Kerry Assails Bush on Haiti, Security and Gay Marriage Ban

The New York Times ^ | February 24, 2004 | KIRK SEMPLE

[demlosers]

Senator John Kerry blamed the Bush administration today for helping foster the political instability in Haiti that has given rise to the armed insurgency that now controls nearly half of the country and threatens to overthrow the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

"I think the administration has missed a lot of opportunities, in fact, has exacerbated the situation over the last two years with its cutoff of humanitarian assistance and its attitude towards the Aristide administration," Mr. Kerry said. "So they sort of created the environment within which the insurgency could grow and take root, and now they're trying to manage it, I think."

Senator Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, made his comments during a wide-ranging discussion today with editors and reporters of The New York Times in advance of next Tuesday's New York presidential primary.

He said that if he were president, he would be pressing Haitian rebels to back off their goal of toppling Mr. Aristide, perhaps by threatening the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

"I think you've got to be real and threatening," he said. His message to the rebels, he said, would be: "You're not going to take over, you're not kicking him out, this democracy is going to be sustained, we're willing to put in a new government, new prime minister, we're willing to work with you, but you're not going to succeed in your goal of exiling" Mr. Aristide. "And unless that's clear, you can't necessarily stop it in its tracks."

On Monday, political opposition leaders in Port-au-Prince requested 24 hours to mull over a peace plan presented by the Bush administration and its allies.

Though Mr. Kerry acknowledged that he did not fully know the diplomatic strategy of the Bush administration to deal with Haiti's crisis, he speculated that a purposefully timid approach on the part of the Bush administration — "because they hate Aristide" — could be allowing the rebels to move forward with their uprising.

"They could be encouraging, not really putting the hammer down on these people to stop what they're doing," he said.

In the hourlong conversation at The New York Times, Mr. Kerry also said he opposed the decision by the mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in what opponents hold is defiance of California state law.

"I think he's made a mistake," Mr. Kerry said of Mr. Newsom. "I think what he's doing is not the law." The candidate argued that the venue for challenging California law against same-sex marriages is in the courts.

While reaffirming his opposition to gay marriages, Mr. Kerry also reiterated his support of civil unions between same-sex partners.

"I think marriage gets in the way of what you are really fighting for, which is rights," he said, saying that he thought same-sex couples should be entitled to the same spousal and civil rights accorded partners in a heterosexual marriage.

Mr. Kerry made his comments before President Bush announced his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. This afternoon, the Kerry campaign issued a statement in which the senator criticized the president's announcement and said he would vote against such an amendment.

"The best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions," Mr. Kerry said in the statement. "The issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the president of the United States should be addressing the central challenges where he has failed: jobs, health care and our leadership in the world, rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes."

During the discussion with the Times reporters and editors this morning, Mr. Kerry, who has won 15 of the 17 Democratic primaries and caucuses this year, occasionally spoke of facing President Bush in November, yet hardly mentioned his most-immediate rival for the nomination, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

Hawaii, Idaho and Utah hold their nominating contests in the Democratic presidential race today, though the candidates have largely ignored those states: Mr. Kerry planned to spend most of today campaigning in Ohio, while Mr. Edwards was in Georgia and Texas.

Mr. Kerry said he and Mr. Edwards were "friends" and had "a very good relationship," but he said little of substance about his closest Democratic rival and instead hammered President Bush's policies on trade, foreign affairs, the economy and other issues.

Mr. Kerry argued that his long career in Congress, and particularly his foreign-policy experience, made him the best candidate to contest Mr. Bush in the fall. Although much of Mr. Kerry's campaign has been surrounded by discussions of his and Mr. Bush's roles during the Vietnam War, the focus of the conversation today dealt with more contemporary issues.

"The president has made it clear he wants to run on national security, and that makes sense," Mr. Kerry said. "He can't run on jobs, he can't run on education, he can't run on the environment."

"I think you're going to have a fear and security campaign, if they can,' he added. "And I think I'm the candidate who is perfectly situated to challenge them and take them on."

And, as he has done repeatedly during this race, Mr. Kerry dismissed the notion that his privileged upbringing in the Northeast would be a disadvantage in a head-to-head race against President Bush in the South.

Pointing out that Mr. Bush also was from a family of privilege and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and two Ivy League universities, he said, "I think people are looking for leadership, not labels, and I think they're looking for answers, not characterizations." Voters, he said, "want to know what you're made out of, not where you're from."

Mr. Kerry also pointed out that being a champion and practitioner of a cherished sport in the South, hunting, would help him talk his way into the heart of the Southern electorate.

"I think I can talk the language of guns," he said. "I think I can go down there and talk the language," which, he said, was "common sense."

Mr. Kerry also cautioned President Bush, the former governor of Texas, not to take his own turf for granted. "If I was George Bush, I would worry about going down to the South," he said. "Not me."

Mr. Kerry said his early lag in the opinion polls last summer only made him a tougher candidate.

"Running for president is a good humility builder and going through those desolate months of the summer has made me stronger," he said. "It's made me a much better candidate. I would hope it's made me a better person."

The senator attributed some of his resurgence to a change in his approach to voters on the campaign trail, mainly by replacing wonky policy talk with more ordinary phrasings. "I think I'm talking a different language," he said. "There's no Washingtonese," he said. "It's a very straightforward and simple kind of language, and I think that's what Americans want to hear. They don't want all this razzle-dazzle from Washington, D.C."

"I think I carry more energy in my public speaking than George Bush," Senator Kerry said, adding that he did not think he would have won 14 of 16 contests "if he didn't know how to connect to people."

Drawing a contrast with Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, the Democratic nominee for president in 1988, whom Mr. Kerry once served as lieutenant governor, Senator Kerry said he would fight back against all attacks.

"Michael Dukakis will tell you today, he didn't fight back," Mr. Kerry said. "He lost because there was a sense that if he wasn't willing to fight for himself, he wasn't willing to fight for me. I'm a fighter and that's what I proved in Iowa, New Hampshire, and that's what I'm going to prove in this race."

[NYCVirago]

Mr. Kerry also pointed out that being a champion and practitioner of a cherished sport in the South, hunting, would help him talk his way into the heart of the Southern electorate. "I think I can talk the language of guns," he said. "I think I can go down there and talk the language," which, he said, was "common sense."

What an incredibly condescending thing to say.

[NYCVirago]

Mr. Kerry also cautioned President Bush, the former governor of Texas, not to take his own turf for granted. "If I was George Bush, I would worry about going down to the South," he said. "Not me."

Hey Frenchie, if you're so sure of this, why don't you show up at a NASCAR race and see if you get as good a reception as W did?

[torchthemummy]

"I think you've got to be real and threatening," he said.

This just makes me laugh. Does Kerry really believe, after showing his hand on his Iraq vote, that anybody would ever believe his threats, even if he made a real mean face when he said it? Heck, if I were a rebel I think I would start yelling "you are not my boss" and other responses worthy of Kerry's childish remarks.

Not only because of his vote but his explanation since then that he voted for the resolution with the thought we were only going to put pressure on Sadaam with the troop buildup, not actually go in. Don't have the exact quote but I'm sure others can recall this.

[driftless]

"In further developments, Kerry blamed Bush for not stopping the dreaded scourges of nasal hair, ring around the collar, and the onslaught of unchewable Milk Duds found in movie house snacks."

[goldstategop]

This from the same guy who says we need to work through the UN and in conjunction with our allies? When it comes to Haiti, John F. Kerry is a born-again unilateralist. Never mind how Clinton messed up that country. Anything to score cheap political points against President Bush will do. Kerry as usual refuses to be pinned down on gay marriage and the lawlessness being encouraged by his own party to make it a reality. And the Democrats' heir apparent thinks 9-11 never happened. Yeah, like the American people want to trust him with the White House in the Age Of Bin Laden. Go figure.

[Milligan]

Kerry name should be Dick Kerry. Liar! Liar! Liar! Anybody have pictures of all the weapons systems Kerry wanted to get rid during the 80's? All the weapon systems that are keeping our guys safe during Enduring Freedom? Like the Abhram tank?

I hope Bush blows Kerry out of the water!

[Milligan]

Didn't Clinton tried to fix the Haitian problems back in the 90's. I quess it didn't work.

[adam_az]

Kerry's statements remind me of a Frenchman.... Baurdrillard and other babble-speaking postmodernists come to mind.

[Peach]

Read this Wall STreet Journal article about Haiti, how Clinton got us into the mess at the behest of the Black Caucus and how Aristide is one of the nastier rulers in the Western hemisphere, AND how prominent Democrats got lucrative deals in Haiti as a result of their support.

I'm telling you - the leftists never met a dictator they didn't like and support.

Amazing that Kerry wants to make sure a democrat government is protected in Haiti but could care less about one in Iraq.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085097/posts

[BenLurkin]

John Fonda Kerry.

Perfect!

Hope you don't mind if I steal that, it is just too good not to.

[Dolphy]

Not only because of his vote but his explanation since then that he voted for the resolution with the thought we were only going to put pressure on Sadaam with the troop buildup, not actually go in

Yes, you are right and that's what I meant. His vote in favor of military action, according to Kerry, was meant as a threat.

[Paulus Invictus]

It was Klintoon who sent in the troops first to support Aristide, a known commie. RATS always back commies--it's in their blood.

[Night Hides Not]

I can hear their response right now... "Ooooh..please don't send your international peacekeeping force after us...we're shaking in our boots!

By the time an international peacekeeping force is formed, Haiti will have already fallen completely to the rebels. Aristide will have long been "necklaced".

What's with these liberals? The last time there was a need for an international peacekeeping force, hundreds of thousands perished in Rwanda. Of course, our brilliant elitist media types will fail to draw upon this recent history lesson.

On an unrelated note, it's high time to pin the Democrats on their definition of "wealthy", "rich", etc. At what income level do they define who the rich are? Is it 50,000, 75,000, 100,000, etc? It drives me crazy when I see Hannity or Brit set them up for that followup question, and they just move on to the next subject.

PIN THE BA$TARDS DOWN!!!!

[Helms]

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Get the Top 10 Most Popular Sites for "pontificate"

5 entries found for pontificate.

pon·tif·i·cate    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (pn-tf-kt, -kt)
n.

The office or term of office of a pontiff.

intr.v. pon·tif·i·cat·ed, pon·tif·i·cat·ing, pon·tif·i·cates (-kt)

1. To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
2. To administer the office of a pontiff.

---

[Latin pontifictus, from pontifex, pontific-, pontifex; see pontifex. V., from Medieval Latin pontificre, pontifict-, to act as an ecclesiastic from Latin pontifex.]

---

pon·tifi·cation n.
pon·tifi·cator n.

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Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

pontificate

\Pon*tif"i*cate\, n. [L. pontificatus: cf. F. pontificat. See Pontiff.] 1. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope. --Addison.

2. The term of office of a pontiff. --Milman.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

pontificate

\Pon*tif"i*cate\, v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

pontificate

n : the government of the Roman Catholic Church [syn: papacy] v : talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner; "The new professor always pontificates"

Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University

[cyncooper]

In the hourlong conversation at The New York Times, Mr. Kerry also said he opposed the decision by the mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in what opponents hold is defiance of California state law.

So Kerry has gotten up to speed on what's going on in San Francisco, hm? How nice of the New York Times to grant him his comments without referencing these other remarks from Ketchupboy:

JOHN: WHAT GAY WEDDINGS?

February 24, 2004 -- Democratic front-runner John Kerry yesterday claimed he's unfamiliar with the much-publicized gay marriages being conducted by the mayor of San Francisco, so he can't express an opinion about whether they're right or wrong.

"I haven't made any judgment about it. I haven't really kept up with exactly what he is doing," Kerry told a press conference at York College in Queens.

~SNIP~

[cyncooper]

And this is reported with a straight face?!

LOL

Mr. Kerry also pointed out that being a champion and practitioner of a cherished sport in the South, hunting, would help him talk his way into the heart of the Southern electorate.

"I think I can talk the language of guns," he said. "I think I can go down there and talk the language," which, he said, was "common sense."

The language of guns?! He'd be laughed out of town on the next bus if he were a republican offering such rhetoric.

He is becoming mighty entertaining. We can watch his appearance change AND mock his every utterance.

[PogySailor]

"The issue of marriage should be left to the states, and that the president of the United States should be addressing the central challenges where he has failed: jobs, health care and our leadership in the world, rather than once again seeking to drive a wedge by toying with the United States Constitution for political purposes."

Says John Kerry who voted against the DOM act.

[cyncooper]

"I think you've got to be real and threatening," he said.

What does Kerry think the War on Terror is about? I'd call that real and threatening. Khadafi anyone.

Don't forget the important part:

He said that if he were president, he would be pressing Haitian rebels to back off their goal of toppling Mr. Aristide, perhaps by threatening the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

"International" force, "perhaps". What a loon.

[cyncooper]

but he wants to try to use the military

But note, not "the" military, as in "our" military. He "perhaps" might turn to an "international force".

And the NY Times I'm sure was in awe of this dazzling interview.

[cyncooper]

I just can't get over "because they hate Aristide".

I am stunned he would say such a thing.

This thing would be laughably pathetic, except apparently the New York Times offers not one word hinting that perhaps Kerry is even slightly inappropriate in his choice of words and characterizations.