Washington Watch for April 27, 2008

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington Correspondent
• Published: Apr 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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You’ve heard of a “Reagan Democrat,” but how about a “John Kerry Republican”?

That’s how the national Republican Party painted Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy when he ran as a Democrat for the Senate in 2004. Kennedy is now challenging U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in the November election as a Republican.

Just four years ago, the Grand Old Party noted that Kennedy endorsed Kerry instead of President Bush. The Democratic Party recently released a bruising 13-page opposition research report on Kennedy by the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2004, a document that will likely resurface as a campaign ad against Kennedy’s Republican bid.

“Kennedy’s ineffective political career demonstrates he is not ready for prime time,” the GOP report said.

Using press clippings, the assessment noted that it was Kennedy who clashed most with U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., when they ran against each other in 2004. That would be the same David Vitter who last week added his name to the list of Louisiana Republican congressional delegation names hosting a Kennedy Baton Rouge fundraiser.

The report criticized Kennedy for defending the use of the filibuster by Democrats opposing Bush judicial appointees, a matter that Vitter has vociferously tried to amend.

Kennedy also challenged the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, questioning whether the nation could afford them and calling them “nonsense on a stick.”

That would be the same President Bush who stood next to Kennedy last week endorsing him and serving as the main man at the Baton Rouge fundraiser that is expected to raise up to $800,000 for Kennedy’s campaign. During his visit to Louisiana, Bush touted Kennedy as “the kind of senator Louisiana needs.”

“I ask the people of Louisiana to give this good man a fair hearing — more importantly, to give him their vote,” Bush said.

Four years ago, Kennedy couldn’t even get the Democratic endorsement for the Senate race that Vitter won, a tag that went to former U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley. Now Kennedy is the Republican darling.

What does it all mean? It means that the Kennedy-Landrieu race isn’t about electing John Kennedy, it’s about defeating Mary Landrieu.

Anybody has a right to change their mind on issues — or even their party — over four years, as Kennedy did. And for a man who has already shown his desire to be in the U.S. Senate, it’s hard to turn down an offer from the Bush administration’s Wizard of Oz, Karl Rove, who recruited Kennedy into the race.

“I did get a call from the White House. I don’t get those every day,” Kennedy told The Associated Press last July. “When one of the main advisers to the president of the United States calls you to ask for a meeting, you meet with him.”