Kerry, Edwards and Clark, their real problem
John Podhoretz:
"...It's too simple to attribute the troubles these three men are having to their flip-flops on this vital issue. Their real problem isn't that they supported the war and then opposed it. The problem is that their original support for the war was as synthetic and lacking in principle as their opposition is now - and engaged Democrats know it.
"It's now clear that Kerry and Edwards voted for the original war resolution because it seemed politically expedient.
"Back in fall 2002, White House pressure on Congress to pass a resolution authorizing war in Iraq posed a problem for senators considering a run for the presidency: Opposing a popular war had proved dire for Democratic politicians in the recent past.
"...Do they believe in their vote in their heart of hearts? Of course not. These guys don't believe in much of anything in their heart of hearts. They personify political ambition. They commit to nothing. Instead, they calculate. This is what has become clear to Democratic voters, no matter where they stand on the spectrum.
"Now consider, by contrast, the war vote and subsequent fate of Dick Gephardt. The Democratic congressman has steadfastly stood by his vote on the war, and no one doubts that he means it. Gephardt has said that 9/11 changed his thinking on foreign policy and national security, and his actions in the House of Representatives prove he's telling the truth.
"Gephardt's only hope for success in 2004 depends upon a big win in the Iowa caucuses in mid-January.
"Democratic voters in Iowa are very left wing, very anti-Bush and probably very anti-war. And yet Gephardt hasn't suffered there at all for his vote. He's leading there and is showing unexpected strength against the Dean surge."
John Podhoretz:
"...It's too simple to attribute the troubles these three men are having to their flip-flops on this vital issue. Their real problem isn't that they supported the war and then opposed it. The problem is that their original support for the war was as synthetic and lacking in principle as their opposition is now - and engaged Democrats know it.
"It's now clear that Kerry and Edwards voted for the original war resolution because it seemed politically expedient.
"Back in fall 2002, White House pressure on Congress to pass a resolution authorizing war in Iraq posed a problem for senators considering a run for the presidency: Opposing a popular war had proved dire for Democratic politicians in the recent past.
"...Do they believe in their vote in their heart of hearts? Of course not. These guys don't believe in much of anything in their heart of hearts. They personify political ambition. They commit to nothing. Instead, they calculate. This is what has become clear to Democratic voters, no matter where they stand on the spectrum.
"Now consider, by contrast, the war vote and subsequent fate of Dick Gephardt. The Democratic congressman has steadfastly stood by his vote on the war, and no one doubts that he means it. Gephardt has said that 9/11 changed his thinking on foreign policy and national security, and his actions in the House of Representatives prove he's telling the truth.
"Gephardt's only hope for success in 2004 depends upon a big win in the Iowa caucuses in mid-January.
"Democratic voters in Iowa are very left wing, very anti-Bush and probably very anti-war. And yet Gephardt hasn't suffered there at all for his vote. He's leading there and is showing unexpected strength against the Dean surge."
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