KERRY’S “GORE PROBLEM”
Will He Say Anything To Get Elected?
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“You don’t want to risk the reputation that you don’t just push the envelope, but you tear it here or there. If you do that, you get the Al Gore problem . . .” (Stuart Rothenberg On John Kerry As Quoted In Glen Johnson, “Doubt Cast On Kerry’s ‘PAC-Free’ Claim,” The Boston Globe, 6/12/2003)
KERRY FIRST PAC-FREE SENATOR?
On Campaign Website, Kerry Claims To Have Run “The Nation’s First Successful PAC-Free Senate Race” In 1984. (John Kerry For President Website, www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 6/12/03)
Well, Not Exactly . . . In 1978, David L. Boren (D-OK) was elected to the U.S. Senate without PAC money, and in 1980, Warren Rudman (R-NH) also was elected to the Senate without taking PAC money. (Glen Johnson, “Doubt Cast On Kerry’s ‘PAC-Free’ Claim,” The Boston Globe, 6/12/2003)
KERRY’S FIRST SPEECH ON SENATE FLOOR WAS ON ROE V. WADE?
Kerry Claimed First Speech On Senate Floor Was About Abortion. “As I said 18 years ago in my maiden speech in the U.S. Senate: ‘the right to choose is a fundamental right … neither the Government nor any person has the right to infringe on that freedom.’” (Senator John Kerry, Remarks At NARAL 30th Anniversary Dinner, 1/21/03)
Well, Not Exactly . . . “[T]he Congressional Record shows that Kerry’s first speech in the Senate, on March 19, 1985, was made in opposition to President Reagan’s push to build 21 MX missiles.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Admits To An Error In Boast About 1st Speech,” The Boston Globe, 5/1/03)
KERRY’S BEEN CLEAR HE’S NOT IRISH?
Kerry Says He’s Been “Clear As A Bell” Regarding Irish Heritage. “Kerry acknowledged that some voters in Massachusetts, the nation’s most Irish-American state, may have had the impression that he had Irish roots. … ‘I’m sure some people see the name and say, “Hey, I think it’s this or that,” but I’ve been clear as a bell,’ Kerry said. ‘I’ve always been absolutely straight up front about it.’” (Michael Kranish, “Search For Kerry’s Roots Finds Surprising History,” The Boston Globe, 2/2/03)
Well, Not Exactly . . . In 1986, Kerry introduced a statement referring to his Irish roots into the Congressioanl Record : “Mr. President, while St. Patrick’s Day holds special meaning for those Americans of Irish descent ... For those of us who are fortunate to share an Irish ancestry …” (Senator John Kerry, Congressional Record, 3/18/86)
KERRY INTRODUCED FIRST FEDERAL GAY CIVIL RIGHTS BILL?
On His Senate Website, Kerry Claimed He Introduced First Federal Gay Civil Rights Bill. “In 1985, he introduced what his Senate Web site now calls the first federal gay civil rights bill …” (David Nather, “Kerry’s Complex Record And His Pursuit Of The Presidency,” CQ Weekly, 4/24/03)
Well, Not Exactly . . . “It [Kerry’s Bill] is not actually the first such bill in Congress — Rep. Bella Abzug (1971-77) introduced a version in 1975 …” (David Nather, “Kerry’s Complex Record And His Pursuit Of The Presidency,” CQ Weekly, 4/24/03)
KERRY SUFFERS FROM ASTHMA?
Kerry Implied He Started Using Inhaler As Result Of Asthma. “Many of the parents and some of the children in the group [at the roundtable discussion] complained of asthma. ‘Until I went to Washington, I had never had asthma in my life,’ Kerry said in response. He said pollution in the city has prompted him to use an inhaler like those used by some of Roxbury residents.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry May Make GOP Wealth A Campaign Issue,” The Boston Globe, 4/23/03)
Well, Not Exactly . . . “In an interview afterward, Kerry clarified his remark by explaining that he used an Albuterol inhaler for common springtime allergies, but his condition is not serious enough to limit his physical activity. ‘I rarely use it; I haven’t used it in months,’ he said.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry May Make GOP Wealth A Campaign Issue,” The Boston Globe, 4/23/03) |
