October 31, 2004
Blair reaches out to Kerry
Today's Independent on Sunday reveals British Prime Minister Tony Blair is hedging his bets by sending one of his key advisors to meet with officials of US Presidential candidate John Kerry.
According to the the London newspaper, Mr. Blair has sent his polling advisor, Philip Gould, to meet with Mr. Kerry's campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill. Ms. Cahill is also the presumptive Chief of Staff in a Kerry White House. The move is being seen by Kerry supporters as an olive branch from the British PM who has been steadfast in his support of Mr. Bush and his "war on terrorism." The Dems have also been irked by the fact Mr. Blair had not sent any support to their campaign despite his assistance of Bill Clinton in 1996.
Word of the rapprochement comes as we hear that Mr. Blair's wife has been very critical of the Bush administration for its policy regarding prisoners of the "war on terror" and gay rights. Cherie Blair told an audience of Harvard Law students the decision of the US Supreme Court to give legal protection to two Britons detained at Guatanamo Bay was "profoundly important" and a "significant victory for human rights and the international rule of law". She also knocked the American President for backing a law when he was Governor of Texas that banned gay sex.
While Mr. Blair's move may not be enough to fully mend fences, it will help the UK avoid becoming Kerry's Canada - the disliked but tolerated "ally" of George Bush's administration.
Posted by maxthecat at October 31, 2004 07:54 AM
http://www.maxsmewsings.com/mt/archives/2004/10/blair_reaches_out_to_kerry.php