Kerry Positive
By Ezra Klein wonders why so many are lukewarm about Kerry:
The whole thing puzzles me. Why are people so down on Kerry? Maybe it’s because I’ve never been politically conscious through a Democrat’s term and have thus missed the sort of dashed hopes that inspire total cynicism in a well-resumed workhorse like Kerry. Maybe it’s because I was looking for a president and not a candidate. Whatever it is, it makes comments like those above seem absurd. Kerry is probably one of 50 people in this country actually qualified to be president. He brings quite a bit more to the office, experience wise, than Clinton, Carter or Reagan did. He’s got a history of fighting and unearthing the wrongs of government, proving himself, again and again, a man passionate about the rule of law and the role of honesty in our public life. Anyone who watched him in those debates saw that he possesses more than enough poise, knowledge and grace to deal with the job (and having done some candidate forums, let me assure you, it’s a tough format). Anyone who’s glanced at the advisors around him knows he’s willing to learn and prizes truth over assumption. Anyone who watched him pivot in Iowa or August knows he’s able to recognize when a policy or approach isn’t working and swap it out for one that will. Anyone who’s glanced at his Senate record, whether it be the BCCI, closing the book on Vietnam or ferreting out Iran/Contra, knows he’s willing to do the hard work and heavy lifting in service of what’s right.
I also wonder. The debates changed this somewhat; a lot of people I talk with were extremely impressed with Kerry, and went from being ABB to PK. Still, there seems to be the sense that Kerry remains a second-best candidate, even when no one can establish who the best candidate might be. I don’t buy it. John Kerry is just about the most liberal guy who could ever be elected President in the modern context. He has a strong, consistent record of supporting liberal causes, even if the Republicans overstate how left he is. On just about every issue but the war, he was to the left of Howard Dean. Moreover, he exudes competence, intelligence, and gravity. I agree 100% with Ezra’s assessment, and I think that Kerry will make a fine, and potentially a great, President.
All of this makes the tepid response even more curious. I suspect that many on the left made the error of believing Republican press releases about Bill Clinton. When they discovered that Clinton really wasn’t all he was cracked up to be, cynicism set in. Even a potentially outstanding candidate can’t get people excited anymore.