Kerry takes convention stage again, rips McCain
By Jeff Mason
Reuters, August 28, 2008
http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/08/28/kerry-takes-
convention-stage-again-rips-mccain/
Denver (Reuters) — John Kerry, the failed 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, took the stage at this years party convention on Wednesday to praise Illinois Sen. Barack Obama whose career he helped launch and lambaste John McCain.
Kerry, who said he had been friends with McCain for nearly 22 years, used tough words to criticize the Arizona senators evolution from a maverick legislator to a presidential candidate.
Before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself, Kerry said, listing what he described as McCains shifts on tax cuts, immigration, and climate change.
Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Kerry said. Talk about being for it before youre against it!
The last line was a send-up of a gaffe Kerry himself made about being in favor of funding for the Iraq war before he was against it.
Many felt the line, which Republicans used to mock him, helped cost the Massachusetts senator the election four years ago.
Kerry gave a big boost to Obamas career by giving the then-state senator a prime-time speaking role at the 04 convention.
