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.
She'll just dabble in medicine and then moveon.
"I’m all for people getting money back, but I don’t think the wealthiest Americans need to take home the most," she said.
Miss Kerry: Under normal conditions, the more tax you pay, the larger your tax cut.
I don't understand why this is not easy to grasp and comprehend.
The only way you can get this to change is if you make a graduated scale, which is not just.
Why? Because ultimately, when people use this card, they are NOT really for helping the poor.
They are for their own greed.
And you Democrats play on this GREED, this sinful desire in people, by pretending to be for helping the poor (while opposing economic conditions and educational opportunities such as school voucher which would help the poor without govt. programs). But, in reality, Vanessa, you and your daddy are for getting votes by bribing the bottom 90% of the American populace.
You really do not care about the poor in the slightest.
With that face I wouldn't be surprised to find she has been entered in the Breeder's Handicap next Saturday at Santa Anita.
please!!!!!!!!!!!!
your pushing the end of the envelope.
not everything is relative.
Amazingly big chins in this family and Kerry keeps leading with his.
Bump!
They want our money to by votes.
O ... I thought ben actually "hit it" with the naked one, o well I guess its better than his usal, Matt Damon. lol
Not one of the vets who back Kerry have said boo about the atrocities (that I know of). Did they watch and do nothing? Did they participate or do they KNOW that Kerry never saw a thing that he could truly testify to before the Senate.
Aren't the current tax cuts scheduled to be sunset in a few years? So its not that they're kicking in, they're turning off. Maybe she should learn a little more before she starts talking to the press.
The press won't challenge her or correct her, so why should she tell the truth?
Aggggghh.........
I think Chelsea's problem was that she was at a very awkward age when her father got into the WH and people tend to remember her from that period. I think she's grown up into a reasonably attractive young woman. It's not unusual for young teen-agers to resemble ugly ducklings. But she did ok.
Aw come on. Just having a little fun.
She's got 10 fingers and 10 toes so god bless her.
Any comment about the full scholarship to study in London for her sister. You know the Fulbright Scholarship!!!!
What a hypocrit.......was she asked about that little detail by the writer?
Vanessa Kerry, daughter of candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts on July 29, 2004. Kerry, poised to accept the Democratic presidential nomination on the biggest night of his political career, promised on Thursday to restore the world's respect for America and 'ask hard questions' before taking the country to war. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn US ELECTION
You think that helped?
Damn and I was planning a wine and candles eve with the wifey tonight.
So much for that thought.
John Kerry testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by William Fulbright, in April 1971. Photo UPI
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
