What Does John Kerry Really Stand for Anyways?

by Carl Sack

As the Democrats scramble to differentiate themselves from the damage wrought by the Bush Administration, voters are likely to hear a lot about Kerry’s “progressive” politics & history. But what is the present state of Kerry’s politics? Truly, his words speak for themselves.

John Kerry, 1971 testimony before Congress [1]: “…over 150 honorably discharged and many highly decorated veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command… they relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do.”

Sen. Kerry, 2004 campaign statement [2]: “I could never agree with those in the antiwar movement who dismissed our troops as war criminals or our country as the villain in the drama…. It’s time to get over [Vietnam]…if those of us who carried the physical and emotional burdens of that conflict can regain perspective and move on, so can those whose involvement was vicarious or who knew nothing of the war other than ideology and legend.”

Kerry, 1971: “To attempt to justify the loss of one American life in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos by linking such loss to the preservation of freedom is the height of criminal hypocrisy.”

Sen. Kerry, 2003 speech on National Security [3]: “Throughout our history, in peaceful exertion and in armed struggle, we were steadfast - we were right on the central issue of freedom, and we prevailed. And because we prevailed the world is a far better place than it was or would otherwise have been.”

Kerry, 1971: “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

Sen. Kerry, February 2004 speech on War on Terrorism [4]: "Whatever we thought of the Bush Administration’s decisions and mistakes – especially in Iraq – we now have a solemn obligation to complete the mission, in that country and in Afghanistan."

Sen. Kerry, 2002 statement on campaign finance reform [5]: “A creation not of Congress, but of a weak, politically motivated federal agency, soft money is a loophole to our system that is long overdue for eradication.”

Kerry accepted over $2 million in “soft money” campaign contributions from PAC’s and his own creation, the Citizen Soldier Fund, which can donate greater amounts of individual donations per campaign than PAC’s. He accepted more money from lobbyists (especially From the Energy industry and health care) last year than any other senator. [6]

Some more Kerry positions:

-Voted in favor of the USA PATRIOT Act

-Voted in favor of NAFTA and similar trade agreements. On the Middle East: “Our goal is… to open up a region that is now closed to opportunity, an outpost of economic exclusion and stagnation in a fast-globalizing world. These countries suffer from too little globalization, not too much.” [2]

-Supports Israeli occupation of Palestine. “Israel is our ally, the only true democracy in this troubled region, and we know that Israel as a partner is fundamental to our security. From Truman through Clinton, America has always been committed to Israel's independence and survival - we will never waver.” [2]

-Voted for the Bush Administration’s “No Child Left Behind” education bill.

-Voted to Authorize Bush to go to war with Iraq.

Perhaps the Feb. 15 Washington Post put it best: “Voters this year likely will be presented with two clear, but not dramatically different, approaches to solving the nation's domestic problems, ranging from failing schools to soaring drug costs.”

1. John Kerry, Legislative Proposals Relating to the War in Southeast Asia, testimony before U.S. Senate, 22 April 1971

2. Sen. John Kerry, A Call to Service: My Vision for A Better America, 2004

3. Sen. John Kerry, Key Speech on National Security, Georgetown University, 23 January 2003

5. Sen. John Kerry, Kerry Statement on McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Victory, 20 March 2002

4. Sen. John Kerry, John Kerry in UCLA Address Promises More Effective War on Terrorism. UCLA International Institute, 27 February 2004

6. Center for Responsive Politics

7. The Observer, UK, 15 February 2004