THE RAW DEAL: Desperate Measures: Kerry Offers His 5th Explanation For His Vote Against The Troops

George W. Bush ^ | July 15, 2004

[RWR8189]

"As a sign of John Kerry's mounting desperation to explain to Americans his vote against funding for our troops on the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq, John Kerry today called his tortured position 'complicated.' There's nothing complicated about funding troops with body armor, health care and supplies after you voted to send them to war."

- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

John Kerry Has Offered Five Positions On Supporting The Troops:

1. Kerry Had Characterized A Vote Against The Funding As "Irresponsible." Doyle McManus (LA Times): "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" Kerry: "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to – to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible." (CBS, "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)
2. Kerry Voted Against $87 Billion War Supplemental. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)
3. Kerry Offered A Tortured Explanation Of His Vote Against The $87 Billion To Support Troops In Iraq. "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." (Richard W. Stevenson and Adam Nagourney, "Bush's Campaign Emphasizes Role Of Leader In War," The New York Times, 3/17/04)
4. Kerry Said He's "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers. "Here is the value that John Edwards and I will put in place. I'm proud to say that John joined me in voting against that $87 billion when we knew the policy had to be changed." (John Kerry, Remarks at "Women's Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)
5. Kerry Says His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." Don Imus: "That's probably a longer answer than I would be able to give to, say, Senator Miller or Senator Hatch, but …" Sen. Kerry: "Well, you know, that's a problem. Some of these things are a little complicated. They like to simplify them and pretend to America. The pretending time is over." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

Kerry And Biden Differ On Vote:

Kerry Offers Biden Amendment As Defense Of His Vote. Sen. Kerry: "So Joe Biden and I, and I know you like Joe, Joe and I brought an amendment to say: Hey, America, rather than have a $690 billion tax cut for everybody over the next 10 years who's earning, you know, over $200,000 a year, why don't we just share the sacrifice and take $600 billion, and that way we could pay for the entire war right up front and not add to the deficit. Guess what? George Bush said no. The Republicans said no. And what they're doing is trying to, you know, once again mislead America, as they do so effectively, make a joke out of something that's serious. They've added that money to the deficit, they're burdening our children. John Edwards and I want to be fiscally responsible, put America back on track, and that's exactly what we're going do." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

After His Admendment Was Defeated, Sen. Joseph Biden Voted For $87 Billion Iraq/Afghanistan War Supplemental. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Biden Voted Yea)

Biden Said Kerry Was "Dead Wrong" To Vote Against $87 Billion For Troops And Reconstruction In Iraq And Afghanistan. ABC's George Stephanopoulos: (Off Camera) "He [Kerry] said first I voted for it, then I voted against it. How can he justify voting against that $87 billion?" Sen. Joseph Biden: "Well, I don't, I advised him to vote for it and I think by the way let's make clear what he meant when he voted for and against it. He didn't say it very well. I added an amendment saying it should be paid for out of the tax cut. He voted for that. So in a sense, had that passed he would have voted for the $87 billion. I think it's, look, I think what John Kerry ..." George Stephanopoulos: (Off Camera) "Even though it didn't you still voted for it." Sen. Joseph Biden: "I absolutely still voted for it and I think John was dead wrong." (ABC's "This Week," 3/21/04)

Senators Kerry And Edwards Are Two Of Only Four US Senators Who Voted For The Use Of Force Resolution Against Iraq And Against The $87 Billion Supplemental Supporting Our Troops.

• Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry And Edwards Voted Against Provided "Extra Money For Body Armor For Soldiers …" (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay; "Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures," The Associated Press, 10/17/03; S. Rept. 108-160, Conference Report On S. 1689, 10/2/03)
• Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry And Edwards Voted Against Provided Increased Combat Pay For Troops. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay; "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 And Edwards Voted Against Provided Health Benefits For Reservists And Guardsmen Called To Active Duty, As Well As Support For Their Families. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay; "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)

[plain talk]

He voted against the bill. Doesn't matter what he says now.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Like Bill Clinton, "yes she gave me a hummer in the Oval office. But it wasn't even good."

I know.... Delete. Sorry, my bad

[mwp99]

5. Kerry Says His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." Don Imus: "That's probably a longer answer than I would be able to give to, say, Senator Miller or Senator Hatch, but …" Sen. Kerry: "Well, you know, that's a problem. Some of these things are a little complicated. They like to simplify them and pretend to America. The pretending time is over." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

The best thing about this one was Kerry's first sentence out of his mouth after Imus first posed the question to him about the $87 billion. Paraphrsasing, he said "There's a simple answer to that, Don". By the end of his drawn-out answer, his "simple answer" became "a little complicated" and it was Bush and company who were "simplifying" things.

Only John Kerry could give one answer that is both simple and complicated.

[OldFriend]

Monsieur Ketchup........the truth is quite simple, the lies are complicated.

[jveritas]

Senator Kerry:

You can explain from now until hell freezes over why you voted against the $ 87 billions to fund and protect our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. However the matter is very simple:

There was a final bill on the Senate floor to support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with $ 87 billions, and you Senator Kerry voted against it. You senator Kerry left our troops behind, period, end of story.

[jveritas]

…" Sen. Kerry: "Well, you know, that's a problem. Some of these things are a little complicated. They like to simplify them and pretend to America. The pretending time is over."

Man, what a powerful and convincing answer.

Now after hearing this most powerful answer from Senator Kerry, all the people of the united States are shouting on the top of their lungs Kerry, Kerry, Kerry.... We want Kerry for President... (/sarcasm of course).

This man is the biggest joke to ever been on the national political scene.

[nothingnew]

The only thing missing from kerry's resume is a membership in the CPofA. He's a marxist, plain and simple.

FMCDH(BITS)

[VOA]

THE RAW DEAL: Desperate Measures: Kerry Offers His 5th Explanation For His Vote Against The Troops

Surely Kerry must be close to qualifying for the "number of flip-flops
in a political career" world record.

[nothingnew]

...the truth is quite simple, the lies are complicated.

Words to live by.

FMCDH(BITS)

[OldFriend]

Maybe we can devise a new Olympic category and send Kerry. He'd surely win..........FLIP FLOPPING THE MOST TIMES ON A SINGLE SUBJECT.

[jveritas]

John Kerry, you, and all the liberals can spin it from now till the end of times. However this is the fact:

At the end there was a final bill of 87 billion dollar to support our troops and John Kerry voted NO.

End of story.