John Kerry – Defends Barak Obama’s Flip Flops

Massachusetts Senator, John Kerry, on the stump for Barack Obama, appeared CBS’s Face the Nation this past Sunday. The topic: Barack Obama’s apparent change of stance, or evolving view of the War in Iraq – otherwise known as flip-flopping. In defense of Obama, Kerry turned on John McCain, accusing McCain of flip-flopping on, of all things, the war in Iraq. The term, flip-flop, became part of political speak during the 2004 presidential election, when John Kerry changed his position on a variety of issues almost daily. Kerry’s use of euphemisms is therefore, somewhat ironic. John McCain has changed his position on several issues, chief among them, off-shore oil drilling. McCain, in his change of position has responded to the nation’s energy crisis – which is not a flip-flop in the pure sense of political pandering. McCain has also called for a gas-tax holiday to help reduce the burden on consumers, and has also called for long-term solutions to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil. However, on the War in Iraq, McCain has remained steadfast. He has been highly critical of the handling of the war, called for an increase in troops on the ground long before the surge was implemented, and has defended the military, over the policy and politics, at all times. Kerry’s position in his 2004 campaign, voted for the war and then against the war as he tried to pacify the left and move to the middle – political pandering at its most transparent.

Barack Obama, in his naiveté, explained his position on his “policy shift”, in two separate press conferences on July 3. Mike Huckabee, former presidential candidate, McCain supporter and Fox News contributor, noted that Barack Obama’s second press conference indicated that the candidate, and or his campaign handlers, understood that he had made an error in his first effort to explain his position.

Barack Obama's flip-flops, Mike Huckabee comments

Jeff Beatty, Republican candidate for Senate, MA, issued the following statements following Kerry’s comments on Sunday: “When John Kerry authorized placing American troops in Iraq, he showed a profound lack of judgment by making it about ‘politics’ and his personal political ambitions, a trend that has marked his entire Senate career.”

“I looked at the same facts that Kerry did. As Senator, I would have voted against this war. But Kerry’s vote for the war wasn’t about ‘facts’ or about protecting families in Massachusetts or our country. It was all about his presidential run. Today, Kerry’s continued insistence on a cut and run timetable is once again all about pandering and politics and will not result in a success. This ‘withdrawal in the face of the enemy’ would lead to more trouble for the United States in the very near future.”

Beatty goes on to question: “Can you trust Kerry to do what is in the interest of Massachusetts citizens or what is in his own political interests?” asks Beatty. Beatty goes on to say, “John Kerry is campaigning - not for the US Senate in Massachusetts, but for Vice President or Secretary of State in a potential Obama Administration. It is actually John Kerry’s lack of interest in serving the people of Massachusetts that is once again exposed, along with his poor judgment and profound lack of trustworthy leadership.”

Beatty, who recently received the endorsement of the national organization VetsforFreedom, is challenging Incumbent John Kerry in the Massachusetts senate race. A recent Suffolk University Poll, which is at odds with a Rasmussen Poll touted by major news networks, indicates that over 50% of the states voters would like a change in the Senate in 2008.

Note: John Kerry has not been campaigning in the Baystate to retain his Senate seat. He faces a challenger within his own party, and must first gain the State Democrat nominee before facing Jeff Beatty in the general election.

Watch John Kerry Speak on Flip Flops