Kerry puts special interests in his sights

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Sen. John Kerry spoke a lot less about Vietnam Wednesday, and a lot more about America. Kerry, whose career has been largely defined by his military service, spoke instead about what he said is President Bush’s “creed of greed” in what was billed as a major speech at Daniel Webster College while retired Gen. Wesley Clark was speaking to a veterans group. Though Kerry began with an attack on what he called the president's assault on veterans, his speech was primarily defined by an assault of his own -- on special interest groups.

<snip>

Mark Wrighton, political science professor at the University of New Hampshire, said with Clark’s military service putting him and Kerry even, the senator has to make sure he comes across with broader appeal.

“I think particularly now the voters are wanting to hear a wider range of issues from the candidates,” Wrighton said. “I think at some point a voter says, ‘ok, you guys are even.‘ Iowa pretty much established the veteran connection.”

Rich Killion, pollster and political science professor at Franklin Pierce College, said with females comprising a large block of undecided voters, an emphasis on domestic issues is a smart move for Kerry.

http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2004/january/kerry1_21.shtml

[XanaDUer]

1. "said with females comprising a large block of undecided voters,

an emphasis on domestic issues is a smart move..."

Damn straight. I want healthcare, affordable, and of the same quality we taxpayers pay for members of Congress to have.

Reading this means I will send Kerry yet more money to win!

[WiseMen]

2. Kerry has the Record of Votes, Legislation and Proposals

to back up his stand.

[sandnsea]

3. The whole package

He knows what needs to be done, he's been wanting to get this done his whole life. He's the right man for the time.

[Bread and Circus]

4. Give 'em hell, John!

[Capn Sunshine]

5. See? Dean does have som egood things to say

even the media called these speeches " a page out of Howard Dean's book"

But if they crush Dean, it's good to know Kerry will articulate them

Now, where is he gonna get some money?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Are you making that up?

The part where you said:

'even the media called these speeches " a page out of Howard Dean's book" '

I mean, as far as I know, that isn't really true. Is it true? What media?

The Dean blog? lol

[emulatorloo]

8. "Howard Dean's Book" is the book of the Democratic Party

Dean Kerry Edwards and Clark are all calling for things that are the principles of the Democratic Party.

Dean's message is not new radical earthshaking etc. It is mainstream Democratic Party message.

In terms of follow through on those principles, John Kerry has the strongest record of the four frontrunners.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Thanks for the dose of reality

I agree, we are all Democrats, and the differences among ourselves dwarf in comparison to the difference between any of us and the Republicans.

[hellhathnofury]

6. That's all nice except Kerry is pretty cozy with K-Street.

January 14, 2004

Kerry raps K Street
But senator cozy with lobbyists, too
By Alexander Bolton


To energize his flagging presidential campaign, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) has taken recently to denouncing inside-the-Beltway corruption and influence peddling.

Last Friday in New Hampshire, he railed against the influence of lobbyists and pledged to shine light “on the secret deals in Washington.”

But during his Senate career, Kerry has helped special interests, even against the apparent interests of his own constituents. This helped cement ties with lobbyists who donated thousands of dollars to his campaign.

snip

In 1999, Kerry weighed in on an obscure Coast Guard rulemaking process to the benefit of a foreign company represented by Cassidy & Associates, one of the highest grossing D.C. lobbying firms. Shortly after his intervention, he received close to $8,000 in bundled contributions from Cassidy employees.

http://www.thehill.com/news/011404/kerry.aspx

PAC contributions
$48,084
http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/summary.asp?ID=N00000245

Lobbyists
$227,950
http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/indus.asp?id=N00000245&cycle=2004

He's takin' on those special interests in a ballsy way! Right to their wallets.

[grisvador]

9. Kerry has an impressive resume

and all have skeletons in their closet - but I will support anyone that goes against Bush