John Kerry stands his ground, takes the gloves off

There’s nothing I enjoy more than good political rhetoric. And as spinmeisters go, John Kerry’s got the best team of any Democrat in the field (particularly Chris Lehane, who used to work for Gore and is really one of the best in the business).

Yesterday, Republicans went completely apoplectic when Kerry told an audience in New Hampshire that America needs to elect leadership to begin healing the divisions caused by the current administration.

“What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States,” Kerry said.

This was enough to get the GOP’s usual suspects to launch their predictable attacks. Hastert, DeLay, Frist, RNC Chairman Marc Racicot and others complained bitterly about the comment, most attacking Kerry’s patriotism, and some suggesting that it showed the Kerry was unfit for the presidency.

What I really enjoyed, however, was Kerry’s campaign deciding to play a little hardball with its response. Robert Gibbs, a Kerry spokesman, said, “Unlike many of his Republican critics, Senator Kerry has worn the uniform, served his country, seen combat, so he’d just as soon skip their lectures about supporting our troops. There is simply nothing that Tom Delay can teach John Kerry about patriotism or service to country. The Republican right wing, particularly those who have never worn the uniform, are picking the wrong fight with the wrong Democrat.”

That’s good stuff, but it gets better. Another Kerry aide came up with this gem for ABC News’ The Note: “We just won’t allow a war hero’s patriotism or love of country to be questioned by the usual gang of rightwing thugs, especially by those who chose not to serve when their time came. John Kerry has battled the Viet Cong. Tom Delay has battled fire ants and cockroaches.”

To be sure, the Kerry campaign, by this point, was showing that it wasn’t afraid to take the gloves off. I, for one, think this is exactly the right approach. For too long, Democrats have let themselves get pushed around, taking the high road while the GOP relentlessly assails the party and its ideas.

Unfortunately, the ordeal also exasperated the already tense relations between Kerry’s camp and that of Howard Dean. While the GOP was attacking Kerry for his “regime change” remark, Dean campaign director Joe Trippi called Kerry’s remark “flabbergasting” and “an obvious bid to court anti-war voters” (who Dean has apparently grown quite fond of).

Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan responded to The Note that it’s “sort of disappointing to see Governor Dean’s staff aiding and abetting Tom DeLay and Rush Limbaugh.”

Now that’s tough rhetoric. Clever and smart, but tough.