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Kerry: I Wouldn't Respond to Nuclear Attack
Newsmax ^ | 8/13/04 | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 08/13/2004 7:04:03 AM PDT by truthandlife

John Kerry told Democrats gathered in Boston two weeks ago that he defended his country as a young soldier in Vietnam and he would defend it again as president.

But as Michael Dukakis' Lieutenant Governor, Kerry authored an executive order that said the state of Massachussetts would refuse to take part in any civil defense efforts in response to a nuclear attack on America.

The presidential candidate was an ardent proponent of the nuclear freeze at the time, and viewed Cold War civil defense preparations as an attempt to delude the American people into thinking a nuclear exchange was survivable.

Lt. Gov. Kerry's executive order on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts read in part:

"Whereas the existing and potential strength of nuclear weapons is such that nuclear war can neither be won nor survived, it can only be prevented; and Whereas the only effective defense against the horrors of nuclear weapons lies in their elimination and in the prevention of nuclear war or attacks, [the Commonwealth of Massachusetts] shall seek to ensure the safety of its citizens by pursuit of policies reflecting a serious commitment to prevention of nuclear war."

"Such policies," the Kerry directive continued, "shall include education of citizens concerning the real nature of nuclear war and efforts to influence national policy towards negotiation of an end to the nuclear-arms race."

The Kerry order stated emphatically, however: "No funds shall be expended by the Commonwealth for crisis relocation planning for nuclear war."

Monica Conyngham, Lt. Gov. Kerry's spokeswoman at the time, defended the controversial document, telling reporters, ''We believe that (evacuation) plans are absolutely futile and that there are no safehavens from nuclear war.''

Gov. Dukakis signed Kerry's "no nuclear defense" executive order into law on June 28, 1984.


TOPICS: Front Page News
KEYWORDS: issues; kerry; nationalinsecurity; nonukeskerry; nuclearfreeze; nuclearwar; unbelieveable
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To: truthandlife
The 'Truth Is' John Kerry BETRAYED his country after Vietnam and is still doing it......

There fore he would continue to 'Betray'... his country if he were elected POTUS

imo
41 posted on 08/13/2004 7:31:41 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: jojodamofo
Honestly, the headline is ridiculous considering what is in the article ...

Typical of newsmax

but I hope a lot of undecideds see it and skip over the article.

I don't think 'undecideds' read newsmax.

42 posted on 08/13/2004 7:31:44 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: The_Victor

>>> The leftist media had best hurry up and ignore this.

I prefer that they do.


43 posted on 08/13/2004 7:32:05 AM PDT by jojodamofo
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: Carl/NewsMax

>>> Where's the lie?

The state of Massachusetts is not responsible for responding to a nuclear war. The point of the EO was that it would be futile to spend money protecting people from something they cannot be protected from. Like I said in an another post, Kerry would respond to this by saying he is a fiscal conservative. It won't stick.


45 posted on 08/13/2004 7:34:45 AM PDT by jojodamofo
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To: Lunatic Fringe
The headline and the article don't add up.

Much as I dislike Kerry, you are correct. I reread the article a couple of times to find where it says that Kerry wouldn't respond.

46 posted on 08/13/2004 7:35:16 AM PDT by .38sw
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To: truthandlife
I'm sure he'd be willing to negotiate after we were bombed though.....
47 posted on 08/13/2004 7:35:17 AM PDT by b4its2late (John John Kerry Edwards change positions more often than a Nevada prostitute!!!)
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To: Taliesan; truthandlife
It is an article with insight into the thinking of Kerry. Was Kerry correct in the pursuit of the policy, or were the numerous planners and policy-makers correct? This statement clearly indicates the attitude held by Kerry.

The Kerry order stated emphatically, however: "No funds shall be expended by the Commonwealth for crisis relocation planning for nuclear war."

Monica Conyngham, Lt. Gov. Kerry's spokeswoman at the time, defended the controversial document, telling reporters, ''We believe that [evacuation] plans are absolutely futile and that there are no safehavens from nuclear war.''

Those statements from the article are not lies are they?

48 posted on 08/13/2004 7:37:59 AM PDT by AndrewC (I am a Bertrand Russell agnostic, even an atheist.</sarcasm>)
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To: truthandlife

It may just be an article as you preach to us, but the 19 years Kerry was in the Senate with his socialist voting record tells us exactly what he is all about. He refuses to talk about THIS RECORD but it shows the cut of the man. His actions after his 3 months in Vietnam cut the legs out from under the brave men and women who were still there and fueled the angst America experienced from the rabid left. That changed America forever. Kerry is a self grandizing liar the likes of which America has never seen.


49 posted on 08/13/2004 7:40:22 AM PDT by cousair
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To: jojodamofo
“ ...some Republicans are also beginning to talk about a 1984 executive order signed by former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis concerning emergency plans for the city of Boston in the event of a nuclear attack.

At the time, in the heyday of the U.S. nuclear-freeze movement, GOP sources say, Kerry -- who was then Dukakis' lieutenant governor -- bragged that he was the impetuous behind the order after having campaigned aggressively against Reagan-era nuclear policies in his bid for statewide office.

The order, which in part read, "Whereas the existing and potential strength of nuclear weapons is such that nuclear war can neither be won nor survived, it can only be prevented; and Whereas the only effective defense against the horrors of nuclear weapons lies in their elimination and in the prevention of nuclear war or attacks," said the Commonwealth of Massachusetts "shall seek to ensure the safety of its citizens by pursuit of policies reflecting a serious commitment to prevention of nuclear war." "Such policies," it continued, "shall include education of citizens concerning the real nature of nuclear war and efforts to influence national policy towards negotiation of an end to the nuclear-arms race," but that "No funds shall be expended by the Commonwealth for crisis relocation planning for nuclear war."

That's from The Washington Times...

50 posted on 08/13/2004 7:43:23 AM PDT by johnny7 (“You know... my 40 ft. Hinckley is named ''The Scaramouch'!” -Jawn Fawbs Karrie)
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To: joesnuffy

It depends on your definition of "Betray" and who his country is.


51 posted on 08/13/2004 7:45:43 AM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: Carl/NewsMax
"No funds shall be expended by the Commonwealth for crisis relocation planning for nuclear war."

As you know, the statement was focused on EVACUATION POLICY. You broaden the issue to "response", which is a much more broad word, and insinuate that Kerry said he would not RESPOND to a nuclear attack.

It is blatently dishonest, when somebody says "we're not going to prepare for evacuations for a nuclear attack", to write a headline that says "NO RESP0NSE" to a nuclear attack.

While his overall attitude is well represented by the policy, and while that policy is legitimately subject to all kinds of ridicule, there was no policy (at least in the info cited here) to NOT RESPOND TO A NUCLEAR ATTACK.

That I even have to explain to you why the headline is misleading is ridiculous. You know why it is misleading. And when you write something that is intentionally misleading, you lie.

If you wrote this headline, shame on you. This is why newsmax is not a credible news source, and therefore wastes good opportunities (like this one) to help the conservative cause.

52 posted on 08/13/2004 7:47:01 AM PDT by Taliesan (fiction police)
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To: jojodamofo
The state of Massachusetts is not responsible for responding to a nuclear war.

Not true. In Kerry's view at the time, the state of MA had limited responsibilities in the event of nuclear war, as the Kerry EO makes clear.

He outlined two choices in the EO. Education and prevention vs civil defense preparation. Kerry chose the first option, saying any defense against a nuclear attack was pointless.

What he would do as president, I have no idea. He hasn't spoken to the issue during the campaign.

But we do know that the only time he had responsibility for formulating a plan to respond to a nuclear strike, he said preparing a defense would only encourage an attack.

That's part of Kerry's record and the American people are entitled to draw whatever conclusions they deem appropriate.

53 posted on 08/13/2004 7:47:41 AM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
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To: AndrewC
(SIGH) No, the statements from the article are not lies. THE HEADLINE BROADENS THE SCOPE OF THE STATEMENTS FROM "RELOCATION" TO THE MORE GENERAL "RESPONSE". It does this intentionally. To intentionally mislead is to lie.

Come on. You are smarter than this. And more honest.

54 posted on 08/13/2004 7:50:15 AM PDT by Taliesan (fiction police)
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To: Lunatic Fringe
Another Newsmax prize-winning hit piece.

What do expect from a journalist that thinks Kerry was

a young soldier in Vietnam

55 posted on 08/13/2004 7:50:44 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Tourette's syndrome is just a $&#$*!% excuse for poor *%$#** language skills.)
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To: uwar2
You can't WISH John F'n Kerry to be what you want him to be. This is not the time for a pacifist. It's not safe to vote for Democarps yet.

I oppose Kerry's candidacy 100%. That you read my criticism of Newsmax's headline and thought I was defending Kerry's views simply means you too poor a reader to take part in the conversation.

56 posted on 08/13/2004 7:56:23 AM PDT by Taliesan (fiction police)
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To: truthandlife; ValerieUSA
negotiation of an end to the nuclear-arms race
Gee, what a revolutionary point of view! Signed in 1984, was it? President Ronald Reagan's START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) talks began in 1982 -- showing once again how shallow the Democrats must think everyone is.

57 posted on 08/13/2004 7:58:43 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
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To: Carl/NewsMax
American people are entitled to draw whatever conclusions they deem appropriate.

The American people will never see this article, precisely because you have a reputation for sloppiness, which reputation you are working hard to preserve on this thread.

58 posted on 08/13/2004 7:59:16 AM PDT by Taliesan (fiction police)
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To: Taliesan
You are smarter than this. And more honest.

Yes, and I know that the title used here is the title of the article. I also know that the policy here is to use the title of the article as the title of the thread.

59 posted on 08/13/2004 8:00:42 AM PDT by AndrewC (I am a Bertrand Russell agnostic, even an atheist.</sarcasm>)
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To: truthandlife


60 posted on 08/13/2004 8:01:54 AM PDT by Area Freeper (PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!)
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