By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
Source:
The Kerry-Edwards campaign reported that Monday night on Hardball, host Chris Matthews held the Bush campaign accountable for deceptive editing of his interview of John Kerry in January. In campaign speeches, the president has been using the clip to claim that Kerry called himself an anti-war candidate, when in fact, Kerry voiced his consistent position that it was right for the United States to hold Saddam Hussein accountable, but that George Bush has created greater problems for the country by doing it without involving allies to a sufficient degree and without first formulating a plan for post- Saddam Iraq.[Emphasis added.]
Bush Campaign spokesman Matt Dowd refused to stop using the deceptive clip or even point out the error to the president, the Kerry Campaign said.
Transcript of relevant portions:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me go to Matt. Do you believe that your candidate, the president of the United States, accurately reflected in his comment that John Kerry called himself -- declared himself the anti-war candidate, is an accurate representative of that dial dialogue between myself and John Kerry?
MATTHEW DOWD, SR. STRATEGIST, BUSH-CHENEY '04: Yes. Obviously. The impression John Kerry was trying to leave when he was up against Howard Dean in the primary was he was the anti-war candidate after he voted for the resolution. That's obviously what he was trying to do. He was trying to leave the impression that he either was the anti-war candidate or was becoming the anti-war candidate.
MATTHEWS: Well, Matt, let me get back to what the president said in Sioux City, Iowa, last week. He said that 220 days ago, it seems to me referring to what John Kerry said on our program, that John Kerry declared himself the anti-war candidate. The question to John Kerry was about whether -- let's listen to him again. Let's get his words now, John Kerry's.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEWS: Do you think you belong in that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war? The way it's been fought? Along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean, and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt? Are you one of the anti-war candidates?
KERRY: I am. Yes. In the sense that I don't believe the president took to us war as he should have, yes. Absolutely. Do I think this president violated his promises to America? Yes, I do, Chris. Was there a way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable? You bet there was and we should have done it right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEWS: Let me ask you, Matt, are you going to have the president stop saying that John Kerry, on our show, on HARDBALL, because that's what he was referring to, clearly, 220 days ago when he said this, are you going to get him to stop saying that John Kerry declared himself the anti-war candidate, which is clearly not what he said because I used the word anti-war candidate and I referred to a number of them? You say what he said on my show and he didn't say that. That's all I'm asking.
Matt's Chat
Now, Chad and/or Phil has some 'splainin' to do. How is it that John Kerry can be asked if he is "one of the anti-war candidates"; answer "I am. Yes." and then accuse Bush/Cheney of misleading voters by pointing out one of the clearest answers John Kerry has given us to date?
The problem with these clowns is that they are unwilling to admit that their candidate took the politically expedient route to get the nomination at any and all costs. It didn't matter what he had to say, he was going to say it. Pure. Naked. Ambition.
That isn't Bush/Cheney's problem, guys; it is something that Kerry/Edwards is going to have to find a way out of if they expect to win this election.
Mark's Remarks
Now, let's review...
- I voted for it before I voted against it.
- I Love gas guzzling cars, I own a fleet (Detroit); (Earth Day)I hate SUVs, I don't own any cars, but my family does...
- I hate the intel community, lets abolish the CIA vs. I would improve intel gathering
- I hate outsourcers vs. my wife is a Benedict Arnold
- I was in Cambodia vs. Christmas in Vietnam Letter
- There were weapons of Mass Destruction vs. Bush lied...
- I want to represent the people vs. Not showing up for over half the votes....
What does this add up to?
It adds up to a lying, double-talking, cowardly, morally bankrupt flipflopper who betrayed his fellow Vietnam Vets and is unfit for the Senate and unfit for the Presidency.
8/18 Update
Brian Stelter of Media Bistro's TVNewser has a roundup of reaction to this story.
