REDEFINING PATRIOTISM

Perhaps the Kerry campaign ought to take a page out of Wesley Clark's failed but valliant effort to win the nomination.  Far before the Clark campaign started up I argued that patriotism did not belong to the right wing.  The dashing General Clark picked up this theme with his slogan, "A New American Patriotism."  His campaign was built on reclaiming the term "patriot" and he did it with style.  I am for the government.  Heck, I am for the United States govenment.  I am for a strong central government that provides people with health care, takes issue with poverty within and outside our borders and makes smoves to protect the environment.  The United States has provided some of these, to a degree, but needs to do more.  It is time for Kerry to take on the patriot issue and argue it right back.  When they call him a Massachuetts liberal, he needs to fire back with "Right-Wing Texan."  When Rove, Bush, etc. say "Kerry waffles" he needs to come back with "Bush manipulated information."  And, finally, when Kerry is accused of being anti-patriotic it is time to call George W. Bush anti-Amercian for his actions domestically and overseas that will hurt this nation for generations.

Here are a few recent accusations that have caused me concern.  The press has latched on to these issues while ignoring what the more important crimes of the Bush administration:

* They accuse Mrs. Kerry of being secretive with her tax papers yet Dick Cheney is being secretive about a more important issues, such as the deals struck to create the energy task force.

* They accuse Kerry of being anti-patriotic by protesting the Vietnam War by throwing his ribbons back while Bush gets away with avoiding military conflict altogether.

* They accuse Kerry of voting for and then against the war while Bush gets away with hiding, twisting and manipulating intelligence documents to justify a war he had planned before September 11th, 2001.

John Kerry, stop saying that you are not going to stand for this and start fighting back.  It is the only way you will win the presidency.

11:22:45 PM