Kerry Press Release: Response to Misleading Bush-Cheney Ad "Clockwork"

[Skinner]

Kerry Campaign Response to Latest Misleading Bush-Cheney Ad -"Clockwork"

For Immediate Release
August 6, 2004

BUSH-CHENEY AD FACT CHECK

"The President, again, is choosing misleading ads over articulating a positive vision for America. He doesn't tell the truth on the campaign trail either. He says 'we've turned the corner,' but 42 million people lack health insurance, 1.9 million have lost their jobs, we're bogged down in Iraq and deficits have reached record highs. We need a president who will restore trust and credibility to the White House," said Kerry campaign spokesman, Chad Clanton.

FACT CHECK:
AD TITLE: “Clockwork”
Type: 60sec Radio
Date: 8/6/04

BUSH-CHENEY CREDIBILITY GAP

Narrator: “Some politicians are like clockwork. Take John Kerry. He talks tough on terrorism but Kerry voted against needed funding for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq even after saying it would be irresponsible to do so.”

THE RECORD

Bush Sent Troops to Iraq Without Body Armor: “But it's also true that as many as 40,000 US troops were sent to Iraq without the best-grade body armor. Frontline troops had the new vests, containing ceramic plates that can stop assault-rifle bullets, while others had only older designs that offered protection mainly against shrapnel and lower-velocity projectiles. At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing Sept. 24, 2003, Army Gen. John Abizaid, chief of the U.S. Central Command, did not dispute the estimate that 40,000 troops were without the newer design, and said the $300 million was needed to buy more of the vests.” Abizaid: “Now, I can't answer for the record why we started this war with protective vests that were in short supply. But I can tell you that by November, every soldier that's serving in Iraq will have one. It's very important.” (www.FactCheck.org)

Bush’s Own Army Secretary Said They Were “Not Prepared” for Prolonged Involvement in Iraq - “When the Saddam Hussein government collapsed, U.S. troops in Iraq figured the war was over, except for some mopping up. But as the acting secretary of the Army, Les Brownlee, acknowledged to Congress last week, ‘we simply were not prepared’ for the insurgency that developed in early summer, prolonging the war and taking the lives of hundreds of American soldiers. One 3rd Infantry soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Wright, put it this way in Iraq last June: ‘What was told to us was that we would fight and win and go home.’ It's not that simple.” (Associated Press, 3/13/04)

Bush Forcing Military to Face Back to Back Deployments - “The Army is spread so thin around the globe that when it needs fresh combat troops for Iraq this fall it will have little choice but to call on the same soldiers who led the charge into Baghdad last spring. The 3rd Infantry Division already has been given an official "warning order" to prepare to return to Iraq as soon as Thanksgiving. When those soldiers flew home from Iraq last summer to their bases in Georgia, few of them could have known they were, in effect, on a roundtrip ticket. They are not alone in facing back-to-back deployments to Iraq. Some of the same Marines who teamed up with the 3rd Infantry to topple Baghdad are already assembling again in Kuwait, only a matter of months after returning home, and more Marines will go next year.” (Associated Press, 3/13/04)

John Kerry, a Veteran of the Vietnam War, Knows Combat First Hand - John Kerry joined the United States Navy after college and served from 1966 through 1970 rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. Afterwards, Kerry continued his military service in the United States Naval Reserves from 1972 through 1978. Kerry served two tours of duty in Vietnam--one tour as commander of a Navy Swift Boat in the Mekong Delta. Kerry’s action during the Vietnam War resulted in his being awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, three Purple Hearts, the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, three Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon. (Selective Service System National Headquarters)

John Kerry DID NOT Vote Against Our Men and Women in the Military; Kerry VOTED Against the FAILED Bush Policy in Iraq – Of course John Kerry supports our troops—it is ridiculous to suggest otherwise. John Kerry voted AGAINST the failed Bush policy in Iraq which is still putting US troops in harms way saying: "The best way to support our troops and take the target off their backs is with a real strategy to win the peace in Iraq - not by throwing $87 billion at George Bush's failed policies. I am voting 'no' on the Iraq resolution to hold the President accountable and force him finally to develop a real plan that secures the safety of our troops and stabilizes Iraq."

Kerry Was a Lead Sponsor of the Amendment to Fund Our Nation’s Troops in Iraq Through Rescinding the Bush Tax Cut for the Wealthy - "The people who ordered up this war are the ones who ought to finance its aftermath. Yet when the Senate had a chance to vote on Oct. 2 for an amendment that would pay the postwar costs by temporarily reducing the tax cut for the wealthiest slice of Americans -- the less than 1 percent who $400,000 a year -- it was rejected, 57-42." (Broder, 10/12/03; 108th Congress S.Amdt. 1796)

BUSH-CHENEY CREDIBILITY GAP

Narrator: “And after the first attack on the World Trade Center Kerry proposed cutting intelligence by $7.5 billion and missed over ¾ of the Senate Intelligence Committee public hearings. Just like clockwork.”

THE RECORD

John Kerry is an Experienced Leader in the Intelligence Field – John Kerry served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 6 years and is the former Vice Chairman of the Committee. Kerry joined the Committee in early 1993 and served until early 2001. Among the areas closely investigated by John Kerry and the Intelligence Committee include global terrorism, world wide threats to U.S. national security, international espionage, weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, arms trafficking and nuclear security. John Kerry is also the former Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations and conducted several high profile Intelligence and International Security investigations. Additionally, Kerry is the author of the 1997 book ‘The New War’ which addressed the challenges of global terrorism and has served on the Foreign Relations Committee for more than eighteen years. One observer of Kerry wrote that, “Kerry plunged himself into the study of international crime an its implications for America.” In fact, the Kerry Commission uncovered the drug smuggling and arms trading in the Oliver North, Iran Contra scandal. “As chairman and then ranking Democrat on the Senate subcommittee on terrorism, narcotics, and international operations, John Kerry has been out front in pushing three presidential administrations to take seriously what is going on in the international underworld.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/6/96, 7/20/97; Boston Globe 6/28/97; The Guardian, 6/19/96)

Kerry Strongly Supports Increased Intelligence Funding – Including $250 Billion in the Previous 8 Years – A 50% Increase Since 1996 – John Kerry, a former member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has strongly supported recent increases in Intelligence funding, and, in the wake of 9/11, has supported the bipartisan call for an even larger increase in intelligence funding. According to a report issued by the Center for Defense Information entitled “Intelligence Funding and the War on Terror” John Kerry has supported approximately $250 billion in Intelligence funding over the past eight years alone. The report concludes that Kerry has supported a 50% increase in intelligence funding since 1996. Recently, Kerry stressed the need for greater intelligence in order to protect the country from terrorism: "The best single defense we have today, the most important weapon in the war against terrorism, is intelligence, good intelligence. We're way behind the curve in terms of human intelligence-gathering capacity as well as mutual legal-assistance efforts. You've got to know who they are, where they are what their plans are and hit them before they hit you. That's intelligence." (Senate Intelligence Authorization Funding voice votes 9/25/02, 12/13/01, 12/6/00, 11/19/1999, 10/8/98 & 9/25/96; 1997, Senate Roll Call vote # 109; Jewish News Bulletin of Northern California, 4/5/02)

John Kerry’s Support for Increased Intelligence Funding:

FY04 Intel Authorization $40 Billion* (2003, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 11/21/03)
FY03 Intel Authorization $39.3-$41.3 Billion* (2002, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 9/25/02)
FY02 Intel Authorization $33 Billion* (2001, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 12/13/01)
FY01 Intel Authorization $29.5-$31.5 Billion* (2000, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 12/6/00)
FY00 Intel Authorization $29-$30 Billion* (1999, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 11/19/1999)
FY99 Intel Authorization $29.0 Billion* (1998, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 10/8/98)
FY98 Intel Authorization $26.7 Billion* (1997, Senate Roll Call Vote #109)
FY97 Intel Authorization $26.6 Billion* (1996, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 9/25/96)

Kerry: “Most Important Weapon in War on Terror” is “Intelligence” - "The best single defense we have today, the most important weapon in the war against terrorism, is intelligence, good intelligence. We're way behind the curve in terms of human intelligence-gathering capacity as well as mutual legal-assistance efforts. You've got to know who they are, where they are what their plans are and hit them before they hit you. That's intelligence." (Jewish News Bulletin of Northern California, 4/5/02)

BUSH-CHENEY CREDIBILITY GAP

Narrator: “Kerry says he’ll cut taxes on middle class families but for 20 years he’s voted to raise taxes. 98 times to raise taxes. 126 times against tax cuts.”

THE RECORD

Independent Group Says This Claim is “Bogus”

(FactCheck.Org President Brooks Jackson): ‘That number is so bogus. What they're talking about here is votes he cast that would have made taxes higher than they might have been if some other amendment had passed. Procedural trickery, in other words. some votes counted twice.’ ” (NBC Nightly News, 4/6/04)

Kerry Vows to Stand Up for the Middle Class – Will Cut Their Taxes. “I'm proud that I opposed the President's tax giveaway and when I'm president I'll stop these tax cuts for the wealthiest among us because they're unfair and unaffordable. Democrats agree that the Bush Administration’s tax giveaways for the wealthy have left America’s workers hurting but there are real differences within our party about to restore economic growth and create jobs. Real Democrats are straight about who they’ll fight for. Real Democrats don’t walk away from the middle class. 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.” (Kerry for President Press Release, 7/30/03)

“Kerry Rejects Raising Middle-Class Tax” (Washington Times, 7/30/03)

“…John Kerry called for middle-class tax relief…” (Manchester Union Leader, 7/18/03)

“John Kerry Proposes Middle-Class Tax Cut To Make Four Years of College Affordable” (Kerry for President, press release, 9/12/03)

BUSH-CHENEY CREDIBILITY GAP

Narrator: Higher taxes in Social Security benefits. Against employee health care credits for small business. Kerry even supported a 50 gallon gas tax increase. Kerry on taxes? Like clockwork.”

THE RECORD

Bush Has Increased Taxes by $3,532 Per Family. Bush has placed a hidden tax of at least $3,532 a year on the American family. With is wrongheaded economic policies, Bush has driven up the costs of certain goods and services, such as:

- Tuition Increase. Nationally, four-year public college tuition and fees increased by an average of $1,032 since Bush took office, a 28 percent increase, the highest three-year increase on record. (Source: The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2003-04 compared to 2000-01)

- Health Increase: $793. Health care costs have increased by an average of $793 since Bush took office, a stunning 49 percent increase. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Employer Health Benefits Survey 2000 and 2003, www.kff.org)

- Gas Increase: $245. The average U.S. household has seen an increase of $245 annually in gasoline prices and an average household with children has seen an increase of $289 in gasoline prices since Bush came into office. (Source: Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration)

Kerry Voted to Repeal Income Tax on Seniors. Kerry voted to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits. It was blocked by Republicans who preferred to pass dividend tax cuts and upper income tax rate reductions. (S1054, 5/15/2003, #149) It’s George Bush who is leading Medicare into bankruptcy. Just this week we learned that his failure to lead has shaved 10 years off the life expectancy of Medicare.

Kerry’s Plan Health Care for Small Businesses. “As the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry might be expected to propose a plan that emphasizes the role of small business. In March he introduced a small business stimulus act that, if passed, would speed up depreciation schedules on high-tech equipment and provide tax breaks to sole proprietorships. Even his health-care plan has a sop to small businesses, in the form of tax credits to make coverage more affordable.” (Fortune Small Business, 6/20/03)

Kerry Has Never Sponsored, Cosponsored or Voted for a 50 Cent Gas Tax Increase. Sen. Charles Robb introduced legislation in 1993 that phased in a 50-cent increase. John Kerry did not vote for or co-sponsor this bill. (S. 1068, Introduced 5/28/93) It’s George Bush who has broken his promise to lead the way to a sustainable energy policy. His refusal to stand up to his big oil contributors has contributed to the highest gas prices in history – an effective $245 tax increase on American families and commuters.

NBC News: Bush’s Gas Tax Charge is “Disingenuous” “David Shuster, NBC Election Correspondent (voice-over): ‘The latest negative ad from the Bush campaign tries to paint John Kerry as somebody who doesn't care about higher gas prices. (Begin Video Clip, Bush-Cheney Campaign Ad) Narrator: Some people have wacky ideas, like taxing gasoline more so people drive less. That's John Kerry. He supported a 50-cent-a-gallon gas tax. (End Video Clip) Shuster: But that was in a magazine interview 20 years ago. Kerry quickly dropped the idea and never supported or promoted it in Congress, so this charge...(Begin Video Clip, Bush-Cheney Campaign Ad) Narrator: If Kerry's gas tax increase were law, the average family would pay $657 more a year. (End Video Clip) Shuster: ... is disingenuous.” (MSNBC, Hardball, 3/30/04)

- Bush’s Top Economic Advisor Backs a 50 Cent Per Gallon Tax Increase. In Fortune Magazine, Gregory Mankiw, President Bush’s Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, argued that a 50 cent gas tax is a necessary component of income tax cuts. He explained that “cutting income taxes while increasing gasoline taxes would lead to more rapid economic growth, less traffic congestion, safer roads, and reduced risk of global warming--all without jeopardizing long-term fiscal solvency. This may be the closest thing to a free lunch that economics has to offer.” (Fortune, 5/24/99)

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www.johnkerry.com

Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.

[Trajan]

1. Great stuff Skinner ....

It's like your channelling ...

I like, I like ....