Charles Shiflett Column September 19, 2004

When Your Campaign Plan Fails

There's a hard and fast rule in politics: Challengers must convince the public that they are genuine and
credible before they can successfully attack their opponent. After having been in politics most of his
adult life, you would think John Kerry and his campaign team would have nailed this part of Politics
101. However, it appears they blew this one and it may cost Kerry the election.

When Kerry's advisors began putting his presidential campaign plan together, they needed easily
identifiable personal traits and accomplishments upon which to build his credibility. His leftist
nineteen-year senate record was a blank sheet of paper. His service as Lieutenant Governor under
former liberal Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis would too closely tie Kerry to Dukakis' own
failed presidential campaign.

Of course Kerry's role as a Vietnam era militant anti-war protester would alienate voters. So what was
left? Only Kerry's four-month service in Vietnam almost 40 years ago. Since the early days of his effort
to be the Democrat nominee, Kerry focused on his military service record. It became the cornerstone
of the entire campaign.

A decorated war hero who gallantly served his country… it sounded good on paper, and the handful of
Americans paying attention early in the campaign bought it. After all, Democrats couldn't see past
their “anybody but Bush” mantra. Soon Howard Dean self-destructed, while John Edwards had nothing
to offer but a nice smile and his “two America's” speech. Kerry became the Democrat nominee by
default and the charade began.

Every time Kerry was criticized for efforts to gut America's intelligence agencies or dismantle the
military, Kerry would proclaim that his patriotism was being attacked and would mention his service in
Vietnam. If his U.S. Senate liberal voting record were exposed, once again Kerry would trot out the
patriotism defense. It became his response to every challenge.

The only way Kerry could win the White House would be to turn aside all attacks while standing on his
military service. Kerry's advisors knew that under close scrutiny, his Vietnam service record might not
hold up. Yet, they had been able to effectively deflect attacks on that record during his senate
campaigns and thought they could do so again. They failed to realize how different a presidential
campaign is - just ask Bob Dole.

For two years Kerry and his Democrat allies have trashed President Bush. Count the times we've
heard that Bush is a liar; he's AWOL; he heads a fascist administration; he has destroyed America's
economy; he's against blacks; he's against women; he attacked Iraq so his buddies in big oil could
strike it rich; and the charges go on and on.

Liberal 527 political groups have poured over $70 million into television and radio ads attacking Bush.
The attacks have been below the belt and non-stop. No incumbent president in U.S. history has been
subjected to the level of abuse that George W. Bush has. Is it any wonder polls this summer showed
the race between Bush and Kerry as being neck and neck?

So what happened? Why is Kerry is deep trouble? Kerry's only platform from which to attack Bush
was his military record. Armed with only $250,000, “Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth” cracked Kerry's
patriotism defense. Now Kerry's anti-war antics are also coming to light along with his do-nothing
senate record. The would-be emperor has no clothes.

The Kerry campaign and their allies have used up all of their attack issues on Bush and have no
legitimate issues left to throw at him. Bush survived they worst Kerry could deliver and the focus is
now turning to Kerry. Unfortunately for the Kerry camp there is probably not enough time for them to
recover. Last week it was revealed that John Kerry has the highest negatives of any challenger since
modern presidential polling began.

Democrats are slowly realizing they have nominated a presidential candidate who can't win. Kerry's
own advisors feel their only chance is to scream louder and hurl even more attacks at Bush. Kerry's
media friends have trotted out Bush's National Guard service again, along with alleged personal
problems he had as a young man. Those issues were dealt with in 2000 and dismissed. All the Kerry
folks have left is National Guard documents leaked to CBS, which we now discover were probably
faked.

Yes, John Kerry's campaign plan has failed. Of course we are all better off that he self-destructed now
instead of next year after winning the election. By 2008, Democrats may have finally learned that you
can't nominate a northeastern Massachusetts liberal and have any hope of victory. However, they still
have New York and I can't wait to vote against the most dangerous woman in America.