August 02, 2004

The Method Behind Kerry’s Self-Contradictions

Kerry’s famous for flip-flopping. However, he contradicts himself not just from one speech to the next, but even within individual speeches. Let’s look at some contradictions within his acceptance speech.

Kerry Calls for Building Alliances with Other Nations – But Slams the Saudis.

...we need to rebuild our alliances. ...we need to lead strong alliances.

... I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation—not the Saudi royal family.

He says he wants strong alliances, but makes an out-of-left-field slam against the Saudis.

Kerry Praises Optimism – But Claims America is in a Miserable State.

We’re the optimists. For us, this is a country of the future. We’re the can do people.

This’ll be good. Let’s see his optimism in action:

...My fellow Americans: we are here tonight united in one simple purpose: to make America stronger at home and respected in the world.

...And I am determined now to restore that pride to all who look to America.

He praises optimism in the abstract, but he says America isn’t respected and inspires no pride. I guess he just sucks at optimism.

There’s a pattern here. He praises a thing in the abstract, but then does exactly the opposite with regard to specifics. Can it really be that predictable? Let’s look at some more instances.

Kerry Calls for Taking the High Road in the Campaign – But Has Callous Words for Bush.

My friends, the high road may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And that’s why Republicans and Democrats must make this election a contest of big ideas, not small-minded attacks.

But that came right after this:

...let’s never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.

So he claims in the abstract that wants to take the high road, but instead of doing that, makes a specific statement that Bush has misused the most precious document, the Constitution. It’s amazing that he can be so two-faced within literally two sentences.

Kerry Says He Opposes the Politics of Division – But Pushes for Tax Increases on the Rich.

This is our time to reject the kind of politics calculated to divide race from race, group from group…

Isn’t it amazing? He makes a big noise about not dividing group from group, but does exactly the opposite, pushing his dumb class-warfare agenda:

...And I will roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals who make over $200,000 a year, so we can invest in job creation, health care and education.

It appears that this cracks the code. He praises a thing in the abstract, and then does exactly the opposite with regard to specifics.

Even within a single speech.

One can give him the benefit of the doubt that he just doesn’t know what he’s saying. Otherwise, the word for this is “hypocrisy”.