Why did Kerry miss the vote on the budget bill?

[Toad]

Originally posted by Dead Man Flying
Because it's political suicide in a presidential race to position yourself on issues like this
-- Todd/Leviathn

Well, sure. That's politics. Unfortunately, eventually you have to stand for something, right?

Now his website clearly positions him on the tax cuts:

John Kerry has the courage to roll back Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can invest in education and healthcare.

Yet, when this very issue comes up in the Senate.... you know, that place he works for the people of Massachusetts and by extension the people he wants to lead, the entire USA...

 

Democratic amendments. Many would have trimmed tax cuts on the richest Americans and shifted the money to health care, schools

I see the "political risk" of which you speak. However, the other side of it is his opponents can say "Look, he says he's going to do this on his Website; it's a campaign promise. When it comes up in the Senate for a vote, he doesn't vote. Flip. Flop. Can you trust this guy to do what he says?"

I'd have looked at it the other way. This was his opportunity to make a fiery speech in the Senate on rolling "back Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can invest in education and healthcare". A place to put his "vision" before the people.

Instead, he no showed. Where's that courage they speak of on the website?

[Rino]

Originally posted by Dead Man Flying
So which principle does he stand on?  Is he a hypocrite?  Or a tax-and-spender?

He has nothing to gain by voting on this measure.  And almost certainly he would not gain your vote as a principled political actor anyway.  You're not the constituency he's wooing.

-- Todd/Leviathn

     How about voting the way the people he's supposed to
represent feel?  After all, all those lamers in DC are supposedly
elected REPRESENTATIVES, a fact they seem to forget the day
after the election.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Dead Man Flying
So which principle does he stand on?  Is he a hypocrite?  Or a tax-and-spender?
-- Todd/Leviathn

I dunno, without a vote I have to put him in the uncommitted category. I know it may be pure fantasy these days but I still hope for a leader with vision and the courage to stand for what he believes in.

[straffo]

Originally posted by AKIron
Wouldn't it be nice to have someone in office that stands on principles and not votes?

IMO if you find one ,thousands of politician will be jobless

[Mighty1]

He didn't vote on something he said he was against which proves he's to damn wishy washy to follow through with his promises.

Or he's too big of a coward to actually have his vote on record.

Either way I'm starting to wonder about Kerry.

[john9001]

this is nothing new, in his years in the senate, kerry was AWOL for 1/3 of the votes. it seems kerry is a part time senator.

if kerry had been president , saddam would not only still be in bagdad, saddam would still be in kuwait *

* kerry voted against sending troops to free kuwait

[Maverick]

If he can't take any political heat for making a stand / vote when it is his job to do so. What makes him think he is qualified to have the more demanding job of President? Sounds like a previous administration, policy by pollsters.