Kerry Sends Letter Challenging Bush* to Debate on War

[Tennessee Gal]

John Kerry Addresses Bush/Cheney Campaign Attacks
Kerry Sends Letter Challenging President to Debate on War


February 21, 2004

For Immediate Release
Atlanta, GA –

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry gave the following statement regarding President Bush’s attacks on Kerry’s service to the country upon his arrival in Atlanta, Georgia today. John Kerry also released a letter challenging the President to a debate on the Vietnam era and the impact of their experiences on their approaches to presidential leadership. In the letter, John Kerry says, “This is not a debate to be distorted through your $100 million dollar campaign fund. This is a debate that should be conducted face to face.”

John Kerry said:
“As they did with John McCain in South Carolina in 2000 and as they did with Senator Max Cleland, they have again questioned my commitment to the defense of our country. I'm not going to stand by and let the likes of Saxby Chambliss and the Republican Party question my commitment to keeping our nation strong - I've voted for some of the largest defense and intelligence budgets in our history.

“I'd like to know what it is Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam have against those of us who did. I'm tired of Republicans trying to divert attention from the real issues -- here in Georgia you've lost 70.000 jobs, you've got 1.3 million Georgians without health insurance -- and that's what this race should be about. These are the real issues they should be willing to talk about instead of engaging in the politics of fear and questioning our commitment to fighting for the country we fought for in uniform.

“One way or another we're going to have a debate about the future not the past. We’re not going to let them make this about a war 34 years ago, when we need to talk about the war today.

“Republicans like to question the patriotism of Democrats who question the direction of our nation. They put Max Cleland in an ad with Osama bin Laden to question his commitment to the defense of our country. This President came to Georgia to campaign for Saxby Chambliss and didn't say a word about it. Now his surrogates are at it again. Well, I don't think that politics of fear has any place in our country, and I'm still waiting for the Republicans to tell me what more Max Cleland has to leave on the battlefield of Vietnam to prove his commitment to our country.”

See Letter to Bush: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0221d.html

[maddezmom]

1. WOW!! Go John Kerry

[oasis]

2. Kerry's throwing his other guantlet down to "Chickenhawk" Chambliss

who has been sniping from the sidelines.

Bring it on.

[arcos]

3. If Dean had challenged * to a debate before the primaries were over...

all hell would have broken lose on DU.

[OKNancy]

7. Possibly

but I doubt this would be a topic of debate between Dean and Bush.

[mouse7]

8. He didn't attack Dean personally. Bush just attacked Kerry personally

Chambliss made that attack on Kerry on the RNC's dime. Kerry has a right to challenge the leader of the GOP after the RNC provided the platform for a personal attack on Kerry.

[LiviaOlivia]

4. Hit back and hit hard

Good for Sen Kerry. And a special fu to babyface Ralph in Georgia
from me.

[wtf]

5. .

I have to say that I feel better about Kerry more and more each day.

[BootinUp]

6. Very good, best line:

...what it is Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam have against those of us who did.

"Yo Chickenhawks! Bring it on!"

hee hee.

[joyautumn]

9. I'm glad he's so proud

of his votes to increase defense, and that he's hitting back so hard to defend his patriotism.

he's so tough i can't wait till he smacks it to Bush for annexing a sovereign country for Halliburton, or deputizing all the librarians in the country into the FBI!

[LiviaOlivia]

14. From your Nader posts I don't buy "glad"

oh sarcasm, right?

[Nay]

10. Good for Kerry! I honestly didn't think he had it in him.

[emulatorloo]

13. You ain't seen nothing yet

This guy is a fighter, and he's not gonna put up w any Repug BS.

[Tennessee Gal]

11. It will be interesting to see ...............

if W responds!

[Tennessee Gal]

12. Cleland quote on Chambliss! LOL!

"For Saxby Chambliss, who got out of going to Vietnam because of a trick knee, to attack John Kerry as weak on the defense of our nation is like a mackerel in the moonlight that both shines and stinks," Cleland said.

[regnaD kciN]

15. Oh...and I thought Blank-Check-Man was challenging Chimpy...

...to a debate on the Iraq war.

Silly me.

:eyes: