Extreme Makeover: Day 3

George W. Bush ^ | July 28, 2004

[RWR8189]

"There is neither strength nor wisdom in John Kerry's vacillation on the very serious issue of Iraq and the War on Terror.  John Kerry's positions have shifted with the political winds - a troubling sign for a candidate for President at a time when our nation faces unprecedented challenges at home and abroad.  President Bush has led with the clarity, purpose and strength that comes with the wisdom of a leader with deep convictions and principles and a clear vision for where he wants to lead this country over the next four years."
- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry's Shifting Position On Iraq

December 2001: Kerry Ready To Include Saddam Hussein In War On Terror.  CNN'S LARRY KING: "What about enhancing this war, Senator Kerry. What are your thoughts on going further than Afghanistan, all terrorist places …"  KERRY: "Oh, I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein."  (CNN's "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

September 2002: Kerry Warns Saddam May Give "These Weapons Off To Terrorist Groups."  KERRY: "I would disagree with John McCain that it's the actual weapons of mass destruction he may use against us, it's what he may do in another invasion of Kuwait or in a miscalculation about the Kurds or a miscalculation about Iran or particularly Israel. Those are the things that - that I think present the greatest danger. He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It's the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat."  (CBS' "Face The Nation," 9/15/02)

October 2002: Kerry Voted For Iraq War Resolution.

October 2003: Kerry Voted Against Senate Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package. 

January 2004: Kerry Says He Is An Anti-War Candidate. MSNBC'S CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Do you think you belong to that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war, the way it's been fought, along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt?  Are you one of the anti-war candidates?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I am -- Yes, in the sense that I don't believe the president took us to war as he should have, yes, absolutely." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 1/6/04)

Kerry's Record Against Supporting U.S. Troops

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

Kerry Had Characterized A Vote Against The Funding As "Irresponsible."  (CBS, "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

Kerry Later 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)

Kerry Said He Was "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers. (John Kerry, Remarks at "Women's Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)

Kerry Then Said His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

Kerry Even Said His Vote For The War And Against Funding For Our Troops Was "Not A Flip-Flop." (CBS' "Evening News," 7/21/04)

Kerry Adviser On Vote Against The $87 Billion Appropriation:  "Off The Record, He Did It Because Of Howard Dean.  On The Record, He Has An Elaborate Explanation."  (Philip Gourevitch, "Damage Control," The New Yorker, 7/26/04)

Kerry's Record Of Proposing Intelligence Cuts

Kerry Was On Senate Select Intelligence Committee For Eight Years (1993-2000). 

·        Not Long After First World Trade Center Bombing, Kerry Proposed $7.5 Billion In Across The Board Intelligence Cuts.  In 1994, Kerry proposed rescinding $1 billion in the FY 1994 Intelligence budget and freezing the budget at that level through at least FY1998, which would cut $5 billion from Intelligence funding during that period.  Kerry's proposal was defeated by a vote of 20 to 75, with even Sen. Ted Kennedy voting against the measure.  Then in 1995, Kerry proposed a bill to, "[r]educe the Intelligence budget by $300 million in each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000."  This bill had no co-sponsors and never reached the Senate floor for a vote.  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)  

·        While On Committee, Kerry Missed 38 Of 49 Intelligence Committee Hearings.  During John Kerry's eight years of service on the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence, there were 49 open, public hearings. Of these 49, John Kerry attended just 11 (22.4%). Among the most notable of those he missed is the June 8, 2000, hearing on the report of the National Commission on Terrorism, which warned about the terrorist threat we now face and recommended numerous steps to address that threat (few of which were adopted prior to 9/11/01)

[Alcibiades]

LOL, a preemptive strike by the bush campaign. At least we are being aggressive now.