Brigid O’Rourke, spoke model for John F. Kerry, (D-MA) has her hands full lately. Last week she was assailing Jeff Beatty,(R-MA)candidate for U.S. Senate. due to his calling John Kerry an opportunist - today it was Ed O’Reilly, (D) Kerry’s first Senate challenger in 24 years that has Brigid somewhat upset. Apparently, Ed O’Reilly is guilty of telling the truth – something that Brigid might not be used to hearing. O’Reilly noted in a television appearance that Kerry was “ducking debates” with him, to which O’Rourke replied: “O'Reilly's charges are a "cheap ploy" intended for "character assassination." Further, "You know this fella's blatant lies are getting as old as his campaign is desperate."
Brigid contends that it is O’Reilly not John Kerry who is in no hurry to debate. Understandably, the Kerry Campaign must make charges against both Beatty and O’Reilly – regardless of any basis in fact. Simply stated, the Junior Senator is under siege from both the right and the left!
The truth of the matter - Mr. O’Reilly has left a “newspaper trail” that is impressive and, from Worcester to Washington, no one is buying the fact that Kerry is willing to debate. Additionally, O'Reilly is running a campaign that is statewide - having offices out in Western Massachusetts no less. The Junior Senator doesn't even have a post office box west of Boston.
A sampling of articles supporting Mr. O’Reilly follows:
On July 29 >The Berkshire Eagle Tribune reported: “In a letter sent to Kerry, O'Reilly asked for 23 debates — a combination of public forums and television appearances — between now and the Sept. 16 primary. No schedule has been established, and with the primary closing in, O'Reilly wants to get moving."He has to come back to Massachusetts and debate the issues," O'Reilly said. Kerry, first elected in 1984, doesn't share O'Reilly's urgency. Roger Lau, his campaign manager, said the senator can't agree to a schedule until he knows when the Senate will recess. While an August recess is planned, it's possible the Senate will work into the month to finish its business.”
August 18th, News IN Brief “Kerry may not debate challenger"
WORCESTER. Sen. John Kerry says he has instructed his campaign manager to discuss the “modalities” of a debate with his re-election challenger but he’s not necessarily going to debate fellow Democrat Edward O’Reilly.
Kerry says Senate business and his own statewide campaign schedule have kept him from taking up O’Reilly’s initial challenge for 23 debates.
Now, with less than a month until the Sept. 16 primary, Kerry says his campaign manager will have to see if he can negotiate any agreement with the Gloucester attorney."
Google O’Reilly Debate Kerry and the evidence is overwhelming.The headlines say as much as the articles:
August 7 Newbury Port News: ”Kerry shouldn't shy away from debates”
And on August 19, Real Clear Politics “Why Kerry Won’t Debate” (Not particularly complementary towards the Junior Senator.)
This begs the questions: Just who is desperate?” and “Who’s guilty of character assassination?” Hopefully, O’Rourke has a mirror handy. The simple truth is that for the past month, the media has been reporting on Ed O'Reilly's calls for a debate, including the Boston Globe. Also, the NRNC has a nifty anti-Kerry ad. Suddenly, the Junior Senator is paying attention and crying foul! Could it be that once Biden got the call for V.P. (Democrats can lay that at Kerry's doorstep as well, his former campaign team now advising Obama), Kerry understood he might actually be out of job come November.
Monday, August 25, 2008
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4 comments:
Is this opinion pieice being done for comic relief? Surely you don't beleive for a moment that Senator Kerry, a debating master from his college days and the same senator that reduced our current president to jelly during the presidential debates is afraid to take on Mr. O'Reilly? The only debating Mr. O'Reilly probably ever did was to debate with himself whether it was a good fishing day or it wasn't.
Dear Anonymous,
Apparently you missed the point, it was not the Senators style of debate that was in question, rather his unwillingness to debate, and his error in calling Mr. O’Reilly a fabricator, when, indeed it was the Senator who “ducked” the debate issue for some time. As to that debate you reference, I believe you may have been watching a different station than the rest of us. Although it was not a stellar performance by either party (either Bush or Kerry), Kerry was not a run-away winner – and in fact, his debate style did nothing for him in the polls where he badly needed a push. Now, it would be interesting to see a debate between O’Reilly and Kerry, televised so that the state might watch, and then, after those results, you can tout the Senators debate style, or not, depending upon the outcome.
John Kerry has agreed to debate Ed O'Reilly - before your article was even posted. Way to be up on the facts.
Apparently, your post came before you read the article or the context – “way to read” - Nowhere in this piece does it say that Kerry had not agreed to debate - the article is referring to Kerry's timeline and his (or his spokesperson) calling O'Reilly a liar regarding that timeline - (hence the desperation) the response from Kerry only became heated after his dodging the debate question was made apparent in the press (for weeks!)- Therefore, this article went to character - Kerry's - or lack thereof – not the fact that he did not finally agree to debate O’Reilly.
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