Posted on 05/20/2004 10:41:54 AM PDT by RWR8189
| "John Kerry told the Democrat Leadership Council that he is a centrist, but behind closed doors he told Ralph Nader that he is not Bill Clinton or Al Gore and should be judged on his Senate record. Kerry's record includes voting for higher taxes, more government spending and cuts to defense systems while the National Journal has rated Kerry the most 'liberal' member of the Senate. John Kerry may say different things to different people, but he can't run away from his record." - Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman |
John Kerry Tells Ralph Nader: "Judge Me By My Record"
Kerry Says "You Should Judge Me By My Record In The Senate." John Kerry to Ralph Nader: "Don't judge me by the people who preceded me. You may have had a disagreement with [President] Bill Clinton, or [former Vice President] Al Gore, or the Democratic leadership in Congress … but that's not me. I have fought with you, I have been with you on a range of issues, and you should judge me by my record in the Senate." (Nick Anderson and Michael Finnegan, "Kerry Reaches Out to Independent Rival Nader," Los Angeles Times, 5/20/04)
The Most "Liberal" Voting Record In The Senate
Nonpartisan National Journal Scored Kerry's Votes Most Liberal In Senate For 2003. Kerry scored a Senate-high 97% liberal rating for 2003, beating out Sens. Barbara Boxer (91), Hillary Clinton (89), Ted Kennedy (88), and Tom Daschle (80). (National Journal Website, "How They Measured Up," http://nationaljournal.com, 2/27/04)
In 2003, Kerry Voted With Kennedy 93% Of The Time. (CQ Online, www.cq.com, Accessed 1/21/04) In 2003, Kerry Voted AGAINST President Bush More Often Than Ted Kennedy. According to Congressional Quarterly, Kerry voted against President Bush 70% of the time in 2003. Kennedy voted against Bush 53% of the time in the same year. (CQ Online, www.cq.com, Accessed 1/21/04) On CQ Key Votes, Kerry Voted 100% Of The Time With Ted Kennedy In 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, and 1985. (CQ Online, www.cq.com, Accessed 1/21/04)
A Record Of Voting Against The Weapons That Are Winning The War On Terror
In 1993, Kerry Introduced Plan To Cut Numerous Defense Programs, Including: cutting the number of Navy submarines and their crews, reducing the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one, reducing tactical fighter wings in the Air Force, terminating the Navy's coastal mine-hunting ship program and forcing the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces in one year. (S.1163, Introduced 6/24/93) In 1996, Kerry introduced a bill to slash Defense Department funding by $6.5 billion. Kerry's bill had no co-sponsors and never came to a floor vote. (S. 1580, Introduced 2/29/96) In 1995, Kerry voted to freeze defense spending for 7 years, slashing over $34 billion from defense. (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181: Rejected 28-71: R 2-51; D 26-20, 5/24/95, Kerry Voted Yea) Running for the Senate in 1984, Kerry proposed defense cuts as his "overall defense strategy. ("Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget," Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)
A Record Of Voting Against Funding For Our Troops In The Field
Kerry Voted Against Senate Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Funding. The bill provided "approximately $65.6 billion for military operations and maintenance and $1.3 billion for veterans medical care."
- Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry Voted Against Provided Increased Combat Pay For Troops. ("Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures," The Associated Press, 10/17/03; S. Rept. 108-160, Conference Report On S. 1689, 10/2/03; "FY 2004 Supplemental Request For Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), And Operation Noble Eagle (ONE)," U.S. Department Of Defense, 9/03)
- Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry Voted Against Provided Health Benefits For Reservists And Guardsmen Called To Active Duty, As Well As Support For Their Families. ("Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures," The Associated Press, 10/17/03; S. Rept. 108-160, Conference Report On S. 1689, 10/2/03; "FY 2004 Supplemental Request For Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), And Operation Noble Eagle (ONE)," U.S. Department Of Defense, 9/03)
A Record Of Obstructing The Department Of Homeland Security
Kerry Led The Fight Against President Bush's Department Of Homeland Security, Voting Against It Six Times.
- Senate Dems Stalled Homeland Security For 112 Days.
In 2003, Kerry Skipped Vote On $29.3 Billion Homeland Security Appropriations.
A Record Of Proposing Cuts To Intelligence Funding
Not Long After First World Trade Center Bombing, Kerry Proposed $7.5 Billion In Across The Board Intelligence Cuts. In 1994, Kerry proposed rescinding $1 billion in the FY 1994 Intelligence budget and freezing the budget at that level through at least FY1998, which would cut $5 billion from Intelligence funding during that period. Kerry's proposal was defeated by a vote of 20 to 75, with even Sen. Ted Kennedy voting against the measure. Then in 1995, Kerry proposed a bill to, "[r]educe the Intelligence budget by $300 million in each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000." This bill had no co-sponsors and never reached the Senate floor for a vote. (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)
A Record Of Voting For Higher Taxes
Kerry Has Voted At Least 350 Times For Higher Taxes.
- Voted Against 2001 And 2003 Tax Cuts.
- Voted Twice For Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History.
- Voted Against Major Tax Relief At Least 29 Times.
- Voted Against Marriage Penalty Relief At Least 22 Times.
- Voted Against Expanding Child Tax Credit At Least 18 Times.
A Record Of Supporting Higher Gas Taxes At Least 11 Times
Voted Twice For Clinton/Gore Btu Tax, Increasing Gas Prices 7.5 Cents Per Gallon.
Voted For 1993 Clinton/Kerry Tax Plan That Increased Gas Taxes Twice. The 1993 Budget Resolution conference report included a 4.3 cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax.
Voted To Kill An Amendment That Would Have Eliminated Gas Tax Increase From Budget Resolution.
Voted At Least Four Times Against Repealing Clinton 4.3-Cent Increase In Gas Tax. In 1996, the Senate Republican Policy Committee estimated the 1993 increase in the gas tax cost consumers $5 billion per year. (Senate Republican Policy Committee, "White House Unjust Firings/Gas Tax, Minimum Wage, Team Act," 5/9/96)
1994: Backed Half-Dollar Increase In Gas Tax. "Kerry said [the Concord Coalition's scorecard] method did not accurately reflect individual lawmakers' efforts to cut the deficit. 'It doesn't reflect my $43 billion package of cuts or my support for a 50-cent increase in the gas tax,' Kerry said." (Jill Zuckman, "Deficit-Watch Group Gives High Marks To 7 N.E. Lawmakers," The Boston Globe, 3/1/94)
In 2000, Kerry Voted Against Suspending The 18.4 Cent Gas Tax For 150 Days.
A Record That's Out Of Step With America
Kerry Has Voted At Least Six Times Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion.
While Senator Kerry Has Skipped A Majority Of Senate Votes This Year, He Made A Point Of Coming Back To Vote Against The Unborn Victims Of Violence Act.
Kerry Voted To Allow Federal Money To Be Used To Distribute The Morning-After Abortion Pill In America's Schools.
Kerry Has Voted At Least Three Times Against Requiring Parental Consent Or Notification For A Minor's Abortion.
Kerry Has Voted At Least 25 Times In Favor Of Using Taxpayer Dollars To Pay For Abortions In The United States.
Kerry Was One Of Only 14 Senators To Vote Against 1996 Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), Which Banned Federal Recognition Of Gay Marriage And Same-Sex Partner Benefits.
A Record Of Few Accomplishments
Kerry Has "A Short List Of Laws That Bear His Name." "Asked what he has accomplished during his 19 years in the Senate, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry gives a lengthy answer but has a short list of laws that bear his name. … Kerry has been the lead sponsor of eight bills that have become law. Two are related to his work on the Senate panel on oceans and fisheries - a 1994 law to protect marine mammals from being taken during commercial fishing and a 1991 measure for the National Sea Grant College Program Act, which finances marine research. In 1999, President Clinton signed his bill providing grants to support small businesses owned by women. The rest of the laws he saw passed were ceremonial - renaming a federal building, designating Vietnam Veterans Memorial 10th Anniversary Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and World Population Awareness Week in two separate years." (Nedra Pickler, "Kerry's Senate Career Marked By Investigations, Not Legislation," The Associated Press, 7/21/03)
"[O]n Education And Health Care, Two Of The Most Important Domestic Battlegrounds Between Democrats And Republicans, Kerry Has A Thin Record." (David Nather, "Kerry's Complex Record And His Pursuit Of The Presidency," CQ Weekly, 4/24/03)
Kerry should be called a 'do-nothing Senator'....
Kerry should be judged by his record.
Citizens are now paying for the Kerry Price Hike at the pump because he voted against anwar. Every time you pay over two bucks at the pump, thank a democrat.
I think the name would stick. If Kerry cares about all these issues so much, why hasn't he done anything. Kerry bitches about outsourcing, but he votes for every free-trade agreement. Kerry bitches about the war, but he voted for it. Kerry bitches about 'no child left behind', but he voted for that. What is Kerry gonna do in the White House he hasn't done in 19 years in the Senate....
FYI ping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.