Demagogue

Watching John Kerry this Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert reminded me of why the American people, including many Democrats, never really warmed to him. Just as he had during the campaign, Kerry gave some explanations that were rambling, confusing and equivocating.

This is one example from Sunday:

MR. RUSSERT: Specifically, do you agree with Senator Kennedy that 12,000 American troops should leave (Iraq) at once?

SEN. KERRY: No.

MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe there should be a specific timetable of withdrawal of American troops?

SEN. KERRY: No.

MR. RUSSERT: What would you do?

SEN. KERRY: I understand exactly what Senator Kennedy is saying, and I agree with Senator Kennedy's perceptions of the problem and of how you deal with it.

First, he said he disagrees with Kennedy's troop withdrawal position. Seconds later, he seemed to be saying he agrees with Kennedy's view of "how you deal with it"? Kerry's explanation ended with this bit of Washingtonese:

SEN. KERRY: ... There are a lot of conservatives, neo-cons and others in Washington debating now sort of what the modality of withdrawal ought to be.

Last year, voters from Dayton to Oshkosh were frequently overheard discussing the right "modality of withdrawal" in Iraq.

Later on, the interview helped reinforce just how plastic and inauthentic John Kerry is:

MR. RUSSERT: Let me show you a photograph from Inauguration Day. Here is George W. Bush giving his second inaugural address. And there watching is John Kerry ... What was going through your mind at that moment on that morning?

SEN. KERRY: Respect for the process, not feeling sorry for myself at all. I mean, look, I think we waged a great campaign ...

Respect for the process. Is there anyone living on this planet who actually believes that was the thought going through Kerry's mind right then?

There was a way to answer Russert's question more honestly without sounding like sour grapes, but Kerry seems cursed with the language of a political android.