John Kerry
Senator from Massachusetts
Candidate for President
Is John Kerry the great closer we've been hearing about? He certainly won the debates, and he now appears to have a chance to win.
One of the best and most exhaustive profiles of John Kerry was completed last summer by The Boston Globe in a seven-part series. John F. Kerry - A Candidate in the Making is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the current frontrunner. Another good column was written by Thomas Oliphant, explaining why he admires Kerry. (Updated 10/18/04 by G. Orlando)
TOR Resources:
Kerry
voting record
Polls
Interviews:
On Meet the Press in 2001 John Kerry spoke candidly about atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam and some of the harsh comments he made immediately following the war.
Latest News:
Additions to Kerry's team shift influence (WP)
McCain denounces anti-Kerry ad from veterans group (AP)
Veteran retracts criticism of Kerry (Boston Globe)
In an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, John Kerry outlines his plan for the future of Iraq policy.
Kerry health care plan could cut premiums for individuals and small businesses; catastrophic relief garnering support (Washington Post)
Kerry military records: high praise, combat kills (Reuters)
Kerry campaign to target swing voters, selling Kerry as a moderate centrist (Washington Post)
Kerry outlines anti-terrorism plan (Washington Post)
Past votes may dog Kerry campaign (MSNBC)
Kerry blast Bush over attacks on Senate voting record (MSNBC)
A 1970 interview with John Kerry shows much more dovish views on the military (Harvard Crimson)
Kerry's 19 years in Senate invite scrutiny (Washington Post)
Kerry defends votes on military action (Washington Post)
Endorsement from Concord Monitor in New Hampshire
Commentary:
Joe Klein explains in Time how the "one America" theme of the Kerry campaign can help secure a victory in the fall election.
Jonathan Alter analyzes Kerry's message of strength in his convention speech.
Dick Morris argues in The Hill that John Kerry might be blowing the election by not effectively responding to the negative Bush attacks.
Mickey Kaus is not a fan of John Kerry, and he outlines why he believes Kerry will not be an effective president.
Jeff Jacoby argues in the Boston Globe that John Kerry lacks political courage.
Both Kerry and Edwards have their flaws, and Joe Klein sums them up nicely this week in Time.
In a new editorial the Washington Post argues that it's time for John Kerry to start clarifying some of his positions on Iraq and trade.
George Will also has 28 questions for John Kerry regarding his positions on various issues.
Andrew Ferguson asks in Bloomberg.com whether John Kerry is a nightmare or a hope for Republicans.
Jonathan Alter of Newsweek explains how Kerry will use his war record and "muscular liberalism" to fend off Republican attacks on national security.
Geov Parrish argues in Seattle Weekly that Kerry is too dull.
Newsweek features John Kerry on the cover with an excellent profile of Kerry by Howard Fineman.
Joe Klein describes in Time John Kerry's problems connecting with audiences on the stump, and offers a contrast in Kerry's eloquent writings about his war experiences.
Interviews:
TIME talks with John Kerry about the upcoming election (Time)
CNN interview with Judy Woodruff (2/19/04)
Anti-Kerry Sites:
Kausfiles.com
Mr. Kaus is not a fan, though it looks like he'll vote for him.
Anybody but Kerry
They want to defeat Bush, but don't think Kerry is the guy to do it.
John F. Kerry in 2004?
I think they're Dean fans.
Kerry Haters for Kerry
The only person they dislike more than Kerry is George W. Bush.
John Kerry in Vietnam:
On Meet the Press in 2001 John Kerry spoke candidly about atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam and some of the harsh comments he made immediately following the war.
ISSUES:
Environment:
Kerry is very strong on environmental issues, but some of his positions could hurt him in Michigan and other parts of the Midwest that rely on the auto industry. It doesn't seem to hurt him in the Michigan primary, but Edwards passed up a big opportunity to challenge Kerry in Michigan, particularly on the NAFTA issue.
If Kerry wins, will he soften stance on autos? (The Detroit News)
Kerry no friend of the car industry (The Detroit News)
Terrorism and Foreign Policy:
Kerry: Use of nuclear materials by terrorists poses gravest threat to U.S. (USA Today)
Kerry vows to rebuild alliances, confront terrorism (Washington Post)
Health Care:
Kerry health care plan could cut premiums for individuals and small businesses; catastrophic relief garnering support (Washington Post)
Economist compares Kerry and Bush health care plans (Washington Post)
QUOTES:
"[The president] did not tell you that with each passing day, we're seeing more chaos, more violence, more indiscriminate killings. He did not tell you that with each passing week, our enemies are getting bolder — that Pentagon officials report that entire regions of Iraq are now in the hands of terrorists and extremists. He did not tell you that with each passing month, stability and security seem farther and farther away... You deserve a president who will not play politics with national security, who will not ignore his own intelligence, while living in a fantasy world of spin, and who will give the American people the truth about the challenge our brave men and women face on the front lines." - John Kerry, 9/16/04
"All Americans should be concerned when a president who is in political trouble tries to tamper with the Constitution of the United States at the start of his re-election campaign" - John Kerry, 2/24/04
"I said exactly what my policy has been all my life. Which is I'm for the natural gas pipeline. Absolutely. I voted for the natural gas pipeline. I think it's important to build it. And so do most Americans. I'm also for the drilling in the 95 percent of the Alaska oil shelf that's up for leasing now. In fact, President Clinton put out the biggest lease in American history in that part of the shelf. I'm not for drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and I haven't changed and I won't change."- John Kerry, responding to statements by Jimmy Hoffa about promises made by Kerry regarding drilling in Alaska (2/19/04)
QUOTES ABOUT JOHN KERRY:
"After two decades in the Senate, Kerry has a long record that can be picked apart by competitors within his own party as well as in the GOP. And though he has been re-elected three times, he has not developed the best political skills. He has not shed a manner too easily criticized as aloof or patrician. He has had brushes with smarmy campaign financing. But there have been times he has shown courage, devotion to justice and commitment to honesty, open government and principle-over-politics. There are few senators of whom that can be said. A full assessment of the man ought to take these portions of his public service into account." - David Corn in The Nation
HUMOR:
John Kerry Jokes (About.com)
PRIMARY SEASON:
Roger Simon details Kerry's amazing comeback in the primaries to take the Democratic nomination.
Comments, questions and suggestions can be sent to Gerardo Orlando at editor@orlandoreport.com.
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