Here's how John Kerry should handle all the current Bush scandals: He should "stay above the fray," and stick to the real issues people care about. For instance,
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I don't want to dishonor service in the National Guard. These days, those guys serve in some pretty dangerous situations [someone with precise knowledge can say this better than me - but y'all know it's true]. Back then, lots of people tried to join the guard, even if they had to wait in line while a privileged few cut in front. Sure, it bugged me then, when I volunteered for the war he claimed to support, and it's an insult to all those who didn't have the choice he claimed as if it were a birthright. Frankly, I don't even care that much whether Bush went AWOL 30 years ago. I only care that he failed to gain experience and wisdom that may have guided him to better choices today, rather than fighting the wrong war at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
I don't care whether George Bush has friends in Saudi Arabia. Like Senator Graham, I do care that this administration, as it has time and time again, refuses to release information that could help protect the American people, because that information is critical of the Saudi government
I don't care how many times he was arrested in the 70's, or how he got off. I don't care if Bush snorted cocaine in the 70's, although when I was a prosecutor back then I would have been obliged to prosecute him. ...
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In fact, I only care a little if he snorted cocaine at Camp David in the 90's. I do care that his bad choices in the last four years cost Americans so much: the precious lives of our brave men and women in Iraq; a million jobs for Americans at home; the surplus that he frittered away on tax breaks for the rich; our clean air and water that he surrendered to his industry pals.
I don't care that Bush and Cheney lie about me, and threaten that terrorists will attack if you freely elect me; I do care that they allow the terror alert system to be used for their own political gain whenever they need to distract you from the catastrophic failures of their administration; I do care that they are threatening to privatize the Social Security that our seniors depend on, while making the same seniors pay more for prescription drugs.
I don't care that they criticize me for standing by my beliefs even when a senate vote doesn't make a good sound bite; or for allowing my views to evolve; I do mind that they are so ideologically blinded that they can't see when they've made a mistake; and I don't care that he tries to take credit for things that he initially opposed, but I do care that the Congress has had to drag him kicking and screaming to investigate intelligence failures, and to reform our intelligence and homeland security.
I don't care that Bush and Cheney are homosexual lovers; I do care that they oppose their own right to marriage [Ok, maybe should leave this one out].
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Just to hit you over the head with the core idea, in the (likely) case that I'm failing to develop it well: every time Kerry says, e.g., "I don't care that Bush considered converting when he heard 72 virgins awaited martyrs in Muslim heaven; I do care that he will prevent any of his 72 wives from getting an abortion even if her life is endangered" it repeats the slam, puts Kerry above it, and ties it to a meatier issue.