Posted on 08/24/2004 12:38:33 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Vanessa Kerry doesn’t try to hide her frustration with the recent criticism of her father’s war record.
"I’m a little disgusted," she said yesterday, adding that she gets "really heated up" when she talks about the issue.
Kerry, the younger of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s two daughters, spoke with the Tribune by telephone yesterday to highlight a Democratic community service project aimed at Missouri college students.
But she also touched on a variety of political and personal issues.
The 27-year-old medical student - who is on hiatus from Harvard University as she campaigns for her father - said much is at stake for her generation of voters because policies are being made that won’t kick in for years. As an example, she cited the environmental policies of President George W. Bush’s administration and tax cuts he’s pressed.
"I’m all for people getting money back, but I don’t think the wealthiest Americans need to take home the most," she said.
Kerry said her father has a record of conviction and optimism and described the nominee with the familiarity that only a daughter could employ. She recalled telling him recently about a story in the Los Angeles Times detailing the closure of emergency rooms in that city because of the costs of caring for uninsured patients. Her father, she said, "freaked out" and quickly read the article.
"He’s living and breathing this," she said. "This is not something that is for show."
As a daughter of the candidate, Vanessa Kerry is one of many surrogates lavishing attention on battleground states on behalf of the Kerry-Edwards ticket. She said she is enjoying the campaign, although she doesn’t enjoy the fact that strangers now recognize her.
Her main focus, she said, is motivating young voters to become involved, as in the "Call To Serve Presidential Debate Project." Under that program, announced last week, Missouri students are being challenged to perform community service. The two students who perform the most service between Aug. 20 and Sept. 30 will receive two tickets to the presidential debate scheduled Oct. 8 at Washington University in St. Louis. Details are available at www.johnkerry.com/missouridebate.
"Encouraging" community service "and being a part of that is really important to me," Kerry said.
In recent weeks, an organization called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has roiled the presidential campaign by airing television ads that accuse John Kerry of lying about his record as a war hero in Vietnam.
Vanessa Kerry said she’s discussed the controversy with her father and that he has expressed frustration that "people that he served with are also being tarnished by these accusations."
Paul Sloca, a spokesman for the state Republican party, said the GOP also thinks the youth vote is important, adding that "hard-working Americans got their money back" because of Bush’s tax cuts.
I'd be heated up if I found that my father was a phony.
If this isn't one of the dumbest things ever said, I don't know what is. If you're the wealthiest, by definition you take home the most.
Memo to parents considering Harvard tuition - this is what 30 grand a year buys your offspring.
Bush Girls Say Dad's a "Good Guy"
WASHINGTON (AP) _August 24, 2004 — President Bush's twin daughters say their dad is "a really good guy," and they're urging young voters to support his re-election. That message from Barbara and Jenna Bush comes today in an e-mail sent to voters in the 18-to-24-year-old range.
The message also points out that only about 32 percent of the people in that age group were registered to vote in 2000.
The Bush twins also advised young people not to allow schoolwork, parties and extracurricular activities to prevent them from entering the voting booth -- and instead take part in an election that could help change the nation's future. (AP)
This is the one who wears clothing in public, right?
Good humor has truth.
Bump!
Vanessa....call the campaign. There are new talking points.
Keep your sex life to yourself, honey.
I think Associate Press needs to be more specific!
LOL
Will Ben Affleck still want her after daddy loses..and step mom divorces daddy?
I'll bet that she doesn't get "all heated up" when people call W a Nazi.
Is that a real picture of her?
She kind of makes (gag, gag) Chelsea look (gag, gag) cute.
I wonder if he was "freaked out" to find out WHO is mostly responsible for those rising health costs?
They were slandered by your wicked, evil daddy. You are wicked too if you support his lies. I pity you being such a creep's daughter. I honestly don't know how you can show your face in public.
Her father is basing his campaign on his military record. IT IS THEREFORE UP TO SCRUTINY. If you don't want to bring up the past, don't run for office based on your accomplishments of the past.
DUH!!
Of course not. It's just a healthy part of the debate, you know?
By the way, she is one ugly Ms. Kerry.
thats the other one (alexandra) the one with the see through dress... lol
If you just watched CNN and quit thinking so much, you'd be blissful like the sheeple.
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