Posted on 10/31/2004 9:42:45 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
The Federal Opposition says Prime Minister John Howard has acted inappropriately by declaring his support for incumbent United States President, George W Bush.
Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says Mr Howard has angered US presidential hopeful John Kerry with his decision to endorse his opponent.
Mr Rudd says Mr Howard should not take sides but rather leave the decision to the US people.
He says Labor has good relations with both parties.
"When asked about this on many occasions, the response from the Australian Labor Party has been 'we will work with whichever administration the American people elect, elect to the White House next Tuesday'," he said.
"That's the entirely appropriate response. John Howard's arrogance now appears to have no limits."
Opposition Leader Mark Latham added: "I've always said that American politicians should stay out of Australian politics, particularly election campaigns, and the reverse applies - that we shouldn't be trying to medal or play favourites when other countries have their democratic decisions to make."
Please send Labor their second belting in a month.
Does Labor party think Kerry's siter campaigning against Howard was appropriate?
Cripes! They're like this all over!
Any word on whether the Australian Opposition Leader was deeply saddened?
Did Kerry complain when Clinton thug Carville was supporting a loser for Prime Minster in Israel?
He WILL be deeply bloody saddened!!!
Kerry can keep his sister home next time and stop interfering in Aussie politics.
Also, for all those worried about the polls, the polls had Howard tied with the Labour candidate and even behind.
He went on to a easy win and won the Aussie Senate as well.
I look for a repeat here in the US
stupid labor can stick it where the sun don't shine
What on earth is the problem with Australia's PM opining that Kerry would be a worthless ally in the war on terror? Howard shouldn't have to pretend. A Kerry win doesn't help his country in any way.
A Kerry win doesn't help EITHER country.
Not one mention of how John Kerry sent his sister down to Australia to try and throw Mr. Howard out of office. I'd say he has quite sufficient reason to back President Bush.
If I were a world leader anywhere, I would be VERY AFRAID of a Kerry presidency. He would never be able to make any hard decision without taking a poll, calling committees, ask the U.N., ask TahRAYza and then put his finger in the wind!
.........Yup! that would about do it for me if I were Mr. Howard.
Mark Latham, House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia, 5th February 2003: "Bush himself is the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memory. It is a bit rich for him to be preaching democratic values when he himself failed to win a democratic majority in the 2000 presidential election. His war with Iraq is more about revenging his father's mistakes, it is about the things that happened in Iraq and Kuwait in the early 1990s and it is about securing domestic political advantage."
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