This is not true.

Think about it for a moment. John Kerry called for a filibuster from Switzerland two hours after it became public that there were not enough votes for a filibuster. That is atrocious. Tinman points out on Breaking Blue the essential point:

If he was serious about it he would have stayed in Washington, held press conferences, lobbied his colleagues and tried to generate as much attention as possible. Since it was just a PR stunt, it wasn't necessary for Kerry to change his travel plans.

And actually, Matt, you do, or at least can, get points for trying. What you don't get points for is quitting.

John Kerry lobbied for a filibuster in caucus with his colleagues before leaving for Davros. His travel plans were changed so that he could return on a 4:30 am flight and be on the floor to participate in a filibuster.

Kerry has a longstanding pledge to support, and if necessary, lead, a filibuster against any Supreme Court nominee he views as a threat to our civil liberties generally, and the right of privacy in matters of reproductive choice specifically. Alito inarguably fits the bill.

I'm not sure, though, that Kerry expected that he would have to lead this one. I don't think he's ever been viewed as a master of process, and this is a procedural matter. He wasn't alone in arguing for a filibuster in caucus, and perhaps he hoped that one of the process wizards in the caucus, maybe even the Leader himself, a legendary process wizard, would take the lead. No leader emerged, and the battlefield was in disarray when Kerry returned from keeping his commitment to the organizers of the World Economic Council to participate on a critical panel.

Kerry picked up the banner of Constitutional government and began to lead a charge. Against the odds? Certainly. Futile? Probably. But the only option is surrender, and the stakes are too high to give up without using every possible measure to stop Samuel Alito's nomination from going forward.

If you think Sam Alito will be a bad justice, you vote no. If you think that's a serious problem, you filibuster. If you've sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, you protect and defend the Constitution. Regardless of the odds. Regardless of the political implications. With every weapon you have. Until the very end.

John Kerry is simply keeping a promise. He promised me that he would filibuster any Supreme Court nominee who would threaten my civil liberties. He promised all of us that he would protect and defend the Constitution.

Karl Rove would love this to be about what's wrong with John Kerry. This time, though, it's the knee-jerk Kerry haters are turning up as part of what's wrong with the Democratic Party.

Filibuster Alito!

Contact Senators Murray and Cantwell now.