Reply #2: here's the link to the transcript at NBC News "Meet the Press" website

[truthisfreedom]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4772030/

NBC News

MEET THE PRESS

Sunday, April 18, 2004

GUEST: Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, presidential candidate

MODERATOR/PANELIST: Tim Russert, NBC News

This is a rush transcript provided for the information and convenience of the press. Accuracy is not guaranteed. In case of doubt, please check with MEET THE PRESS - NBC NEWS(202)885-4598 (Sundays: [phone])

Meet the Press (NBC News) - Sunday, April 18, 2004

MR. TIM RUSSERT:  And we are here in the battleground state of Florida, Florida, Florida.

Senator Kerry...

SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D-MA):  It's Florida.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...welcome.

SEN. KERRY:  Glad to be here.  Thank you, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT:  As you well know, this is a 50-50 race between Bush and Kerry, but there is one area where the president has opened up in a significant lead. And in the interest of candor and clarity, I want to give you a chance to answer a question right up top, and I promise we'll talk about the nuance later on.  But the American people, I think, would like a yes or no answer: Do you believe the war in Iraq was a mistake?

SEN. KERRY:  I think the way the president went to war is a mistake.

MR. RUSSERT:  Let me show you what the American people have been saying about statements the candidates have been making:  Which candidate says what he believes?  Bush, 53; Kerry, 38.  Senator Kerry says what he believes, just 33; thinks--he says what he thinks people want to hear, 57.  The AFL-CIO has been a focus group, and Lee Strope of the Associated Press got a copy of that.  And this is what they found--this is a supporter of yours--that "Kerry's image is still vague.  The Bush campaigns flip-flopping attack has made inroads against many of the participants hearing or seeing comments."

SEN. KERRY:  Tim, you know, I have to tell you something.  I'm thrilled with where I am right now. The Republican Party has spent $50 million in a matter of about seven weeks to distort my record, to completely mislead Americans about me and about my record.  Now, we're in a position now to be able to respond and introduce myself to the country.  I look forward to that.  I look forward to Americans getting to know who I really am.

Let me give you an example.  George Bush has no record to run on.  He has a record to run away from. He can't come to a city and talk about creating jobs, because he hasn't created them.  He's lost them.  He can't come anywhere and talk about health care for all Americans, because he has no plan.  He can't come and talk about keeping the promise to our children and our schools because he broke it and he doesn't fund it.  He can't talk about cleaner air or cleaner water because he's going backwards on those policies.  So what does he do?  He distorts my record.  This president not only misleads America about my record; he misleads his own administration.  He misleads his security adviser.  He misleads his secretary of state about his own planning for a war.

I think the American people, over the next months, are going to get to see that I have a plan.  I have a plant to get people back to work.  I have a plan to provide health insurance to all Americans.  I have a plan to cut the deficit in half and move us down a road of fiscal responsibility.  And Americans are going to hear the truth, which has been sorely lacking from the political discussion of our country.

MR. RUSSERT:  But do you have a plan to deal with Iraq?  This is what you...

SEN. KERRY:  Yes.

MR. RUSSERT:  This is what you wrote in The Washington Post last Tuesday: "Our country has
committed to help the Iraqis build a stable, peaceful and pluralistic society.  No matter who is elected president in November, we will persevere in that mission."

SEN. KERRY:  Yes, we will.

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