Kerry blasts Bush, GOP
President Bush's speech ended the Republican National Convention on Thursday, without much of any agenda for the next four years outlined.
It seemed all the President could do was drag his speech on and on about bringing freedom to the Iraqis. It's not the spreading of democracy that is troubling. What is troubling and disheartening is that this administration, from day one, set its sights on Iraq. They said there were weapons of mass destruction over and over, we haven't found any. The cost is staggering, and coupled with trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy, America is now deep in red ink.
The convention, the nastiest in American history, was several days of barbaric attacks on John Kerry, his record of service and his character.
And, as the Center for American Progress reports, Dick Cheney set the negative tone:
But Democrats won't be taking that kind of garbage any more. The following excerpts were released by the Kerry-Edwards campaign as Kerry prepares to speak to a rally in Springfield.
In fact, we will simply rededicate ourselves to the cause with even more energy and vigor than before. We will fight to the finish. Because America cannot take another four years of this garbage that is a complete failure of leadership.
Onwards to victory and triumph in the struggle to take America forward.
It seemed all the President could do was drag his speech on and on about bringing freedom to the Iraqis. It's not the spreading of democracy that is troubling. What is troubling and disheartening is that this administration, from day one, set its sights on Iraq. They said there were weapons of mass destruction over and over, we haven't found any. The cost is staggering, and coupled with trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy, America is now deep in red ink.
The convention, the nastiest in American history, was several days of barbaric attacks on John Kerry, his record of service and his character.
And, as the Center for American Progress reports, Dick Cheney set the negative tone:
In a 2,800-word speech, Cheney devoted just 50 words of his speech to health care, 92 to the economy and 102 to education. There was no mention of energy policy, trade or the environment. Even Iraq, undoubtedly the focus of Cheney's term in office, merited just 34 words. Number of words Cheney devoted to personally attacking and distorting the record of John Kerry: 671.Along with Zell Miller, Rudy Guiliani, and other speakers, a slew of taunts, attacks, and distortions was directed at John Kerry and John Edwards.
But Democrats won't be taking that kind of garbage any more. The following excerpts were released by the Kerry-Edwards campaign as Kerry prepares to speak to a rally in Springfield.
The election comes down to this. If you believe this country is heading in the right direction, you should support George Bush. But if you believe America needs to move in a new direction, join with us. John and I offer a better plan that will make us stronger at home and more respected in the world. And we need your help to do that.The level of these attacks has only redoubled our support of the Kerry-Edwards campaign. The tired old negative politics of the past will backfire on the Republicans. We will not allow slime attacks to slow us down.
For three days in New York, instead of talking about jobs and the economy, we heard anger and insults from the Republicans. And I'll tell you why. It's because they can't talk about the real issues facing Americans. They can't talk about their record because it's a record of failure.
We all saw the anger and distortion of the Republican Convention. For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief. Well, here's my answer. I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq.
The vice president even called me unfit for office last night. I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments makes someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty.
Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without health care makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting the Saudi royal family control our energy costs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll makes you unfit. That's the record of George Bush and Dick Cheney. And it's not going to change. I believe it's time to move America in a new direction; I believe it's time to set a new course for America.
And we have a specific plan to do just that. So tomorrow morning, John and Elizabeth and Teresa and I are hitting the road across America's heartland. From here, we'll go out and talk with Americans in towns across Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. And because a stronger America begins at home, we'll talk about our plan to create jobs, cut taxes for the middle class, lower health care costs, and make America safer and more secure.
In fact, we will simply rededicate ourselves to the cause with even more energy and vigor than before. We will fight to the finish. Because America cannot take another four years of this garbage that is a complete failure of leadership.
Onwards to victory and triumph in the struggle to take America forward.
