Kerry, Dean at odds on Bush tax cuts
Candidates clash on costs, benefits
By Mike Glover, Associated Press, 7/31/2003
ES MOINES -- Presidential rivals Howard Dean and John F. Kerry, who have been at odds over national security, quarreled yesterday over what Democrats should do with President Bush's tax cuts. Poised to deliver remarks on the economy in Iowa and New Hampshire later in the day, the primary foes rushed to criticize each other, even if it meant upstaging their own speeches. Kerry fired the first salvo.
''Real Democrats don't walk away from the middle class,'' the Massachusetts senator said. ''They don't take away a tax credit for families struggling to raise their children or bring back a tax penalty for married couples who are starting out or penalize teachers and waitresses by raising taxes on the middle class.''
The Kerry campaign provided an advanced text of his remarks to The Associated Press, assailing Dean's call for a repeal of Bush's tax cuts.
Kerry's speech did not mention Dean by name, but aides made sure the speech was provided to the media before Dean addressed the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in Iowa. Contacted for a response, Dean answered back in an interview.
''Real Democrats don't make promises they can't keep,'' the former Vermont governor said. ''Working Americans have a choice: They can have the president's tax cuts or they can have health care that can't be taken away. They can't have both.''
Later in the day, Dean used his union speech to fault Washington Democrats for being too timid to challenge Bush's economic policies, arguing that they are ''so afraid of losing that they have remained silent or only halfheartedly fought the very agenda that is destroying the democratic dream of America.''
''We lose by keeping silent,'' he said. ''We should never turn away from the core groups that make up the Democratic Party.''
Jumping into the fray, Kerry strategist Chris Lehane said the tax issue was a question of ''whose side are you on,'' and added that Dean ''needs to be straight and explain that he intends to increase the unfair tax burden on working families.''
Recent polls show Kerry and Dean in a close battle for the lead in New Hampshire, and Dean surging in recent surveys in Iowa. The two clashed during the first Democratic debate in South Carolina in May, and a personal animosity has been evident at times during the campaign.
While Kerry has said Bush's tax cuts help the wealthy, he has been careful to point out that some elements, such as the child tax credits, are beneficial.
''Democrats agree that the Bush administration's tax giveaways for the wealthy have left American workers hurting, but there are real differences within our party about how to restore economic growth and create jobs,'' Kerry said in his speech.
Dean has argued that Democrats need to stake out bold positions, but must avoid the tax-and-spend label that has dogged the party. While some of the presidential candidates have proposed sweeping health care plans, he said they have a responsibility to explain how they would pay for those efforts, and the tax cut is the |
