Flip flop” will go into the history books as one of the Bush campaign’s main strategy. It’s the one of the oldest tricks in the book. > > ! Huh? You say calling an opponent a ‘flip-flopper’ is “one of the oldest tricks in the book,” yet you seem to think it’s a big deal that _The Simpsons_ used the term in 1994. Um. What _is_ the point of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/44 "2005-09-01T03:39:59Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Huh? You say calling an opponent a ‘flip-flopper’ is “one of the oldest tricks in the book,” yet you seem to think it’s a big deal that _The Simpsons_ used the term in 1994. Um. What _is_ the point of this thread? Mud slinging is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Resort to name-calling, derivise taunts, or silly chants. As I said, “The point is it’s the same old mud slinging, there’s nothing new.” The “big deal” is that the Harvard-educated writers of _The Simpsons_ had the political acumen to put in a joke back in 1994 which parodize the GOP in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/45 "2005-09-01T03:42:56Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Mud slinging is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Resort to name-calling, derivise taunts, or silly chants. As I said, “The point is it’s the same old mud slinging, there’s nothing new.” > > The “big deal” is that the Harvard-educated writers of _The Simpsons_ had the political acumen to put in a joke back in 1994 which parodize the GOP in 2004. You honestly don’t think any presidential candidates were called ‘flip-floppers’ prior to 1994? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/46 "2005-09-01T07:49:53Z")
So, anyway **Stephe96** , why haven’t you withdrawn your previous claim now that you’ve been shown Kerry didn’t change his mind regarding the $87 billion? ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/47 "2005-09-01T08:39:18Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > So, anyway **Stephe96** , why haven’t you withdrawn your previous claim now that you’ve been shown Kerry didn’t change his mind regarding the $87 billion? Why, that would be changing his position in response to new evidence. You know there’s a phrase for that don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/48 "2005-09-01T12:29:48Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Huh. Well, if that’s not a personal attack, I don’t know what is. > > Is it a ‘smear campaign’ to call a flip-flopper a ‘flip-flopper?’ And now you regurgitate yourself. Amazing. What I said was accurate. If you consider it a personal attack, well, maybe it’s time for some self-reflection. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/49 "2005-09-01T13:26:51Z")
> [@The Tooth](#): > > Why haven’t you withdrawn your previous claim now that you’ve been shown Kerry didn’t change his mind regarding the $87 billion? What “claim” are you talking about? I quoted Kerry accurately and said that it was tough to recover from. I stand by that. As for your explanation about what Kerry _really_ meant with his comment, allow me to help you out. Kerry voted _against_ the $87 billion. That’s it. No ifs, ands or buts. But when the political wind started changing, Kerry decided to try and let people know that he was _also_ on the other side of the issue at one point. Hence, his “I voted for it before I voted against it” blunder. He wanted to be on both sides of the issue, depending upon political convenience. By the way, I love the euphemisms you guys come up with. From your explanation, Kerry wanted “roll back the tax break for people making $400,000/year…” Man, it _kills_ you guys to say “raise taxes,” huh? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/50 "2005-09-01T13:34:57Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > What “claim” are you talking about? I quoted Kerry accurately and said that it was tough to recover from. I stand by that. As for your explanation about what Kerry _really_ meant with his comment, allow me to help you out. Kerry voted _against_ the $87 billion. That’s it. No ifs, ands or buts. But when the political wind started changing, Kerry decided to try and let people know that he was _also_ on the other side of the issue at one point. Hence, his “I voted for it before I voted against it” blunder. He wanted to be on both sides of the issue, depending upon political convenience. Thanks for finally answering my question. You really honestly don’t understand, and haven’t simply been playing partisan politics. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/51 "2005-09-01T13:50:57Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > What “claim” are you talking about? I quoted Kerry accurately and said that it was tough to recover from. I stand by that. As for your explanation about what Kerry _really_ meant with his comment, allow me to help you out. Kerry voted _against_ the $87 billion. That’s it. No ifs, ands or buts. But when the political wind started changing, Kerry decided to try and let people know that he was _also_ on the other side of the issue at one point. Hence, his “I voted for it before I voted against it” blunder. He wanted to be on both sides of the issue, depending upon political convenience. > > By the way, I love the euphemisms you guys come up with. From your explanation, Kerry wanted “roll back the tax break for people making $400,000/year…” Man, it _kills_ you guys to say “raise taxes,” huh? Roll back, I believe, means taking back the insane tax cut that a certain President wanted while raising spending to pay for an unnecessary war that this same President wanted. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/52 "2005-09-01T14:17:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Kerry voted _against_ the $87 billion. That’s it. No ifs, ands or buts. No. As I explained to you, that’s not it. Your ignoring the not-so-subtle detalis doesn’t mean they don’t exist. All your handwaving about how Kerry changed his explanation to suit the political landscape doesn’t hold water. Kerry’s vote was cast before the Republicans decided this was an issue, and Kerry’s explanation for his vote has been consistent. Consistency is the antithesis of flip-floppery. > [@](#): > > From your explanation, Kerry wanted “roll back the tax break for people making $400,000/year…” Man, it _kills_ you guys to say “raise taxes,” huh? No, not a bit. For instance: I would very much like to see the Alberta Government **raise taxes** of corporations that lay off local workers to make use of cheap, overseas labour. The whole point of lowering their taxes in the first place was to entice them here to provide jobs: no jobs, no tax breaks. But in this case the phrase “raise taxes” (whew!) isn’t sufficiently descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/53 "2005-09-01T17:42:32Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > Thanks for finally answering my question. You really honestly don’t understand, and haven’t simply been playing partisan politics. Good to know. …grumble…grumble… Really? Whod’a thunk it? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/54 "2005-09-01T17:49:24Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > …grumble…grumble… > > Really? Whod’a thunk it? > > -Joe Oh, don’t misunderstand me. I have a good grasp of history. Now I’m just trying to understand causal mechanisms. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/55 "2005-09-01T18:20:03Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > What “claim” are you talking about? I quoted Kerry accurately and said that it was tough to recover from. I stand by that. As for your explanation about what Kerry _really_ meant with his comment, allow me to help you out. Kerry voted _against_ the $87 billion. That’s it. No ifs, ands or buts. Kerry voted for a bill that would have raised the $87 billion by killing an ill-conceived tax break for the wealthiest Americans. Bush would have vetoed it, had it passed. Instead, a bill that did not address where the money came from passed. So Bush was against the bill before he was for it. Flip-flopper! ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/56 "2005-09-01T18:35:57Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > You honestly don’t think any presidential candidates were called ‘flip-floppers’ prior to 1994? Give me just one National Convention where the delegates and other guests resorted to chanting, “Flip-flop! Fip-flop! Flip-flop! Flip-flop! Flip-flop!” ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450/57 "2005-09-02T08:29:16Z")
Kerry’s biggest flaw was not in “flip-flopping”, because he didn’t, but in being unable to state his positions sufficiently clearly. “I voted for it before I voted against it” does not adequately express what he actually did. Bush is not stupid. I used to think he was, but now I realize that he has a certain cunning and country charisma that appeals to a lot of people. I still don’t understand what people see in him, but there’s certainly something there. A few Dopers said as much way back when he was campaigning the first time around, but I didn’t see it until recently. Bush managed to connect with enough people and throw enough doubt on Kerry to win the election. Yeah, I know we could debate election procedures all over again, but if Kerry had been a better public speaker and had better strategists the margin wouldn’t have been so damn close. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-john-kerry-run-simpsons-clips-in-his-campaign/319450.md?page=2)