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Kerry Pushes Broadband Access, Wins Over Iacocca
Reuters ^

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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: iacocca
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To: ItisaReligionofPeace

Ah, if only Dubya bailed out the dot bombs, all would have a high paying job now!


41 posted on 06/24/2004 7:30:37 PM PDT by OldFriend (IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THANK A TEACHER.......AND SINCE IT'S IN ENGLISH, THANK A SOLDIER)
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To: get'emall

With those old enough to remember him I think he is.


42 posted on 06/24/2004 7:32:10 PM PDT by OneTimeLurker
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To: isthisnickcool

All the rich welfare recipients are backing Kerry. He will take money out of their right pockets via increased taxes, and put more money into their left pockets.



43 posted on 06/24/2004 7:35:27 PM PDT by oblomov
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To: KevinDavis

I would too, and I wish they would act more like the GOP than Rats when it comes to spending our money.


44 posted on 06/24/2004 7:37:34 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Pikamax
Perhaps Kerry's plan to generate technology jobs like Bangalore is to cut current salaries by 4 or 5 times and have technology workers "chained to their computers." More from Wired
45 posted on 06/24/2004 7:44:04 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: Dane
OK Dane, I'll give you credit for finding a speech where GWB had a few kind words for the tech sector. Of course, March, 2001 was before our economy hit bottom. It got much worse, and considering some of the wrong ideas in GWB's speech it's easy to see why.

BTW, who were these tech leaders who had to slog all the way to DC to hear a terrible economic speech? In typical GWB fashion, he mentioned all the government grandees in attendance, but no one from the private sector.

46 posted on 06/24/2004 7:48:53 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Hank Rearden
And this is supposed to be a good thing?

Hell no. Just pointing out the hypocrisy of it. If Kerry does it, it's criminal. How soon they all forget that Bush proposed the same thing.

47 posted on 06/24/2004 7:56:56 PM PDT by ShadowDancer
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To: Dane

Another interesting bit of history is that the tech dominated NASDAQ index was down 118 points on the day GWB gave your referenced tech-friendly speech. Shorting W's economic speeches from that time period was money in the bank.


48 posted on 06/24/2004 7:58:33 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: TomServo
Here, too
49 posted on 06/24/2004 7:59:05 PM PDT by ShadowDancer
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To: Geist Krieger

No assumption here. Kerry is in big trouble in Michigan.


50 posted on 06/24/2004 8:04:44 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Gen. Custer wore an Arrowsmith shirt to his last property owner convention.)
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To: kdot

I thought that old fart was much older than that old fart is purported to be. But since he is sort of old, why didn't he serve in WWII or Korea? If military service is such a touchstone for candidates, it ought to be a touchstone for high profile supporters.


51 posted on 06/24/2004 8:21:51 PM PDT by mathurine
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To: Moonman62
Another interesting bit of history is that the tech dominated NASDAQ index was down 118 points on the day GWB gave your referenced tech-friendly speech. Shorting W's economic speeches from that time period was money in the bank

Actually shorting anything from the clinton/rubin fueled dot bomb period would have made anybody a lot of money.

But you already knew that and deecided to blame Bush.

52 posted on 06/24/2004 8:44:37 PM PDT by Dane
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To: Dane

Some of those "dot bombs" are leading the current recovery. GWB was handed a slight economic problem. He turned it into a huge one. Thankfully, we are heading in the right direction after GWB saw that his economic plans could cost him reelection. He started giving fewer economic speeches and let others form most of the second tax cut.


53 posted on 06/24/2004 9:24:13 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Moonman62
Some of those "dot bombs" are leading the current recovery. GWB was handed a slight economic problem. He turned it into a huge one

Some, maybe 10% of the dot coms are still in business.

And 9/11 was a "slight economic problem", whew time to take your meds, IMO, plus the economy was already heading into recesession in 2000.

Dude you twist the facts around almost as bad michael moore.

54 posted on 06/24/2004 9:29:36 PM PDT by Dane
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To: Dane
Some, maybe 10% of the dot coms are still in business.

Which is typical for a new market. Look at how many car companies went out of business by the time their market matured. The big three, Ebay, Yahoo, and Amazon are not only chugging along, but as I said, they are leading the recovery.

And 9/11 was a "slight economic problem", whew time to take your meds, IMO, plus the economy was already heading into recesession in 2000.

Most of the damage had already been done by 9/11. Greenspan started his unnecessary rate hikes in 1999. 9/11 is actually what turned Greenspan in the right direction, though it took GWB quite a bit longer. GWB's problem was he never correctly diagnosed the problem. I hope he never gives another economic speech if he wins reelection and we should do OK.

55 posted on 06/24/2004 9:48:08 PM PDT by Moonman62
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To: Moonman62

Yes, and all signs now point to increased business spending. Increased consumer spending leads to increased business spending, not the other way around. BTW, from what I hear, the transportation industry (trucking) is in the process of buying new trucks to replace the older ones that they have because they haven't been replacing them as much because the economy wasn't that good and because of uncertainty. Just another real life example.


56 posted on 06/25/2004 4:11:04 AM PDT by ItisaReligionofPeace (I'm from the government and I'm here to help.)
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To: ItisaReligionofPeace
Increased consumer spending leads to increased business spending, not the other way around.

No it doesn't. Businesses and investors alike look toward the future for a reasonable return on investment. If they lose confidence in the government, they won't spend or invest. Where do you think consumers get their money? Consumer spending was healthy during most of the downturn, contradicting your theory. Just about every economic downturn in the last 100 years can be attributed to a government screwup. (raising taxes, currency manipulation, overspending, raising interest rates, etc.)

57 posted on 06/25/2004 4:31:16 AM PDT by Moonman62
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To: SageofRugby
"We are still paying the Al Gore internet tax on our phone bills and I'm not sure what we've gotten for it."

Your comment reminded me of my 'favorite' phone tax.

You might not be aware of this, as not many people are, but we are ALL still paying a 3% excise tax to fund... (drum roll) .... the SPANISH AMERICAN WAR! This 'temporary tax' was enacted in 1898 is STILL there today!!!

Now IMHO - that's something to po'd about and proof that there ain't no such thing as a temporary tax.

58 posted on 06/25/2004 6:05:46 AM PDT by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. -- Gen G. Patton Jr)
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