When I read this MSNBC article, I thought Kerry was going to be smart enough to take the high road:
Bush was informed of the tape aboard Air Force One late Friday morning by national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. “Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country,” he told reporters at the airport in Toledo, Ohio. “I’m sure Senator Kerry will agree with me.”
“I also want to say we are at war with these terrorists,” said Bush, who added that he was “confident we will prevail.”
Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, was informed by his senior foreign policy adviser, Rand Beers, who was briefed by the administration.
“As Americans, we are absolutely united in our determination to hunt down and destroy Osama bin Laden and the terrorists,” Kerry said as he boarded a campaign plane in West Palm Beach, Fla. “They’re barbarians, and I will stop at absolutely nothing to hunt down, capture or kill the terrorists wherever they are, whatever it takes, period.”
Then I read the WaPo version:
“Let me make this very clear,” Bush said in Toledo, Ohio, standing next to Air Force One. “Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country. I’m sure Senator Kerry agrees with this.”
Kerry, too, said, “My reaction is that all of us in this city are completely united.” But he criticized Bush for not capturing bin Laden earlier, and he added pointedly, “I believe I can run a more effective war on terror than George Bush.”
Effing weasel. What’s wrong with saying, “no matter who gets elected, we’re coming for you!”? Why couldn’t Kerry have just said that. I’m going to start calling him Weasel-Boy.
[Update]
Well, at least the people on his campaign are a little smarter then Kerry. Here’s his official statement:
In response to this tape from Osama bin Laden, let me make it clear, crystal clear. As Americans, we are absolutely united in our determination to hunt down and destroy Osama bin Laden and the terrorists. They are barbarians. And I will stop at absolutely nothing to hunt down, capture or kill the terrorists wherever they are, whatever it takes. Period.
So I’m still annoyed at him, because I think he’s going to turn this into an election issue based on the quotes in the Washington Post when President Bush tried to avoid that, but maybe he will take the high road.
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