Kerry responds to Gephardt criticism

[sandnsea]

While campaigning in Iowa today with a plan to strengthen public education for all Americans in the first 100 days of a Kerry Administration, John Kerry issued the following response to Dick Gephardt's criticism today of his position on affirmative action:

"I have fought for civil rights and equal opportunity for every American my whole life. As a student, a prosecutor, and a Senator, I have worked to open the doors of opportunity for every citizen so that we all can fully participate in the American dream. Mr. Gephardt is a good man, but on this issue, I take a backseat to no one."

Progressive Group Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting Says Media Distorted Kerry's True Message Supporting Affirmative Action - The self described "progressive, national media watch group" known as Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting noted that there was a detectable level of "distortion" in the reporting of Kerry's 1992 speech to Yale University supporting Affirmative Action. "In the case of Sen. Kerry's comments on affirmative action, however, the spin of some coverage approaches distortion. In his speech at Yale, Kerry did say that affirmative action should not be the overriding focus of a civil rights agenda, because workplace gains do not necessarily touch the lives of those most in need. But he also said, "I want to be clear here. I do support affirmative action, not rhetorically but really." The "negative side" of the policy was, for Kerry, the "perception" it engendered in many whites: He cited a poll by People for the American Way that indicated white people believe they are more discriminated against than minorities. Congress, Kerry said, has an obligation "to correct whatever false data or preconceptions have fed the belief that is evidenced in this poll." Affirmative action, Kerry said, has "made our country a better, fairer place to live," but public misunderstanding of the policy --which Kerry acknowledged has been "exaggerated and exploited by politicians eager to use it" --has created an "obstacle" to interracial communication. http://www.fair.org/extra/best-of-extra/new-candor.html[br />
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2003_1125c.html

[dean4america]

1. Gephardt's drowning in his own b.s.

I dislike Kerry as much as I dislike Gephardt, but Gep is seriously distorting Kerry's position.

If Gep continues to campaign this poorly, Dean AND Kerry just might beat him in Iowa.

[JI7]

2. hey sandnsea

it's good to see kerry respond to the actual attacks or accusations. kerry and gep have both gone after each other a few times on things like taxes, nafta, etc. but both do a good job of actually debating the points of the issues and positions.

[sandnsea]

3. It's fine with me

I like knowing everything there is to know and usually you hear things you didn't know from the other candidates.

[JI7]

4. agree

that's why there is a primary and debates. notice kerry is the only one (at least that i know of)that says the reason for the debates is to show these things. he even defended lieberman on it once when another candidate said something about how they shouldn't be arguing with each other in response to something lieberman criticized him for, and this was after lieberman had criticized kerry. we don't want to be like bush and avoid the actual issues by making up crap like "attacking him for attacking terrorists".

[sandnsea]

5. I never heard the similarity

When will we hear 'they're attacking me for attacking Bush.'