The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Liberal Centrism

George W. Bush ^ | May 20, 2004

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The Boston Fog Report
An ongoing examination of John Kerry’s “nuances and shades of gray in both foreign and domestic policy.” (Editorial, “A Primary Endorsement,” The New York Times, 2/26/04)

for·a·gainst adverb.

1. To be both for and against something at the same time: e.g. “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops,” The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

"John Kerry is for-against American businesses, depending on who he's talking to. If he's speaking to a group of pro-business new Democrats or the Wall Street Journal, Kerry is pro-business. If he's talking to Ralph Nader, Kerry is proud to highlight his anti-business, high-tax agenda."

-Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Yesterday Kerry Boasted Of His Liberal Voting Record To Ralph Nader And Distanced Himself From Bill Clinton.

Answering Nader's Concerns That Democrats Are "Too Cozy With Corporate Interests," Kerry Distances Himself From Democrats Clinton, Gore And Pro-Business Democrats. "In one exchange, recounted by a Kerry aide who requested anonymity, Nader complained that the Democratic Party had become too cozy with corporate interests. Kerry replied: '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)

Kerry's Boasting Of His Liberal Credentials Is "Music To [Nader's] Ears." "Nader, in a telephone interview after Wednesday's meeting, said Kerry's answer was 'a form of music' to his ears." (Nick Anderson and Michael Finnegan, "Kerry Reaches Out to Independent Rival Nader," Los Angeles Times, 5/20/04)

But Earlier This Month, Kerry Promised A Moderate Agenda To The Centrist Democratic Leadership Council

Kerry Promises To Cut Taxes And Pursue A Business-Friendly Agenda. "We'll cut taxes for businesses that do right by America and reward companies for creating jobs here instead of for moving jobs overseas. I believe the private sector is the engine of economic growth, and our party cannot love jobs and hate the businesses that create them." (John Kerry Remarks At The Democratic Leadership Council, Phoenix, AZ, 5/7/04)

Kerry Singles Out Clinton For Praise. "Under Bill Clinton, we created 23 million new jobs, lifted 7 million Americans out of poverty, and sent millions more Americans to college. The middle class built this country. They work hard, pay their bills, and do right by their families and their country. This country ought to do right by them." (John Kerry Remarks At The Democratic Leadership Council, Phoenix, AZ, 5/7/04)

And Kerry Previously Aligned Himself With Former President Clinton's Record And Called Himself A Friend Of American Business In An Interview With The Wall Street Journal

Kerry Employs Pro-Business Rhetoric To Make The Business Community "Less Aggressive In Trying To Defeat Him." "The Kerry campaign knows it will never match Mr. Bush in business support. But advisers recall the way Mr. Clinton effectively used the backing of a few chief executives in 1992 to make the business community as a whole more comfortable, and thus less aggressive in trying to defeat him." (Jacob M. Schlesinger and John Harwood, "Kerry Strives To Highlight Pro-Market Side," The Wall Street Journal, 5/3/04)

Kerry Said, "I think I Am American Business's Friend." (Jerry Seib, John Harwood and Jacob Schlesinger, "Excerpts From An Interview With John Kerry, The Wall Street Journal, 5/3/04)

Kerry Says He Is Reaching Out To The Business Community By Hiring Clinton Appointees As Economic Advisers. "WSJ: What is your strategy for reaching out to the business community? KERRY: I'm reaching out through a lot of different people. Bob Rubin is on my economic advisory team. (Former Clinton deputy Treasury Secretary and Wall Street financier) Roger Altman." (Jerry Seib, John Harwood and Jacob Schlesinger, "Excerpts From An Interview With John Kerry, The Wall Street Journal, 5/3/04)