Globe: In college speech, KERRY upbraids BUSH administration

[liberalpragmatist]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/20/in_college_speech_kerry_upbraids_bush_administration/

By Peter S. Canellos, Globe Staff | September 20, 2005

PROVIDENCE -- Nearly a year after losing the presidency to George W. Bush, Senator John F. Kerry yesterday condemned the Bush administration in sweeping terms, blaming the president personally for the failure to prepare for the catastrophe in Louisiana, dismissing Bush's recovery plan as a ''right-wing ideological experiment," and calling for a strong new commitment to combat poverty around the country.

Kerry, testing the waters for a second presidential run in what his staff billed as a major address, veered away from the statesmanlike approach he often took in last year's ''commander-in-chief" campaign, adopting a sharper tone. He sought to maintain a leadership role in the Democratic Party, urging the young to make Hurricane Katrina the start of a campaign to change national priorities.

''We have to get angry, and organize around that," he told the audience of about 800 students at Brown University, deviating from his prepared text.

<snip>

''Katrina is the background of a new picture we must paint of America," Kerry declared. ''For five years our nation's leaders have painted a picture of America where ignoring the poor has no consequences; no nations are catching up to us; and no pensions are destroyed. Every criticism is rendered unpatriotic. . . . Well, Katrina did happen, and it washed away that coat of paint and revealed the true canvas of America with all its imperfections."

<snip>

The senator received a thunderous response from the Brown students. During the question period he hinted at deep frustration over not having been able to reach enough people in 2004.

''The number of people out there in America who are not interested in getting facts is longer than you think," he said at one point, bemoaning the ''amount of misinformation out there."

''You've got a whole lot of people who never tune in," he complained at another point, adding, ''More and more people are voting on issues that have no relevance to their daily life, or little relevance, or no facts."

Kerry implicitly blamed the public for tolerating ''the injustice of 11 million children and more than 30 million adults in desperate need of healthcare" and he repeatedly implored the students to ''make your issues the voting issues of this nation."

[HereSince1628]

1. "We have got to get angry," welcome to the club, John

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CBGLuthier]

2. too little. too late. NEXT please nt

[Mass]

7. So Bye.

[CBGLuthier]

10. Bye? Why? You Leaving?

Hey, Kerry blew his chance.

Yes, I think the elections are rigged anyway but Kerry let way too many opportunities to either attack Bush or defend himself slip by.

If he didn't understand he had to fight those bastards as dirty as they were fighting him then he is not as smart as he likes people to think. I mean, he had heard of Karl Rove hadn't he?

I hope just about anyone other than Kerry will get the nomination in '08.

[clydefrand]

3. I'm wondering just who was in the audience.

After reading his email yesterday containing his speech to be given at Brown, I was wondering if his audience might be meant for young democrats or for anyone who wished to attend.

[liberalpragmatist]

4. I'm pretty sure it was part of the Brown lecture series

Probably anybody could attend, like most college lecture series.

[blm]

5. I'm pretty sure it was open to the public.

.

[Mass]

6. It was open to the public and the room was full.

[mzteris]

8. of course

they don't screen his attendees!!!

Unlike the coward who stole the position Kerry should be in right now!

[Moderator]

9. liberalpragmatist

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.


DU Moderator