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Kerry Comment Riles Bush Campaign (Update - Kerry Reaffirms GOP "Attack Squad" Claims, No Apology)
Yahoo! News ^ | 3/10/04 | Mike Glover - AP

Posted on 03/10/2004 6:10:39 PM PST by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON -

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) called Wednesday for deeper tax cuts for the middle class than proposed by President Bush (news - web sites) and described his Republican critics as "the most crooked ... lying group I've ever seen." The chairman of Bush's re-election campaign called on Kerry to apologize "for this negative attack."

After urging labor leaders to support his campaign, Kerry met with one-time rival Howard Dean (news - web sites) to discuss an endorsement and what role the former Vermont governor might play in his campaign.

Hoping to win over Dean, the presumptive nominee's staff greeted the fallen rival with a round of applause as he walked into Kerry headquarters. The two men shook hands, embraced briefly and raised joined hands for the cameras.

After the 45-minute meeting, officials close to the talks said Dean will endorse Kerry, with only the timing in question. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the best time might be March 25 when the presidential candidates join former Presidents Clinton and Carter for a Democratic Party fund-raiser.

"I will work closely with John Kerry to make sure we beat George Bush in November and turn our country around," Dean said in a statement that did not specifically mention an endorsement. "There is a lot we can do together to rebuild an America that belongs to all of us, and we'll be saying more about what our amazing grass-roots network can do to help with his goal." Dean has set March 18 to announce details of his grass-roots advocacy organization.

Kerry was scheduled to meet with another key rival, John Edwards (news - web sites), on Thursday.

Anticipating their meeting, the Bush campaign issued "Howard Dean's Greatest Hits on John Kerry," a 10-item recounting of Dean's criticisms. The quotes from news stories include Dean's statement in January that "you're not going to change America by nominating somebody who's a Washington insider whose biggest long suit is talk."

Kerry had 2,037 delegates after sweeping four Southern primaries Tuesday, an Associated Press analysis showed. He wasn't expected to reach 2,162, the number needed to secure the nomination, until next week.

Earlier Wednesday in Chicago, Kerry toughened his comments about his GOP critics after a supporter urged him to take on Bush. "Let me tell you, we've just begun to fight," Kerry said. "We're going to keep pounding. These guys are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen. It's scary."

Bush-Cheney campaign chairman Marc Racicot called on Kerry to apologize.

"Senator Kerry's statement today in Illinois was unbecoming of a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America, and tonight we call on Senator Kerry to apologize to the American people for this negative attack," Racicot said in a statement. "On the day that Senator Kerry emerged as his party's presumptive nominee, the president called to congratulate him. That goodwill gesture has been met by attacks and false statements."

Kerry spokesman David Wade said earlier that Kerry was referring to Republican critics in general and that the comment was intended to convey the message that "he's a Democrat who fights back."

The Bush-Cheney campaign didn't see it that way. "John Kerry has run a relentlessly negative campaign from the very beginning and this comment is completely consistent with that," the campaign said.

In a satellite address to top AFL-CIO leaders meeting in Florida, Kerry said a "Bush Tax" stemming from the president's economic policies has driven up costs for working families. He vowed to reverse that trend while asking those making more than $200,000 a year to pay the same taxes they paid under President Clinton (news - web sites), effectively repealing portions of a tax cut Bush pushed through Congress.

Kerry also proposed creating a $50 billion fund to help states provide relief from state and local taxes for working families that he said have been struggling.

"Under George Bush's policies, middle-class families are paying more," he said. "America's middle class can't afford a tax increase. That's why we're going to give the middle class a tax cut."

In response, the Bush campaign accused Kerry of favoring broad tax increases that would affect all taxpayers.

"John Kerry has voted for higher taxes 350 times and his numbers for new spending don't add up," said Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman. "His campaign-trail promises mean he is going to raise taxes by at least $900 billion." It is the first time the Bush campaign has put a number on tax hikes it says Kerry favors.

Kerry said a middle-class tax cut would do far more to spark the economy than what Bush has pushed, by helping people afford college costs, pay for health care and make ends meet.

"If this president wants to make this election about taxes after he's cut billions for billionaires and given middle-class families a larger share to pay, we're ready for that fight," he said.

Kerry also addressed Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) staff, seeking to end speculation that chairman Terry McAuliffe's role will be diminished. "No one can do what this man has done," Kerry said, according to Kerry and DNC aides in the private meeting.

___

AP Political Writer Ron Fournier contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; bushcampaign; gwb2004; insult; kerry; kerrycomments; lyingcrooks; riles; selfdescription
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To: BenLurkin
I believe that he was looking into a mirror when he said that.
61 posted on 03/10/2004 7:20:44 PM PST by sport
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To: cyncooper
I guess Racicot feels that he (Bush ) holds the Moral High Ground!

Not sure if that is gonna work with the Kerry's gutter strategy.

His wife was passing out buttons Titled "Asses of Evil" with pictures of Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney on them at a San Francisco political party!
62 posted on 03/10/2004 7:20:50 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
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To: Fraulein
There is nothing real about kerry.
63 posted on 03/10/2004 7:24:01 PM PST by sport
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To: atomicpossum
I think the Bush campaign should arrange a similar 'accident', where Bush could drop a really juicy tidbit that would be funny, provocative, and yet be apparent that they were making fun of the Kerry gaffe. Any suggestions?

Yes

-------------

Bush and Cheney by an open mike but they don't know it. (WINK)

Bush to Cheney: There's John Kerry, he's a major league a**hole.

Cheney: Yea, big time.

--------------

Whaddaya think?

64 posted on 03/10/2004 7:24:50 PM PST by cyncooper ("an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm" GWB 1/20/01)
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To: NormsRevenge
We need to take a step back. What is going on? Is Kerry really this tone deaf to American polictic?

The Democrats have a candidate that is to the left of Kennedy. American voters are not going to elect an extreme liberal, and the Democrats know this, so what is going on?

Kerry is making one wild statement each day. These sound bites will come back and "bite him in the butt". So why is he doing this?

The thing to remember, Kerry is not yet the Presidential candidate for the Democratic party. I am begining to think he is not meant to be. So what is his role?

First, to keep anyone from looking at the (wo)man behind the curtains pulling the strings. Next, he is baiting President (and us).

He wants pull the Prisident down into the gutter with him, while someone else stays out of the fray.

Watch Kerry get even more strange as this "campaign" goes on.

65 posted on 03/10/2004 7:27:00 PM PST by CIB-173RDABN
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To: dwilli
How this guy made millions is a mystery to me.

I don't think he made millions at all.
He married millions.
His first wife was worth $300 million.
He ditched her for the Pickle Princess, worth $700 million.

66 posted on 03/10/2004 7:27:17 PM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: NormsRevenge; All
You veterans and others who have been refuting his lies and pointing out his record.

Thank you!!!

Keep up the good work.

You are getting to him.

One cannot attack the character of a sob such as kerry because he has none.

Just shout the truth about him loud and often. The truth is what will do hm in.
67 posted on 03/10/2004 7:28:39 PM PST by sport
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To: OldFriend
This dude is becoming an angry, unstable man like Dean and he almost has the election wrapped up.

now.....for us not to screw this up, Bush does need to do several things:

1. Put forth an economic plan
2. Put forth a jobs plan specifically
3. Put forth an Iraq plan on how we will get out of there.

AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE HIM PUSH FOR THE FAIR TAX HR25 BECAUSE HIS SUPPORT IS THE ONLY WAY IT WILL GET OUT OF THERE EVEN WITH DELAY SUPPORTING IT.
68 posted on 03/10/2004 7:28:56 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("Men stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up as if nothing had happened." Churchill)
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To: xeno
agree... comments as over the top as this in a no-pressure atmosphere bode for statements nearer the election that will flabbergast and embarass his supporters (remember Bush, Sr. calling Clinton/ Gore "Bozos" on foreign policy the week before the election? At the time, it was significant enough to stall an apparent rally in the polling, though it was obviously true.)
69 posted on 03/10/2004 7:30:14 PM PST by gusopol3
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To: OldFriend
Anyone watching the news today had an opportunity to see and hear what was said.

Why would we want to interfere with the man consistently digging himself into a hole.

Right on.

70 posted on 03/10/2004 7:30:44 PM PST by cyncooper ("an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm" GWB 1/20/01)
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To: Izzy Dunne
I meant Hannity, sort of hi-jacked the thread. sorry.
71 posted on 03/10/2004 7:31:24 PM PST by dwilli
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
And if I'm not mistaken, I believe that I read somewhere that Kerry himself signed off on at least one of his own Purple Hearts, or something to that effect. Did you hear about this as well? I don't know Navy regs well enough to say if this is legit or not, but one would think that you couldn't go about pinning medals on your own chest......
72 posted on 03/10/2004 7:31:35 PM PST by Viking2002 (I think; therefore, I Freep............)
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To: NormsRevenge
"If this president wants to make this election about taxes after he's cut billions for billionaires and given middle-class families a larger share to pay, we're ready for that fight," he said.

Great! Mondale sounding stuff.

73 posted on 03/10/2004 7:31:37 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Izzy Dunne
Yeah, and look at the guy. He must have really big...feet...if you know what I mean. I can't wait for the day that I can open up a news page and not see the name 'Kerry' anywhere on the page. I just hope the Republicans do their job so that day is 8 months from now and not 8 years and 8 months from now.
74 posted on 03/10/2004 7:33:23 PM PST by NorthWoody (Hey, politicians! Stand up, be men, do your jobs and close the borders while there's still time.)
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
What sort of system was there to validate his claims...what is to stop him from making stuff up to get the purple heart?
75 posted on 03/10/2004 7:35:59 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("Men stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up as if nothing had happened." Churchill)
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To: NormsRevenge
Did the GOP get that on tape?

If yes, run that in a pro Bush ad and call him on his desperate name calling AND bring in his flip flop statements and voting record. It's time to show Kerry what he is (i.e. what he calls Bush et all.).
76 posted on 03/10/2004 7:36:54 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: NormsRevenge
I know the dumbasscrats don't want to look at that face for four years!!!gag!!!gag!!!
77 posted on 03/10/2004 7:40:49 PM PST by solo gringo (Always Ranting Always Rite)
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To: gusopol3
remember Bush, Sr. calling Clinton/ Gore "Bozos" on foreign policy

If I recall correctly, Bush Sr also made the true statement that his dog Millie knew more about foreign policy than those clowns.

Here's hoping Kerry takes that snobbish condescending leftist attitude to midwestern battleground states.
78 posted on 03/10/2004 7:42:56 PM PST by xeno
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To: OldFriend
Hannity's rant that if the President doesn't listen to him, well then he deserves to lose.....

What?!

I don't listen to Hannity unless I'm in the car and happen upon him. He's time delayed here, too. Oh, and I stopped watching H & C on tv awhile back. I did not hear that. Not to get to far off topic, but what advice is he upset isn't being followed? All out attack by the Bush people on Ketchupboy?

79 posted on 03/10/2004 7:43:37 PM PST by cyncooper ("an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm" GWB 1/20/01)
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To: Viking2002
Yes he did. Because he was the ranking officer, he writes such/reports for consideration of medals in regard to his subordinates AND in his case, himself.
80 posted on 03/10/2004 7:49:26 PM PST by torchthemummy (Florida 2000: There Would Have Been No 5-4 Without A 7-2)
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