The Politics of Whining

In terms of chronology and attitude, Kerry is a negative candidate

By Ben Chapman
Posted on 10/19/04

During the Democratic National Convention last August, the American public heard much talk about the “politics of hope,” with the battle cry “Help is on the way!” Yes, John Kerry talks about a “plan” that will give all Americans healthcare coverage from the government, get French and German troops into Iraq, and find Osama bin Laden.

However, when it comes down to the details, there is no real plan. It is the politics of whining and complaining about everything Bush has done during his first term in office. Kerry’s campaign is almost entirely based upon the past and his desire to erase the last four years. The Patriot Act? Kerry wants to curtail it. No Child Left Behind? Kerry wants to change it. Iraq? Kerry refuses to fund the war he voted for and now bitterly laments that it was the “wrong war, wrong time, wrong place” despite rather hawkish rhetoric in 2002 and early 2003, before the Dean movement. Kerry doesn’t talk about the future, and his plan is simple: erase Bush from the history books and forget the last four years.

But the last four years cannot be forgotten. 9/11 changed the world. The economy went into recession and then rebounded. Saddam Hussein sits in prison instead of a palace. Afghanistan had, for the first time, a free presidential election with triple the expected turn-out, and 40% of those who voted were women. In times of great turmoil, does America need a whiner, or a leader?

And is Kerry a leader? Kerry talks on and on about his four months in Vietnam, but he never talks about his twenty years in the Senate. The reason is obvious: there is nothing to talk about. Can any Democrat point to anything Kerry ever fought for? Has Kerry ever stood firm on any policy? One needs only to look at his voting record for the answer.

Yet the Left is united like never before. But again, there is no plan for the future, only lamentations about the past and a giant eraser. What is it that unites the left? Hatred of Bush, pure and simple.

This isn’t surprising, but it should be. Usually elections are about contrasting values and visions of the future, but websites like www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com say it all. The Left stands for nothing; Kerry stands for nothing. Michael Barone of the US News and World Report said it best: “Democrats are motivated by hate…Republicans are motivated by…affection for Bush and the way he stood up under the attacks of his opponents and the media.”

The implications of this mindset for America can only be negative. The politics of anger and hate have no place in the White House. The country is divided, but as President Bush always retorts when his opponents in the media try to blame him for it, “it was pretty divided during the 2000 election, too.” The left simply never forgave Bush for winning the election four years ago.

Contrast Bush with Kerry. When the White House was vandalized by the outgoing Clinton administration, Bush wanted to move on and didn’t pursue the issue. When Kerry won the primary last March, Bush called him and congratulated him. Bush is the man of character in this scenario.

On public policy, Bush leads. In response to the economic recession—which began before he came into office—he passed bipartisan tax relief for all citizens who pay federal taxes. When the quality of education was in decline, Bush passed the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act. When America was attacked three years ago, Bush swiftly toppled the Taliban regime. When Saddam Hussein refused to comply with seventeen UN resolutions, Bush brought him to account, leading a wide coalition of more than thirty nations, despite what Kerry may say. Bush has principles and a record of decisiveness to back him up.

The question this election is: does America want a leader who will help us face the future, or man who concentrates his effort in complaining about the past?

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