Posted on 06/14/2004 5:34:32 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Teresa Heinz Kerry says anger, not ideology, prompted her to become a Democrat. The wife of Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, says her emotion stemmed from the way the Republican Party, to which she had pledged allegiance, treated Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia in 2002.Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm as an Army captain during the Vietnam War, lost his re-election bid in a bitter campaign against then-Rep. Saxby Chambliss. The GOP had raised questions about Cleland's patriotism because of his position on legislation to create the Department of Homeland Security. Cleland supported the concept behind the department, but insisted that a workers' rights provision be part of the bill.
Heinz Kerry, in an interview to be broadcast Tuesday on the "CBS Evening News," says Cleland's status as a triple amputee is enough to prove his patriotism.
"Three limbs and all I could think was, 'What does the Republican party need, a fourth limb to make a person a hero?' And this coming from people who have not served. I was really offended by that. Unscrupulous and disgusting," she said, her reference being an indirect one to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Neither Republican served in Vietnam. Bush served stateside in the Texas Air National Guard, and Cheney received five student deferments from service during the war.
Kerry volunteered to serve in Vietnam and earned three Purple Hearts, and Silver and Bronze stars for his efforts commanding a swift boat on the Mekong Delta. Earlier in the campaign, opponents of Kerry had raised questions about his military service and whether he deserved the military honors.
Heinz Kerry had been a registered Republican until Kerry, her second husband, announced his bid for the White House. Her first husband, Republican Sen. John Heinz of Pennsylvania and the Heinz prepared foods heir, was killed in a plane crash in 1991. She inherited a fortune estimated at more than $500 million.
In the interview, John Kerry is asked about criticism of his wife, who has a reputation for being blunt and outspoken.
"When it's silly stuff, and a lot of it is incredibly unfactual, I get angry about it," he said.
Asked for three words to describe his 65-year-old wife, who is five years his senior, Kerry said: "Saucy, sexy, brilliant."
She responded: "I'm cheeky, I'm sexy, whatever. You know, I've got a lot of life inside."
•__
A liberal interest group will begin airing a new television commercial Tuesday in four battleground states that calls President Bush "a failure of leadership" and criticizes Vice President Dick Cheney's ties to Halliburton.
MoveOn.org's political action committee will spend about $1 million over a week, a hefty amount, to run the 30-second ad in Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Oregon.
The ad accuses Bush's administration of giving Cheney's former company no-bid contracts to work in Iraq "on a silver platter."
"Then," the ad says, "the Pentagon caught Halliburton overcharging $61 million for gasoline. Worse, they billed over $100 million dollars for meals for our troops that they never delivered. And George Bush is still doing business with them."
Steve Schmidt, a spokesman for Bush's re-election campaign, said: "This is another incredibly misleading ad from an organization completely outside of the mainstream of American politics."
Separately, The Media Fund, another Democratic group, ran new radio and newspaper ads in Kansas City, Mo., criticizing his record on health care and prescription drug costs. Bush visited the state Monday.
•__
Associated Press Writer Liz Sidoti contributed to this report.
She can join DEMS and they can have her. No great loss because God not her money is still in charge.
Um, isn't a more accurate statement that he insisted that unions be able to trump national security?
Another democrat with no ideology.
Maybe after Kerry gets the snot beat out of him he and his wife can star in the remake of The Addams Family. They are creepy, their faces are odd looking and they live in their own little world.
If a 'conservative' joins the liberal party, they were not a conservative to begin with. She was a CIHO (conservative in husband only)
So....she was a Republican until 2003, huh? Excuse me while I barf.
That's a lie. Cleland wanted to weaken the bill by caving into government union demands.
oops. I meant to type 2002.
This article will win a prize from the Media Research Center, I'm sure. Get off your knees, Associated Presstitutes!!!
Um, isn't a more accurate statement that he insisted that unions be able to trump national security?
Have you ever tried to discuss "accuracy" with an emotional woman? ;-)
So, she was so outrqaged ahe waited two yeaars to change her party affiliation?
And, just coincidently, when her husband decided to run for the office of President, as a Democrat.
Brbra Streisand!
"The GOP had raised questions about Cleland's patriotism"
Typical AP distortion. I defy the AP to provide a quote where the GOP questioned Cleland's patriotism. His judgement, yes, his patriotism, no.
"Who is Mac Cleland?"
"That's Max Cleland. He was a senator from Georgia."
"Georgia has a senator?"
She is so full of it. Theresa Heinz openly opposed Rick Santorum for Senate in 1994.
If I recall correctly, didn't Cleland blow off his own limbs?
"Heinz Kerry, in an interview to be broadcast Tuesday on the "CBS Evening News," says Cleland's status as a triple amputee is enough to prove his patriotism."
Benedict Arnold was a war hero, too.
In 1994 She endorsed the DemocRAT incumbent who served the last 3+ years of her husband's term over Rick Santorum who is currently the junior senator from Pennsylvania.
Georgia being a Right to Work State cost Cleland the election when he insisted on unionizing Dept. of Homeland Security. Many southern states support the Right to Work by as much as 90%. See www.nrtwc.org for details. Last month's issue I believe. Cleland story not long after his defeat.
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