Dukakis Watch -- Day 3 (Have You Seen This Man?)

Republican National Committee ^ | July 28, 2004

[RWR8189]

DUKAKIS WATCH – DAY 3
Have You Seen This Man?
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JOHN KERRY: MICHAEL DUKAKIS’
LT. GOVERNOR (1983-1984)

Kerry Advocated Massive Defense Cuts As. Lt. Governor

In 1982 Campaign For Lt. Governor, Said Federal Government Spent Too Much On Defense. “[Dukakis-Kerry] will be leaders in the fight against Reaganomics - against … a record $1.6 trillion increase in defense spending coupled with record cuts in domestic social programs …” (Dukakis For Governor Committee, “Economic Prosperity And Jobs For Our People,” Campaign Literature, 1982)

In 1983, Implied Defense Spending Does Not Create Jobs And Should Not Be Priority. “[T]he President’s priorities and ours do not match. He has cut economic development, elderly, and education programs at the same time he is piling more and more money on the ever-increasing defense budget. While worthwhile economic development programs help us create and keep jobs, the defense budget increases are capital intensive and provide no future for the state.” (Lt. Gov. John F. Kerry, Letter To Mr. Wayne Taylor, 2/17/83)

In 1984, Kerry Said “Defense Expenditures Of The Reagan Administration Are Without Any Relevancy To The Threat This Nation Is Currently Facing.”  (“Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget,” Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

Kerry Told The Boston Globe He Did Not Support “Annual Increases In The Military Budget Above The Rate Of Inflation.”  (“Senate Candidates’ Positions,” The Boston Globe, 7/8/84)

Kerry: “The Defense Expenditures Of The Reagan Administration Are Without Any Relevancy To The Threat This Nation Is Currently Facing.”  (“Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget,” Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

Kerry Proposed Cutting $54 Billion From FY1985 Defense Budget As Part Of “Long-Range Proposal To Cut $200 Billion From The Defense Budget Over Four Years,” And   Called For Cancellation Of At Least 27 Weapons Systems And Reductions In 18 Other Systems.  “[Kerry] recommended cancellation of 27 weapons systems including the B1 bomber, the cruise missile, MX missile, Trident submarine, Patriot air defense missile, F15 fighter plane, Sparrow missile, stealth bomber and Pershing II missile. He recommended reductions in 18 other systems including the joint tactical air system, the Bradley fighting vehicle, the M1 Abrams tank and the F16 fighter plane.”  (Chris Black, “Kerry Asks Cuts In Defense Outlay,” The Boston Globe, 5/30/84)

But Kerry Was Open To Even More Cuts Than He Had Already Listed.  “There is nothing cast in stone about this list … It is an effort to create a dialogue in this campaign. It may be that there could be additional cuts.”  (“Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget,” Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

In Fact, Kerry Expanded List To “Specific Cuts In Some 60 Categories” In Discussion With The Cape Codder Newspaper, Including:  SSN-688 Los Angeles Class Nuclear Attack Submarine, Trident I Submarine, Trident I Missile, Trident II Submarine-Based Missile, Midgetman Missile, Pershing II Missile, DDG-51 Aegis air defense destroyer, and CG-47 Aegis air defense cruiser.  (“John F. Kerry,” 1984 State Primary Newspaper Supplement, The Cape Codder, 9/11/84)

Kerry’s 1984 Senate Campaign Defense Position Paper Called For Cancellation Of:  MX Missile, B-1 Bomber, Anti-satellite system, Star Wars [Strategic Defense Initiative], AH-64 Helicopters, Patriot Air Defense Missile, Aegis Air-Defense Cruiser, Battleship Reactivation, AV-8B Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft, F-15 Fighter Aircraft, F-14A Fighter Aircraft, F-14D Fighter Aircraft, Phoenix Air-to-Air Missile, Sparrow Air-to-Air Missile (“John Kerry On The Defense Budget,” Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984)

Position Paper Also Called For 50% Reduction Of Tomahawk Missiles.  (“John Kerry On The Defense Budget,” Campaign Position Paper, John Kerry For U.S. Senate, 1984)

According To His Foreign Policy Advisor, Kerry’s Proposed Cuts Formed “Overall Defense Strategy.”  “Joining Kerry was Michael Nacht, chairman of Kerry’s foreign policy task force and an instructor at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, who said Kerry’s proposal was ‘unique’ because it was an overall defense strategy, not just a pro or con statement about certain Reagan administration programs.”  (“Kerry Asks $54 Billion Cut In Reagan Defense Budget,” Berkshire Eagle, 5/30/84)

[RexBeach]

Michael Dukakis is, perhaps, the most hated Democrat in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is arrogant, narrow-minded and cheap - not poor - but cheap. So cheap he squeaks when he walks.

You won't see him around "The Flea Center".

[OldFriend]

Haven't seen Mondull either. And let's not forget that Dukaka got more votes than slick willie.

[K1avg]

Dukakis was just shown on the convention floor being interviewed by CNN.

[StopGlobalWhining]

How about Barney Frank? Has he been seen anywhere near the convention?