Frost supports Kirk, cites strong defense
Posted on 09/21/2002 5:02:59 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Frost supports Kirk, cites strong defense
Cornyn's camp says former Dallas mayor is lacking experience
09/21/2002
A congressional heavy-hitter came out swinging Friday for Senate candidate Ron Kirk, saying he backs a strong national defense and that rival John Cornyn's partisan ways make him a poor choice for Texans.
"Ron understands that on issues important to America's defense, there's no place for partisanship," said Rep. Martin Frost of Dallas, the No. 3 Democrat in the House.
Mr. Frost campaigned with Mr. Kirk in Grand Prairie, praising his tenure as Dallas mayor. He also told a group of United Aerospace Workers that Mr. Cornyn, as attorney general, has been "putting his party's interest first at every turn. Now he's hoping Texans vote for him for his partisan identity, not his record."
Dave Beckwith, a Cornyn spokesman, rejected that and questioned Mr. Frost's remarks about Mr. Kirk's experience, saying he left the city of Dallas in a desperate financial situation.
"Is he referring to the $95 million deficit and the botched Reunion Center deal?" Mr. Beckwith said. "If Mr. Frost is re-elected, John Cornyn looks forward to working with him in the Congress."
Mr. Frost's comments appeared designed to offset efforts by Mr. Cornyn and his supporters to portray Mr. Kirk as soft on defense. The Republican Party has been running a TV ad in Dallas depicting Mr. Kirk as being against President's Bush's military agenda.
Friday, Mr. Kirk cited as his primary source of military knowledge his years working as a defense policy specialist for former Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen in Washington.
"I don't try to hold myself up as an expert," he said. "But it did get me two years' experience with leaders in the armed services who understand just how critically important Texas is to our national defense."
Mr. Kirk said his father, a World War II veteran, showed him the conviction and character of the military.
"As the son of a veteran, I know that a true commitment to national defense is a commitment to our men and women in uniform," he said.
Mr. Kirk also said that being mayor in an area that faced the prospect of base closures gives him insight into dealing with defense issues.
"The sum total of my experiences gives me a background and understanding of what the needs of our nation are," he said.
Mr. Beckwith said Mr. Kirk lacked the experience and political will to help build a strong military. And, once again, he criticized Mr. Kirk's remarks last week that Mr. Cornyn would be less comfortable supporting military action in Iraq if the children of his wealthy friends were sent into battle.
Mr. Kirk has said he regretted making the remarks but made no reference to it Friday in his speech to the workers.
Touring aircraft plant
Before the UAW appearance, Mr. Kirk and Mr. Frost toured the Vought Aircraft plant that builds parts for the C-17 and the Global Hawk, an unmanned intelligence gathering aircraft being used in Afghanistan.
"I'm proud of the job that our armed forces are doing in Afghanistan and in other critical spots around the globe," Mr. Kirk said.
Mr. Kirk and Mr. Cornyn have been debating for weeks on how to proceed with a possible war with Iraq.
Mr. Kirk says he supports a deliberate approach to war, wanting the nation to build a case before the United Nations and the American public before sending soldiers into battle.
Mr. Cornyn says the United States should strike Iraq regardless of what the U.N. decides.
In a news conference after his speech, Mr. Kirk said that the Cornyn complaints are off base.
"John Cornyn hurled a lot of accusations that had no basis whatsoever," Mr. Kirk said. "He hasn't been in the military, I haven't been in the military ... The United States is making a difference in the paradigm in which we make a decision to go to war. It requires thought and analysis."
Earlier Friday, the Cornyn campaign sent reporters a copy of the Kirk fund-raiser he has scheduled Monday in San Francisco with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.
Ms. Lee was the only member in Congress to vote against the use of force in Afghanistan.
Kirk spokesman Justin Lonon said: "It's ridiculous to suggest that Ron Kirk shares all of the views of those that might be listed on an invitation. Does John Cornyn share the views of his Enron and WorldCom supporters?"
Mr. Kirk insisted that he's a strong supporter of the military and supports President Bush's efforts in Iraq.
"America has the best trained, best equipped, most capable fighting force in the world," he said. "That is why I support the president's defense budget, in addition to money for military family housing and for military bases around the world."
E-mail gjeffers@dallasnews.com
Earlier Friday, the Cornyn campaign sent reporters a copy of the Kirk fund-raiser he has scheduled Monday in San Francisco with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.
Ms. Lee was the only member in Congress to vote against the use of force in Afghanistan.
Is it just me or is this the stupidest thing Kirk could do to himself after running down the military last week?
Keep up the good work, Ron !! You're making John Cornyn's job easy !! 
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
If it weren't for the corporate scandals, this midterm year would be o-vah for the Democrats. That is all that they got. Damn.
If Enron is all the DIMocRAT's have got, then they better shut up. They're in that as deep as any GOP.
It might be close in Dallas, but I think Cornyn will carry Dallas County !!
I think Cornyn will likely carry the Texas counties that Bush won in 2000, just imho....
I think Kirk's chances are very slim now. But I would not be surprised for him to see the writing on the wall and try to smear Cornyn in the final stretch of this race. Expect the unexpected from a desperate Ron Kirk......
Frost? Where's the surprise. He is a typical ultra-left wing, liberal extremist who supported Willie no matter what the facts were. How the fine Texans in Arlington, Texas continue to elect this pinko, I'll never know (other, of course, the many, many votes he gets from Mexicans and dead blacks).
Heaven help us all!
What irks me about Kirk is that he is running as a black who happens to be a "man" and not as a man who happens to be black!
I guess it's true.....Turds... Birds of a feather.....
Heaven help us all!
Yes, he would.....
Kirk would be the puppet of da$$hole, I think. He's already shown that in his lockstep questioning on Iraq, and had to quickly backpeddle on that when he was bitterly criticized for his insults to the military folks. Cornyn called him on that right away, too. I say Cornyn in a decision before our heads hit the pillow November 5th.....
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