Bloggers accuse Obama of slamming Gore, Kerry 
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is being taken to task by liberal bloggers, who say the candidate unfairly criticized former Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Al Gore while campaigning Monday in Iowa.
Bloggers are pointing to Obama comments, as reported by New York Newsday's Spin Cycle and ABC's Political Punch, which seem to suggest that the senator feels Kerry and Gore were divisive candidates that did not attract broad support during their presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2000, respectively.
"I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats," said Obama, as reported by ABC. "We've done that in 2004 and 2000. 47 percent of the country on one side, 47 percent of the country on the other...We don't need another one of those elections."
While some Obama supporters have complained that the articles cited by bloggers were taking their candidate's words out of context, a third -- and seemingly more complete -- account of the comments in the Chicago Sun-Times does seem to indicate Obama offered mild criticism of Gore and Kerry.
"After sustained cheers, laughter and applause," reports the Sun-Times, "Obama added that he would hope to win over enough independents and Republicans in the general election that, 'We aren't going to have 47 percent on one side, 47 percent on the other side, 5 percent in the middle and they all live in Ohio and Florida so you only campaign in two states.'"
The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a RAW STORY request for comment.
In a Tuesday post at the left-leaning Daily Kos, site founder Markos Moulitsas sharply rebuked Obama for what he characterized as an attack on party allies.
"Psst, Barack, slamming John Kerry and Al Gore is what Republicans do. Not Democrats," wrote Moulitsas. "Last time I checked, Gore won his election. And really, is Obama going to argue now that the nation was divide because of the Democrats' fault? Is that the latest right-wing talking point he wants to peddle?"
Writing at Hullaballoo, Digby suggested the remarks possibly pointed to an Obama electoral strategy.
"I guess there's nothing wrong with running against former Democratic candidates, but it seems kind of gratuitous," she wrote. "The truth is that we rank and file Dems don't have anywhere to go except out of the political process all together. We can't vote for Republicans, who are completely out of the question. Why not run against the Democratic party? It worked for Bill Clinton, didn't it?"
Crooks and Liars' Nicole Belle also weighed in.
"I have a LOT of issues with Ronald Reagan, but his commandment 'Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill Of Fellow Party Members' is one that the Democrats would do well to take to heart," she wrote in a post. "Not to mention that this kind of circular firing squad is really insulting to those of us (namely, would be voters) who know that framing it this way might make Republicans feel better, but just really is not so reality-based."
Obama has previously had kind words for Gore. As reported by ABC News, the senator in October was asked if he would consider Gore for a vice presidential slot.
"I can promise you that as president I will have him involved in our administration in a very senior capacity in his role," said Obama. "Having won the Nobel peace prize and an Oscar that being Vice President again would be probably a step down for him."
But the senator has criticized Kerry's reluctance in 2004 to respond aggressively to attacks from critics.
"I don't worry about getting swift boated," Obama remarked in October. "You have to respond forcefully, you have to respond immediately, and you have to respond truthfully. And we are prepared for whatever they throw at me and we will come right at them."
Obama on Monday also suggested that in the event of a narrowly lost general election, he would ensure that he would aggressively fight to determine if the vote had been a fair one. Some have criticized Kerry for quickly conceding his loss in 2004.
"I intend to whoop 'em so good that it won't even be close and they can't steal the election," he said. "If for any reason this thing is close, we will fight it tooth and nail till the end. The nice thing is, I'm a voting-rights attorney as well as a civil rights attorney."
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