Kerry hits Bush on steel tariffs _ but would not re-impose them

Detroit Free Press ^ | 4/6/04

[11th Earl of Mar]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry said Monday the White House should not have scrapped steep tariffs on foreign-made steel last year -- but would not put them back in place if he is elected.

A spokesman for President Bush's re-election campaign said Kerry's comments highlight his ever-changing position on the controversial trade issue.

[ClearCase_guy]

Bush-Cheney spokesman Kevin Madden said Kerry's "position on steel tariffs is that he doesn't have a position."

The phrase "on steel tariffs" seems unnecessary here. The sentence has much greater truth if that phrase is removed.

[dalebert]

Economist agree that the tariffs were not good.

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[Poohbah]

Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry said Monday the White House should not have scrapped steep tariffs on foreign-made steel last year -- but would not put them back in place if he is elected.

You can't make this sh--er, stuff--up!

[RolandBurnam]

"I actually voted against tariffs, before I voted for them."

[Poohbah]

Economist agree that the tariffs were not good.

But the Buchananite wing of Free Republic thought they were just dandy.

"Don't tax him, and don't tax me, go tax the guy behind that tree!"

[geek_penguin]

Sounds like Kerry is flipping and flopping at the same time now. I guess he got tired of having to take a position and then wait some period of time before changing it. At least this way, it's more efficient for us voters.

[RolandBurnam]

John Kerry is a leaf in the wind.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

In the long run, protectionism hurts everyone because of the disastrous secondary effects.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Kerry is a windsock.

[bushfamfan]

This man is a freak. It's comments like that that need to be brought back at him. The media will try to cover, but it is impossible with Kerry. I watched an interview with Kerry very briefly on one of the channels the other day when the newsman said to Kerry 'you are proposing a tax free holiday when just last year you voted against such, how do you explain that?'. Kerry in his rambling way, was like 'but this is different...' blah blah blah. He just continues on with this stuff.

[Republican Wildcat]

Something else Kerry is both for and against.

[Republican Wildcat]

Indeed. Industries using steel were shedding a lot more jobs than the steel industry was adding. Apparently the tariffs were especially damaging to Ohio's economy.

[Defender2]

Flip kerry Flop kerry Flip kerry Flop kerry Flip kerry Flop kerry Flip kerry Flop Flip Flop Flip Flop.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry said Monday the White House should not have scrapped steep tariffs on foreign-made steel last year -- but would not put them back in place if he is elected."

Who are the other Democrats Kerry is up against that make him the front runner? Or does this only apply until after the nomination is official at the convention?

[Defender2]

You've got it pegged. He remains front runner until it's official at the convention. Since FlipFlopper is the front runner, it certainly says a lot about the demoCommiecRAT party does'nt it? A party that sticks it's finger in the wind by which way the polls go will die by the polls.

[CONSERVE]

"I wouldn't re-impose them, but I would have let them play out the way they were promised," he said. "Once you put them in place, people have expectations. .

I am sure the south vietnamese would say the same about are troops.

[mabelkitty]

Is Kerry launching grenades at Ohio deliberately?
I'm confused by the strategy.....

[mountaineer]

Kerry may be visiting the steel valley (upper ohio valley area, Follansbee, WV) on April 23, thread here. We'll see just how welcome he is.