Kerry: GOP Critics 'Crooked, Lying Group' (Ketchup Boy Stuck on Repeat)

AP Politics ^ | MIKE GLOVER

[Lance Romance]

Kerry: GOP Critics 'Crooked, Lying Group'

8 minutes ago

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Wednesday called for deeper tax cuts for the middle class than proposed by President Bush and described his Republican critics as "the most crooked ... lying group I've ever seen."

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After urging labor leaders to support his campaign to oust the president, Kerry was meeting with former rival Howard Dean to discuss a possible endorsement and what role the former Vermont governor might play in his campaign. Kerry was scheduled to meet with another key rival, John Edwards , on Thursday.

Anticipating their meeting, the Bush campaign issued "Howard Dean's Greatest Hits on John Kerry," a 10-item recounting of Dean criticism of his rival for the nomination. The quotes from news stories include Dean's statement in January that "you're not going to change America by nominating somebody who's a Washington insider whose biggest long suit is talk."

Kerry had 1,985 delegates after sweeping four Southern primaries Tuesday, an Associated Press analysis showed. He wasn't expected to reach 2,162, the number needed to secure the nomination, until later this month because of the way the party allocates delegates.

Earlier Wednesday in Chicago, Kerry toughened his comments about his GOP critics after a supporter urged him to take on Bush. "Let me tell you, we've just begun to fight," Kerry said. "We're going to keep pounding. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen. It's scary."

Kerry spokesman David Wade said the senator was referring to Republican critics in general. "The Republicans have launched the most personal, crooked, deceitful attacks over the last four years," Wade said. "He's a Democrat who fights back."

In a speech to top leaders of the AFL-CIO, Kerry said a "Bush Tax" stemming from the president's economic policies has driven up costs for working families. He vowed to reverse that trend while asking those making more than $200,000 a year to pay the same taxes they paid under President Clinton (news - web sites), effectively repealing portions of a tax cut Bush pushed through Congress.

Kerry also proposed creating a $50 billion fund to help states provide relief from state and local taxes for working families that he said have been struggling.

"Under George Bush's policies, middle-class families are paying more," he said. "America's middle class can't afford a tax increase. That's why we're going to give the middle class a tax cut."

In response, the Bush campaign accused Kerry of favoring broad tax increases that would affect all taxpayers.

"John Kerry has voted for higher taxes 350 times and his numbers for new spending don't add up," said Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman. "His campaign-trail promises mean he is going to raise taxes by at least $900 billion." It is the first time the Bush campaign has put a number on tax hikes it says Kerry favors.

Kerry, the Democratic nomination well in hand, is moving to engage Bush, and the president is returning the favor. The Massachusetts senator said Bush has resorted to personal attacks at an unprecedented early stage in the campaign.

"George Bush is running on the same old Republican tactics of fear — and they're already getting tired," he said. "But we have something better than attacks, we have the facts and we have the truth."

Kerry said a middle-class tax cut would do far more to spark the economy than what Bush has pushed.

"Our middle-class tax cut will help working people afford college and pay for health care and make ends meet," he said. "If this president wants to make this election about taxes after he's cut billions for billionaires and given middle-class families a larger share to pay, we're ready for that fight."

Kerry spoke via satellite to AFL-CIO leaders at their winter convention in Florida, courting a constituency he's counting on for money and organizational muscle. Facing an unfriendly White House, labor is likely to play an energetic role in the Kerry campaign, even if he wasn't the first choice of most unions.

[Lance Romance]

Kerry said. "We're going to keep pounding. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen. It's scary."

I've heard of variations on a theme, but Kerry is starting to plagarize himself. We have to start documenting this.

[thoughtomator]

Does he do any other tricks besides slander and waffle?

[arkfreepdom]

Kerry is starting to lose it. Keep hitting him.

[sarasota]

This sounds like a middle schooler. What a crybaby.

[Shermy]

He's projecting.

His campaign so far has been attacking non-existent Bush attacks, Bush portrayed as perp, Kerry as victim.

Sometimes Kerry sounds like he's losing it.

[OldFriend]

I remember a certain other slickster who ran on a middle class tax cut.

We got the biggest tax INCREASE in history.

[OpusatFR]

What next? A tongue stuck out and "nanny nanny poo poo?"

He's going bonkers.

[Williams]

This is the problem with democrats. They get so kooky so often you lose track of it. Perhaps republicans could start to suggest he does not have the temperament to be president? Imagine that on every issue he would be calling his critics "laughable, extreme, crooked liars." This guy really is a smacked ass.

[SAMWolf]

These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen. It's scary.

I think this is called "projection".

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Kerry said a middle-class tax cut would do far more to spark the economy than what Bush has pushed.

He's running a meaner version of the 1992 Clinton campaign.

Clinton promised a middle class tax cut too.

He lied.............

[Frank_Discussion]

"Sometimes Kerry sounds like he's losing it."

Often, it seems to be desperately looking for "it".

[Frank_Discussion]

"Sometimes Kerry sounds like he's losing it."

Often, he seems to be desperately looking for "it".

[kellynla]

"...the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen." Sounds more like Kerry et al are looking in the mirror...After all, it was Kerry who testified before the Senate committee in 1971 that there were "mass atrocities" by American GIs' going on daily in Viet Nam. And we all know that that was a bald faced lie! Semper Fi, Kelly

[prion]

"the most crooked ... lying group I've ever seen."

Gosh, I hope those waffling folks in the middle are thoroughly turned off by this bizarre performance. At a point when no personal attacks have been made against him, this just looks...weird.

And for the 10,000th time...can you imagine Bush saying this, and can you imagine the flap if he did?

[BadAndy]

The Rats are really getting hysterical. How long before Kerry loses it like Dean and starts screaming incoherently? My guess is the Rat convention is going to be completely out of control.

[cajungirl]

I keep posting that this man is crazy and I mean it. We use the term lightly but I am not. I think he is seriously at risk of some kind of going totally bonkers in public. It would be so sweet to watch.

[meandog]

I realize the Kerry is perhaps the most liberal candidate that ever ran for president but, for reasons unknown, he doesn't seem to spark the same kind of extreme hatred that the Clinton's did among the conservative electorate...I don't know why; perhaps it is because, at least, he's somewhat honest about his left-leaning politics?

[international american]

Kerry is a psycho!!

[Not A Snowbird]

"Under George Bush's policies, middle-class families are paying more," he said.

Prove it, Kerry. Show us the numbers. Prove it or shut up.

[cajungirl]

Interesting,,alot of people are upset that Bush appears to be silent in all these attacks. Maybe he is following the old advice,,don't interfere when your opponent is shooting himself. His quietness seems to highlight the histrionics here. I do think Kerry sounds whacked up on something. The man is losing it.