Kerry: 'I'm Running for President Because ....'

[JI7]

<ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Reuters) - Armed with a five-word refrain, Democrat John Kerry on Tuesday fought back against the perception that many voters don't know what he stands for or why he is challenging President Bush.

"I'm running for president because ...." the White House hopeful, longtime senator from Massachusetts and decorated Vietnam War veteran explained again and again.

"I'm running for president because I want an economy that strengthens and expands the middle class, not one that squeezes it," the presumptive Democratic nominee told a labor conference in Atlantic City.

"I pick up the papers some days, I read people say, "Well, what's the campaign about? What's Kerry running for? What is the guy for?' Well let me tell you directly what it is," he told guests at a $1 million fund-raiser hosted by rock star Jon Bon Jovi at his riverside mansion in Middletown, New Jersey on Monday night.

"I'm running for president to put America back to work ... I'm running for president because health care is not a benefit for the wealthy or the elected or the connected ... I'm running for president because I know that we could be a hell of a lot stronger in the world if we were to secure our freedom ... I'm running for president because I believe we can build an even more effective military."

"Working families all across our country are living by the oldest and greatest of American values -- hard work, service, and caring for one another," Kerry said. "I'm running for president because I believe that our government should live by those values, too." >

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5426886&pageNumber=0

[Hoping4Change]

1. His response should be "I'm running to oust the fuckwits. Period"

[kodi]

2. geeze, what poor speech writing

'I'm Running for President Because...." and then all we get is a litany of what is wrong and what will be done right under a Kerry presidency.

BUT not a damned thing on defining why he, the man, believes he is qualified to be president and lead this nation?

come on, fire the speech writers for this crapola.

nothing about his vision of what he is and his (and our) place in the story of America.

its all policy stuff that we all agree upon, good schools, good health programs.... blah blah blah...... that's a nice nuts and bolts of it, but where is the heart and soul of why he personally feels that he should be president?

He did not answer that question as reported in the link provided

if he would just say that he, John Kerry believes that he has dedicated his life to making a difference when it counted, and he has for many of those around him, and that he wants to do more to help America and its people and return in full measure the blessings America shined in him, that he feels that he is the best man for the job to bring about the vision of America he and tens of millions share, that is all most people would need to flock to him.

people want inspiration from their leaders, we can read the rest in the newspaper.

[JI7]

3. that's not a speech, those are selected quotes

those are only small parts of what he said. and within a larger context.

[emulatorloo]

4. Did you hear the speech. or just read the AP report?

If you just read the AP report, how do you know he did not address your concerns?

BTW He has a commercial out called "Lifetime of Service' which does what you describe.

www.johnkerry.com

[cheezus]

5. did they drop Make America America Again?

I heard that one a few times, then it disappeared

[kodi]

6. sorry guys, if the press release was the speech my remarks still stand

actually i like kerry. his positions are mine as well, but i am already a part of the choir here, not the congregation who remains to be convinced. i am voting for him anyway, but for those on the fence, gracious, there has to be more of what kerry thinks his reasoning is to be president.

he is going to have to articulate more than this link to the press release of that event mentions.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0615.html

BTW that kerry ad you tout as bona fides of his reasoning on why he is qualified. it ain't there in the ad. all it does is biograph kerry. it does not mention kerry's own belief on why he is the man to sit in the oval office.