This entry is cross-posted by kind permission from the good folks at www.KerryVision.net, an independent text & multimedia blog created by some of the Senator’s most loyal long-term supporters within the johnkerry.com community. One of the best ways to keep up with Senator Kerry’s daily doings is to stop by the KerryVision website, especially on Monday mornings when they post a video newsreel of his activities from the previous week.

Last Saturday, the city of Newburyport held its Third Annual Three Towns and Two Cities Breakfast with the participating Democratic committees of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and West Newbury. I had planned on attending the event and while I was there, gather signatures for Senator Kerry.

I was supposed to attend the event, but ended up having to pass due to a minor emergency. Luckily, my husband Tony, another loyal Kerry supporter and Democrat was able and more than willing to go, if only to ‘have a word’ with our State Representative Mike Costello for endorsing Ed O’Reilly. As we all know, EOR has decided that Massachusetts needed fresh blood in the Senate and is running against JK in the primary.

When Tony finally came back around noon, he couldn’t wait to ask me to ‘guess who showed up??!!’ and then proceed to reveal that the good Senator himself made it to the breakfast. Of course this revelation called for a detailed recounting of the event and JK’s speech, so my dear hubby was railroaded into writing the following guest post for KerryVision.

… … … … … … …

12 April 08,

I arrived a little early for the breakfast event so I could collect signatures for Senator Kerry to be placed on the ballot for re-election to the Senate. Around 8:30 a few obvious Ed O’Reilly supporters arrived with literature and a few banners to place on the walls inside the Hall. Luckily, Andrew, a Kerry staffer, had already covered the grounds outside the hall as well as inside, placing Kerry literature and not leaving much room for Ed O’Reilly to have his name displayed too prominently. At around 8:50 I recognized Ed O’Reilly as he entered the hall and was greeted by a supporter. Then, just a few minutes before nine, Congressman John Tierney arrived followed by the state party chair John Walsh.

I decided to get my seat in the hall before the first speaker was asked to address the audience. Around 9:30 that honor was bestowed on Ed O’Reilly, who spoke as someone who realized that the audience was not going be receptive to negative attacks on a fellow Democrat, so he mainly focused on his personal life and upbringing: His father had been a fire chief who had to lay his son off due to budget cuts, which taught Ed that you cannot always give and receive favors and that sometimes doing the right thing is not popular. He was quite proud to let everyone know that he was serious about running for Senate by leaving his practice and campaigning full time.

When O’Reilly finished, a couple of local politicians spoke, after which it was John Tierney’s turn. His tone was passionate and with slight hints of anger about where the country has been taken.

As the following speaker, State Senator Steven Baddour was coming close to the end of his speech, everybody was surprised to see John Kerry enter the Hall. He was led to where his sister Diana, who was in attendance, was seated to greet her and wait for his turn to address the audience. It was immediately apparent by the crowd reaction that many in the hall were John Kerry supporters.

The Senator was called up to the podium accompanied by a standing ovation. He started on a positive and funny note by stating; “I come with some exciting news this morning: only 282 more days of the Bush’s presidency!” He then listed all the work he has done since the new congress came into session, and finally touched on the Iraq conflict and the need for diplomacy, and not solely the use of the military.

After speaking, Senator Kerry wanted to allow the audience to ask questions, rather than have him lecture. Of course, there were many questions that had been asked before in many different ways. Those that stood out for me were:
Do you think that they (the Republicans) will steal the election? His answer was pretty close to what he has said before on this issue: The Dems would have people placed at every polling station to ensure that nothing illegal was taking place. The same person who asked the question also made the comment that the election was stolen from Senator Kerry: “You were robbed.” To which he responded: “You should talk to my wife!”

Still, Kerry stressed that we should not be focusing on the past. It would make us sound bitter and we needed to be positive in regards to the upcoming election. Whoever that nominee would be, we should rally and unite.He added a comment on how the republican nominee was chosen: “He didn’t win the (Republican) nomination,” Kerry said, “the others lost it.”

John Kerry told the audience that he believed that within a month our candidate would be selected and that all the super-delegates who are undecided will have made their choice.

The other question that stood out was from a woman who was very disturbed by the idea that our government could have a debate on whether torture was legal or not. The Senator replied that this should have never been an issue in our government: Our military personnel are defending our freedom but are getting mixed signals. They must abide by their military rules of engagement and follow instructions and not commit acts of torture but that this appears not to be case for the president who has been defending its uses for the CIA.

He then went on to say that the John McCain he sees now, the one who voted for torture, is not the Senator he knew during his years of working with him, from the time of the Vietnam MIA issue to the 2004 campaign where he had been rumored to be a possible running mate.

This led to the next exchange about why no one had started the impeachment process and if there was enough evidence to go forward. John asked everyone to think what would happen if we were to start the impeachment process, other than a possible Dick Cheney presidency. The atmosphere created by this would turn on us and we would basically give the presidency back to the Republicans without a chance to win it. Some things are better addressed when the time is right and the objective of regaining control of the senate; the house and the presidency are more pressing. Later we could prosecute.

After he had answered a few more questions he said he needed to let other guests speak. The host told the audience we would have a small break and then return for the last few speakers. John Kerry stayed for few more minutes to shake hands and greet supporters before leaving for the next event.

… … … … … … …

Thank you, Tony. We appreciate the detailed account of the Dem Breakfast!

(Tony is a 20 year Air Force veteran, retired since 2002, and is currently working as a Training and Quality manager for a Massachusetts-based defense contracting firm. While on active duty, he was never allowed to be open about his political leanings and is now making up for it with activism for the Democratic Party.)

Posted to KerryVision.net by Kerstin on April 16, 2008 8:35 AM