Name one

While doing my opposition research on Waffles web page, I found this risible line:

Throughout his career, he has always taken tough positions and stuck by them – even when they weren’t popular.

As Mickey Kaus noted: “Name an issue on which Kerry has taken this sort of career-threatening risk.”

This is one reason the oft-told story of Kerry protesting the Vietnam War by throwing someone else's medals away resonates uncomfortably. Kerry wasn't willing to take the risk of parting with his own medals. They might come in handy some day! Even in his moment of maximum political bravado he was cautious.

“Cautious” is a charitable word. I find Senator Splunge’s strategic ambiguity on all issues supremely grating. A long time ago, I heard then-governor Mario Cuomo of New York on a radio show explaining why he does not support the death penalty. At the time, something like 90% of New Yorkers supported capital punishment, but Cuomo steadfastly opposed it, despite the public pressure. And then there’s Kerry who for his entire life in Massachusetts opposed capital punishment…until he started running for president. Then all the reasons he used to justify his position while in Boston became null and void, at least for terrorists.

Most egregious of all was Kerry’s vote against the $87 billion funding for U.S. soldiers after he voted for military action in Iraq – the classic “I voted for it, before I voted against it” vote. That vote was cast at the height of Howard Dean’s popularity and Kerry desperately needed to cleave to the anti-war wing of the party. Principles, overboard!

Let’s hear it, Kerry people. Name an issue, a single issue, where Kerry has taken – and continues to take – an unpopular position guided by some personal belief.

Extra: The Man without Qualities reminds us that Kerry didn’t volunteer for Vietnam after his deferment to study in Paris was turned down. Not even that.