Posted on 06/24/2004 6:05:31 PM PDT by Pikamax
Kerry Pushes Broadband Access, Wins Over Iacocca Thu Jun 24, 2004 08:39 PM ET
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry, on a trip to high-tech Silicon Valley to push for universal high-speed Internet access, picked up the endorsement of former Chrysler head and automotive legend Lee Iacocca on Thursday.
Iacocca, a supporter of President Bush in 2000 who appeared in some commercials on Bush's behalf, told a campaign rally that America needed a leader who understood the changing economy at home and abroad.
"We need a new CEO," the now retired Iacocca, credited with pulling Chrysler back from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1980s with an aggressive and innovative management style, said at San Jose State University.
Iacocca, 79, whose only earlier forays into active politics before 2000 were in support of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, said he liked Kerry's plans to give all Americans a fair shot at a well-paying job.
"The world has changed. Our country is changing. We need a leader who understands that change," said Iacocca, responsible for automotive hits like the Ford Mustang, Chrysler K-car and Chrysler minivan. "We can't compete unless our technology is cutting edge and world class."
Kerry called Iacocca "an American icon" and said his revitalization of Chrysler in the face of increased foreign competition in the car industry was similar to what was needed for the entire U.S. economy.
KERRY TOUTS HIGH-TECH
Kerry, who has been conducting a series of campaign events on science and technology, came to Silicon Valley to tout his plans to create more high-tech jobs and universal high-speed Internet access known as broadband.
He said the United States had fallen to 10th in the world in adapting to broadband, which he described as essential to U.S. economic growth and the generation of new jobs.
"We need to seize on the possibilities of the broadband revolution and make the Internet access available to all of America's families," Kerry said. "If Bangalore in India can be completely wired, then so should all of America."
Bush has set a goal of 2007 for universal availability of high-speed Internet access, but Kerry aides said he had failed to provide details of how he would reach that goal.
High-speed Internet service grew by 42 percent last year to 28.2 million lines into homes and small businesses, which subscribe to it either from a telephone or cable television company.
But Kerry said South Korea and Japan already are deploying networks that are 20 to 50 times faster than in the United States.
Kerry said installing a universal high-speed network could expand the economy by $500 billion and create at least 1.2 million new jobs.
His proposal would provide tax credits for investments in broadband technology in rural and inner city areas, and for investments in the next generation of high-speed broadband anywhere in the country.
Kerry said he would raise $30 billion to create high-tech jobs and promote innovation by auctioning to private companies the spectrum made available after more households transfer to digital television.
Kerry later flew to Anaheim, California, where he told a roaring crowd of 5,000 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that the Bush campaign's $80 million spring and early summer advertising blitz had not hurt him.
"We're not just standing, we're thriving," said Kerry, who is even or slightly ahead of Bush in most national polls. "We're doing just great."
Chrysler bailout II.
Kerry's in the pocket of big business! *kick, scream*
Shouldn't this be left up the free market, anyway?
And another thing. What's up with Iocca? I thought he was a republican, owning his hide to Reagan. Besides, why does his support-change make the big news? He's just another flip-flopper and it's fitting that he support Kerry.
Jerk.
It's always been understood that Kerry would win Michigan anyway. Iowa-cukcah or no Iwoa-cukcah...
Before everyone starts simultaneously having apopleptic fits, I do believe this admistration has called for the same measure.
Iacocca didn't help Bush in 2000.
Many corporate execs are not true capitalists.
They see no real line between the private and
public sectors, and want handouts as much as
welfare recipients do. Even many CEOs who are
true capitalists have no understanding of the
socialist mind. Thinking of a guy like Kerry as
another potential "CEO," rather than as the
leader of a party of socialists, they assume
he'll try to improve whatever has gone wrong
on Bush's watch. The idea that Bush's mistakes
have more do to with insufficient toughness or
respect for the free market does not occur to
dolts like Mr. Iacocca. He just sees politics
as an extension of business. In fact, the two
worlds are far apart.
Mo'Par to ya ;-)
"The world has changed. Our country is changing. We need a leader who understands that change," said Iacocca, responsible for automotive hits like the Ford Mustang, Chrysler K-car and Chrysler minivan. "We can't compete unless our technology is cutting edge and world class."
What a crock of BS.
Who the heck did the Chinese and Russians steal secrets from anyway?
Kerry will never make it off the lot. ;-)
BTW - Bush needs to do the same ALWhore did in 2000 with those "I'm just an autoworker" ads that killed us.
Lee is playing to his masters that are behind the dividends he gets from his Chrysler stock, the germans.
Yeah so they can tax us some more... right Kerry? You communist filth.
This is the first peep I've heard out of Iacocca since that sports car of his went down the tubes.
Is he senile? Kerry is good for business? Next thing he will claim to have invented the broadband internet.
The original Mustang was great but later versions fuggedabout it. He was also probably behind the literally explosive car called the Pinto and the K-car was a piece of crap.
Right. We need George W. Bush. Kerry is a dinosaur and a nobody.
This could be payback for the way GWB ignored high tech when it was hurting most.
I'm not so sure Iaccoco is all that popular in Michigan, is he?
Why what GWB suppose to do when high tech was hurting?
Soros must be paying iacocca a LOT of $$$$ for this crap!
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