The Kerry Line: John Kerry the New Howard Dean

George W. Bush ^ | September 16, 2004

[RWR8189]

"John Kerry yesterday denied seeing any circumstances justifying the Iraq War despite voting for the war and previously saying it was the 'right decision.' Kerry's comments on Iraq show that while he condemned Howard Dean in the Democratic primaries, he has now actually adopted Howard Dean's position on Iraq."

- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

John Kerry Is Adopting The Position Of Howard Dean:

Kerry Now Says There Were No Circumstances Under Which We Should Have Gone To War, But He Was Still Right To Vote For It. IMUS: "Do you think there are any circumstances we should have gone to war in Iraq, any?" KERRY: "Not under the current circumstances, no. There are none that I see. I voted based on weapons of mass destruction. The President distorted that, and I've said that. I mean, look, I can't be clearer. But I think it was the right vote based on what Saddam Hussein had done, and I think it was the right thing to do to hold him accountable. I've said a hundred times, there was a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. The president chose the wrong way. Can't be more direct than that." (MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 9/15/04)

Kerry: "It's The Wrong War In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time." (Mary Dalrymple, "Kerry Wants To Try To Pull Troops Out Of Iraq Within Four Years," The Associated Press, 9/6/04)

• March 2003: Dean Said Iraq War Was "Wrong War At The Wrong Time." "It is our patriotic duty to say to the president, 'We wish our troops well. We hope they get home safely and soon, but Mr. President, we think this war is a mistake,' … This is the wrong war at the wrong time." (Christopher Graff, "Howard Dean Says He Will Back Troops, But Not War Policies," The Associated Press, 3/17/03)

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)

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Said Kerry's Decision To Vote Against The Iraq Supplemental Was An Attempt "To Prove To Dean's Guys" That He Was "Not A Warmonger." (Philip Gourevitch, "Damage Control," The New Yorker, 7/26/04)

Kerry's Latest Position On The $87 Billion

Kerry: "We Did Vote For The Funding." IMUS: "They can't get this equipment for these troops if people like you won't vote for the funding, though." KERRY: "We did vote for the funding. I voted for the largest defense budgets in the history of our country. And I voted— This is long after the war, that $87 billion vote. The war had started. These people were sent over there without the equipment. And they still don't have the equipment." (MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 9/15/04)

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

• Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry And Edwards Voted Against Provided "Extra Money For Body Armor For Soldiers …" ("Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures," The Associated Press, 10/17/03; S. Rept. 108-160, Conference Report On S. 1689, 10/2/03)

Kerry's Previous Explanations On His Vote Against Funding

Kerry First Characterized A Vote Against The Funding As "Irresponsible." Doyle McManus (LA Times): "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" Kerry: "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to – to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible." (CBS, "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

Kerry Voted Against $87 Billion War Supplemental.

Kerry 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's "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers. "Here is the value that John Edwards and I will put in place. I'm proud to say that John joined me in voting against that $87 billion when we knew the policy had to be changed." (John Kerry, Remarks at "Women's Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)

Kerry Said His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." Don Imus: "That's probably a longer answer than I would be able to give to, say, Senator Miller or Senator Hatch, but …" Sen. Kerry: "Well, you know, that's a problem. Some of these things are a little complicated. They like to simplify them and pretend to America. The pretending time is over." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

[hflynn]

Is Kerry really going to debate Bush? I think Kerry should be made to debate Kerry first and then the winner gets to take on Bush.

[angkor]

I heard those twisted and convoluted explanations on Imus the other day. They make even less sense in print than they did the other day.

[Indie]

Can't be more direct than that

Huh? What a bunch of legalesque double-talk. Sieg...heil!! [Kerry obviously had a good teacher]