Kerry and Bush continue sparring over Iraq policies
Dan Balz and David Snyder, Washington Post
September 23
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- John Kerry returned Wednesday to the home of the infamous butterfly ballot and epicenter of the disputed 2000 election, where he pilloried President Bush on Medicare and Social Security and accused the president of using scare tactics to distort Kerry's plan to expand access to health care.
Bush and Kerry advisers say the state's 27 electoral votes are still up for grabs.
In a lively question-and-answer session with his audience, Kerry reprised his criticism of Bush's Iraq policies. He was told that some elderly women in Florida are reluctant to change presidents in the middle of a war, prompting him to say, "Let me make it very clear to anybody who's listening who's thinking in these terms, about changing horses in midstream: When your horse is drowning in midstream, it's a good time to shift."
At a rally in this Philadelphia suburb, Bush accused Kerry of demoralizing Iraqis and U.S. troops by sending "mixed signals" about the war in Iraq.
Bush said that "you cannot lead the war against terror if you wilt or waver when times get tough."
He made his remarks at a forum billed as a discussion of education. Bush touted his No Child Left Behind Act and accused Democrat Kerry of backing away from his support for the program for political reasons.
"My opponent supported No Child Left Behind," he said, referring to Kerry's Senate vote for the program. "Of course he gets into a tough campaign and he talks about weakening the accountability standards."
In an interview with the Associated Press, Kerry said Bush is living in a make-believe world in his understanding of Iraq, misleading the American people and attacking Democrats on phony issues.
"Even today, he blundered again saying there are only a handful of terrorists in Iraq," Kerry said.
Defending progress there, Bush said, "It's hard to help a country go from tyranny to elections to peace when there are a handful of people who are willing to kill in order to stop the process. And that's what you're seeing on the TV screens. You know, these people cannot beat us militarily."
Answering a question about possible revival of the draft, Kerry said, "If George Bush were to be reelected, given the way he has gone about this war and given his avoidance of responsibility in North Korea and Iran and other places, it is possible. I can't tell you."
Back in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney went before TV cameras on Capitol Hill to say Kerry's statements on Iraq and the war on terror showed "someone who lacks the resolve, the determination and the conviction to prevail in this conflict."
In that same vein, the Bush campaign put out a new TV ad ridiculing Kerry on Iraq and other issues. It shows Kerry windsurfing and says his positions shift "whichever way the wind blows."
On domestic issues, Kerry said Bush's plan to create private accounts in Social Security would reward the financial services industry with a $900 billion windfall and would threaten the financial health of the system. "I will not cut benefits, I will not raise the retirement age and I will not privatize Social Security," Kerry said.
He offered no specific plan to protect the big entitlement program that is threatened by the pending retirement of the baby boom generation, other than to trim federal deficits and restore economic growth.
On health care, Kerry said his plan would lower premiums for those already insured and make it possible for those without insurance to get it.
At a town-hall meeting in Miami, Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, hammered on the loss of health care coverage, jobs and lower wages under the Bush administration.
"This is your country," he told the crowd, which was as vocal and supportive as Kerry's. "This country does not belong to George Bush and Dick Cheney. It belongs to all of us."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
And now a link for those who actually believe what Kerry says:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp
Dan Balz and David Snyder, Washington Post
September 23
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- John Kerry returned Wednesday to the home of the infamous butterfly ballot and epicenter of the disputed 2000 election, where he pilloried President Bush on Medicare and Social Security and accused the president of using scare tactics to distort Kerry's plan to expand access to health care.
Bush and Kerry advisers say the state's 27 electoral votes are still up for grabs.
In a lively question-and-answer session with his audience, Kerry reprised his criticism of Bush's Iraq policies. He was told that some elderly women in Florida are reluctant to change presidents in the middle of a war, prompting him to say, "Let me make it very clear to anybody who's listening who's thinking in these terms, about changing horses in midstream: When your horse is drowning in midstream, it's a good time to shift."
At a rally in this Philadelphia suburb, Bush accused Kerry of demoralizing Iraqis and U.S. troops by sending "mixed signals" about the war in Iraq.
Bush said that "you cannot lead the war against terror if you wilt or waver when times get tough."
He made his remarks at a forum billed as a discussion of education. Bush touted his No Child Left Behind Act and accused Democrat Kerry of backing away from his support for the program for political reasons.
"My opponent supported No Child Left Behind," he said, referring to Kerry's Senate vote for the program. "Of course he gets into a tough campaign and he talks about weakening the accountability standards."
In an interview with the Associated Press, Kerry said Bush is living in a make-believe world in his understanding of Iraq, misleading the American people and attacking Democrats on phony issues.
"Even today, he blundered again saying there are only a handful of terrorists in Iraq," Kerry said.
Defending progress there, Bush said, "It's hard to help a country go from tyranny to elections to peace when there are a handful of people who are willing to kill in order to stop the process. And that's what you're seeing on the TV screens. You know, these people cannot beat us militarily."
Answering a question about possible revival of the draft, Kerry said, "If George Bush were to be reelected, given the way he has gone about this war and given his avoidance of responsibility in North Korea and Iran and other places, it is possible. I can't tell you."
Back in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney went before TV cameras on Capitol Hill to say Kerry's statements on Iraq and the war on terror showed "someone who lacks the resolve, the determination and the conviction to prevail in this conflict."
In that same vein, the Bush campaign put out a new TV ad ridiculing Kerry on Iraq and other issues. It shows Kerry windsurfing and says his positions shift "whichever way the wind blows."
On domestic issues, Kerry said Bush's plan to create private accounts in Social Security would reward the financial services industry with a $900 billion windfall and would threaten the financial health of the system. "I will not cut benefits, I will not raise the retirement age and I will not privatize Social Security," Kerry said.
He offered no specific plan to protect the big entitlement program that is threatened by the pending retirement of the baby boom generation, other than to trim federal deficits and restore economic growth.
On health care, Kerry said his plan would lower premiums for those already insured and make it possible for those without insurance to get it.
At a town-hall meeting in Miami, Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, hammered on the loss of health care coverage, jobs and lower wages under the Bush administration.
"This is your country," he told the crowd, which was as vocal and supportive as Kerry's. "This country does not belong to George Bush and Dick Cheney. It belongs to all of us."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
And now a link for those who actually believe what Kerry says:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp
