Posted on 01/12/2005 10:29:00 AM PST by ejdrapes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy accused President Bush on Wednesday of hyping concerns about the nation's retirement program just as he did on Iraq and urged Democrats to stand up to the "politics of fear." The leading liberal voice in the U.S. Congress, Kennedy said Democrats, who lost the race for the White House for a second time in a row, must do a better job promoting their basic unifying values without mirroring Republicans in order to rebound from last November's election defeats. "We have an administration that falsely hypes almost every issue as a crisis," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a speech prepared for delivery at the National Press Club. "They did it on Iraq, and they are doing it now on Social Security." "They exploit the politics of fear and division, while ours is a politics of hope and unity," Kennedy said. "In the face of their tactics, we cannot move our party or our nation forward under pale colors and timid voices," said Kennedy, who at 72 has become an elder statesman in the Democratic Party. "We cannot become Republican clones," he said. "If we do, we will lose again, and deserve to lose. As I have said on other occasions, the last thing this country needs is two Republican parties." The 2004 White House race saw Bush re-elected and Republicans increase their majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Kennedy helped John Kerry, Massachusetts' junior senator, rally to capture the Democratic presidential nomination, and a number of Kennedy aides joined Kerry's campaign. With Democrats still seeking to regroup after the election defeats, Kennedy urged them to speak out. "If the White House's idea of bipartisanship is that we have to buy whatever partisan ideas they send us, we're not interested," he said. As Bush prepares to begin his second term, one of his top goals is to restructure the Social Security retirement program to allow workers to invest part of their payroll taxes in stocks and bonds. The administration contends that the move is needed to help keep the retirement program afloat for younger workers. Critics accuse Bush of exaggerating the problem and also complain that his plan would inject too much risk into a program that has helped keep retired people out of poverty. In winning re-election, Bush captured 51 percent of the popular vote, and left Democrats wondering what they could have done differently on such divisive issues as gay marriage and abortion rights. Kennedy, in his prepared remarks, voiced particular concern about abortion. "I yield to no one in my commitment to a woman's right to choose," Kennedy said. "We cannot -- and should not -- criminalize women or their doctors for making that choice." On Iraq, Kennedy said, "I do not retreat from the view that Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam." "The administration turned away from pursuing Osama bin Laden and made the catastrophic choice instead to bog down American forces in an endless quagmire in Iraq," Kennedy said. "I'm convinced John Kerry could have worked with the international community to end that war and bring our troops home with honor." Kennedy Accuses Bush of Hyping Problems
Kennedy, leadership that comes from the contents of a booze bottle.
Cheep shot but does these idiot have any concept of leading? Hard to believe he once gave carter a run for the nomination.
Leaders must ID problems not spin problems. Kennedy has been reading too much Goebles.
That guy is an embarrassment for the Democratic Party. I think he's like one of the last of the Mohicans. Problem is, you now have MoveOn and Michael Moore waiting in the wings to take over. I hope Joe Lieberman stands up and fights.
I hope God will forgive me, but I really do HATE those people.
Sounds like Teddy thinks it's time to sink or swim.
"must do a better job promoting their basic unifying values without mirroring Republicans"
They already do a good job of this by opposing Christianity, family values, freedom and patriotism, while promoting hate, divisiveness, perversity and self-indulgence.
Ted is a world class a$$. Can't let anybody off the plantation can you teddy.
What really gets my goat is this millionaire saying this crapola with a straight face.
Zzzzz,Zzzzz
"Hyping problems??"
Does he mean like OLD PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EAT DOG FOOD AND DIE FROM LACK OF CARE?
Does he mean WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE FROM GLOBAL WARMING?
Does he mean ALL LITTLE GIRLS WILL BE RAPED BY THEIR DADDYS AND BE FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH TO B*ST*RD BABIES AND LIVE IN POVERTY?
Does he mean MINORITIES ARE BEING SLOWLY MURDERED BY EVIL CONSERVATIVES WHO HATE THEM AND WANT THEM TO STARVE?
Does he mean ALL PEOPLE WITH AIDS SHOULD BE EXECUTED FOR THEIR LIFESTYLE CHOICES?
Does he mean STUDENTS HAVE TO LEARN INSIDE ASBESTOS-LADEN AND FILTHY CLASSROOMS?
*Blech!!*
I fear his driving...
The leading liberal voice, Kennedy, sounds drunk on the clips that Rush is playing.
Does anyone even listen to him any more?
So, "Chubby-Chops" doesn't think Soc. Sec. is in crisis?
What a putz. But then, he never worked for a living, did he?
I love it when Mark Levin plays Teddy singing "Rosie O'Grady".
Eggzackly. We have a winner.
Kennedy, in his prepared remarks, voiced particular concern about abortion.It's good to see he's clinging to his one core value."I yield to no one in my commitment to a woman's right to choose," Kennedy said. "We cannot -- and should not -- criminalize women or their doctors for making that choice."
It's called "wet brain".
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