Kerry compares black, gay struggles-Cites Bush's record of 'broken promise

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/03/08/kerry_compares_black_gay_struggles/

"You talk about `two positions'?" Kerry said, using a phrase that Republicans have hurled at him. "{Bush is} a walking stack of broken promises, and I'll lay them out to you over these next days. And he's got two positions on everything. We're going to create 4 million jobs; he hasn't, he's lost 3 million. He says we're going to have health care for Americans. Well, we're not, he doesn't have a plan for them."

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Kerry also said he would ask allies to go to Iraq to assess the conflict there for him, and added that he had not ruled out a trip to the war-torn nation himself.

The Massachusetts senator began his assault on Bush from the well of the Greater Bethlehem Temple Pentecostal Church of the Apostolic Faith, here in Mississippi's capital, as he read from the Book of James to suggest that Republicans did not back up "important words" with good works and social policy that aided Americans.

"You can run the list of those deeds that are not matched by words," Kerry said, including "compassionate conservative" among them. "I don't agree with the hollowness, nor do you, that tries to divide black and white, rich and poor, Massachusetts and Mississippi. In fact, some people just want us pointing fingers at each other. The reason they do that is that so no one points a finger at them." While invoking God at various turns yesterday -- at one point saying he had been "anointed the next president of the United States" after Bishop Phillip Coleman laid hands on him -- Kerry also cited the Bible and the US Constitution in defending the rights of gays and lesbians during a boisterous town hall forum after the church services.

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[Bill McBlueState]

1. anointed?

"anointed the next president of the United States"

Sounds like something John Ashcroft would say. I'm behind Kerry, but why must he pander to the religious? It's pandering because what he said has nothing to do with policy; it's using religious codewords as a signal to a particular type of Christian whose vote he wants.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Whats your suggestion? Hope just the atheists elect him maybe? n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

4. correct me if I'm wrong

Are there Christians who will vote for a guy even if he doesn't use religious codewords? You know, who will look at his record and policy statements, things that are relevant to his ability to govern?

I think Kerry will do pretty well if he sticks to that.

[cap]

2. should Bush counter Kerry by...

talking about his work at Project PULL in Houston -- he did community service working with black kids???

:)

[Crachet2004]

6. Oh I wish he would...

rip the scab off that, again! I damn well know, SOMEBODY from that organization is alive today, who remembers his service at PULL being court ordered.

They just haven't popped up yet.

[davidinalameda]

5. guess what church is going to have it's non profit status challenged

by the IRS soon!

[Markus182]

7. Pointing fingers

I thought this line by Kerry was brilliant:

"In fact, some people just want us pointing fingers at each other. The reason they do that is that so no one points a finger at them."

It rings with the truth and it has the catchiness of a quote. I have been more and more impressed with the things I've been hearing from Kerry! He is unrelentless in his criticism of Bush, and he does it without being condescending to Bush's supporters (the people we want coming over to our side).