Kerry needs to run on the economy

For two months now, I‘ve been telling the presumptive Democratic nominee to stop talking about Iraq and foreign policy, because, as a Republican who was in Congress who fought Bill Clinton‘s policies, I learned very quickly that Americans always defer to presidents when it comes to military matters. 

Today, Senator Kerry finally began a week-long tour highlighting what he thinks is wrong with George Bush‘s economy.  Now, that was a smart political move.  But his stumbling appearance on “Good Morning America” proved once again that his anti-war activities in 1971 may end up making Vietnam a negative issue for the senator. 

Whether on “Meet the Press” or “Good Morning America” or while answering questions for “The New York Times,” Senator Kerry needs to get his story straight when it comes to his military past.  And if I could be presumptuous enough, Senator Kerry, this should be your story:  I served honorably in Vietnam and I fought just as hard top end that war when I came home.  But Americans I talked to are more interested in their family‘s future than the president‘s past or my past.  Now let‘s talk about fixing America‘s economy. 

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The senator‘s spring offensive will continue to go badly until he stops talking about Iraq, stops talking about Vietnam, stops talking about the war on terror, and focuses exclusively on America‘s economy.  Maybe James Carville should scratch out another sign like the one he made for Bill Clinton in 1992 that simply said, “It‘s the economy, stupid.” 

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Running a presidential campaign requires discipline and communication skills.  And right now, those are two qualities that John Kerry seems to lack.