Kerry "Irresponsible"

Yesterday I posted "Kerry On Iraq" about the video the Republican National Committee showing Kerry's inconsistent views on Iraq. I noted that the video lasting twelve minutes is too long. Maybe the RNC got wind of my criticism because today excerpts from the video have been made available in a text format.

I am posting most of the newly released excerpts here because it is important to consider how Kerry changed his position as his campaign for the nomination was crashing before the Iowa caucus. At first Kerry sounded as hawkish as anyone concerning the need to remove Saddam. Then Howard Dean's campaign got traction. Dean's antiwar message enabled Dean to become the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination. Polls predicted Dean would win Iowa's January 19, 2004 caucus. On the January 6, 2004 edition of MSNBC's "Hardball," Kerry answered "yes" when asked if he was one of the antiwar candidates. Then, well you know the rest.

Kerry's metamorphosis from hawk to "one of the antiwar candidates" is not the result of deeply held convictions. Its not evidence of the wisdom mentioned by several convention speakers. No it's nothing more than political expediency - simple pandering for votes.

Kerry's Shifting Position On Iraq

December 2001: Kerry Ready To Include Saddam Hussein In War On Terror. CNN'S LARRY KING: "What about enhancing this war, Senator Kerry. What are your thoughts on going further than Afghanistan, all terrorist places ...." KERRY: "Oh, I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

September 2002: Kerry Warns Saddam May Give "These Weapons Off To Terrorist Groups." KERRY: "I would disagree with John McCain that it's the actual weapons of mass destruction he may use against us, it's what he may do in another invasion of Kuwait or in a miscalculation about the Kurds or a miscalculation about or particularly Israel. Those are the things that - that I think present the greatest danger. He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It's the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat." (CBS' "Face The Nation," 9/15/02)

October 2002: Kerry Voted For Iraq War Resolution.

October 2003: Kerry Voted Against Senate Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package.

January 2004: Kerry Says He Is An Anti-War Candidate. MSNBC'S CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Do you think you belong to that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war, the way it's been fought, along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt? Are you one of the anti-war candidates?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I am -- Yes, in the sense that I don't believe the president took us to war as he should have, yes, absolutely." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 1/6/04)

Kerry's Record Against Supporting U.S. Troops

As I posted last October, I find the no votes of the four senators that voted in favor of the “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Edwards, Harkin, Hollings and Kerry to be especially offensive. It is irresponsible to authorize the use of force and then vote against the funds necessary to support it. Before he voted against the Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package, Kerry himself said such a vote would be irresponsible.

Senators Kerry And Edwards Are Two Of Only Four U.S. Senators Who Voted For The Use Of Force Resolution Against Iraq And Against The $87 Billion Supplemental Supporting Our Troops.

Kerry Had Characterized A Vote Against The Funding As "Irresponsible." (CBS, "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

Kerry Later Offered A Tortured Explanation Of His Vote Against The $87 Billion To Support Troops In Iraq. "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." (Richard W. Stevenson and Adam Nagourney, "Bush's Campaign Emphasizes Role Of Leader In War," The New York Times, 3/17/04)

Kerry Said He Was "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers. (John Kerry, Remarks at "Women's Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)

Kerry Then Said His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)

Kerry Even Said His Vote For The War And Against Funding For Our Troops Was "Not A Flip-Flop." (CBS' "Evening News," 7/21/04)

Kerry Adviser On Vote Against The $87 Billion Appropriation: "Off The Record, He Did It Because Of Howard Dean. On The Record, He Has An Elaborate Explanation." (Philip Gourevitch, "Damage Control," The New Yorker, 7/26/04)