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The great philosopher Spinoza said:
"The opinion a person has of a thing shows more the nature of the person than the nature of the thing."
I think this applies as well to the opinion a person has of another person. Republicans enjoy attacking the character of Democrats, especially of Democrats running for office against them. They choose their own flaws and mistakes to guide them in finding - or manufacturing - flaws and mistakes in their opponents.
It seems that there is no bright ethical line across which Republicans will not cross. Probably the most heinous political attack a Republican made against a Democrat was executed by George W. Bush's father with his Willie Horton attacks against Dukakis. George H.W. Bush hit the bottom of the barrel then. Now, Cheney and Hughes are trying to do Bush Sr. one better. After all, the ends justify the means: the Republicans "know" they are right, so it makes sense to destroy those in their way because they will win the "war on terror."
Attack dog Cheney said:
"Senator Kerry's record raises serious doubt about his understanding of the broader struggle against terror, of which Iraq is only one front. [He] has yet to outline any serious plan for winnng the war on terror."
It is obvious that this administration has bungled the planning of the war in Iraq. They have no idea what to do. Members of Congress are trying to find out the plans of the administration. Nobody knows. So Cheney attacks Kerry for not having any plans.
In addition, notice how he throws in the lie that there is a link between Iraq and terrorism?
Bulldog Cheney again:
"I am aware of no other instance in which a presumptive nominee for president of the United States has spoken with such disdain of active, fighting allies of the United States in a time of war. Senator Kerry's contempt for our good allies is ungrateful to nations that have withstood danger, hardship and insult for standing with America in the cause of freedom."
This is a big lie. Kerry did not show contempt for those helping U.S. in the war. But Bush, Cheney and the Republicans showed serious contempt for our long time allies, France and Germany. They treated them like dirt.
A Republican ad:
"Kerry even voted against body armor for our troops on the front line of the war on terror. John Kerry's record on national security: troubling."
It was the lack of proper planning by this administration that led to troops not having body armor. As in all the other criticisms, the true culprit is the current Republican administration.
In the midst of all this, Bush advisor Karen Hughes steps in to denigrate Kerry for throwing away Vietnam medals:
"Now, I can understand if, out of conscience, you take a principled stand, and you would decide that you were so opposed to this that you would actually throw your medals, but to pretend to so, I think that's very revealng."
I have no idea whether Kerry threw away the medals on purpose or not. But I know that George W. Bush did not throw away any medals. How could he? He never got any. Here again, Bush (through his advisor) who was AWOL in the Guard, is criticizing Kerry who made sacrifices in Vietnam. He can't criticize Kerry on how he saved fellow soldiers, so they criticize him about medals.
Bush, Cheney and Hughes are attacking Kerry's character. To me it shows that they do not have good character. They shout that Kerry does not know how to win the "war on terror," but they have no idea how to proceed. Republicans are telegraphing their weaknesses.
