POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS Party's messages pump up midstate delegation HBG PA

[Born Free]

Friday, July 30, 2004
BY PETER L. DeCOURSEY
Of The Patriot-News

BOSTON - Members of Pennsylvania's midstate delegation to the Democratic National Convention are studying for the oral quizzes they'll face back home about the party's presidential nominee, John Kerry.

The convention told only part of the Kerry story, said delegate Ike Gittlen of Harrisburg, public policy director of the Steelworkers International Union.
"I learned a lot about his personal history," Gittlen said. "I was very impressed by his boat mates' account of how he led them and saved lives in Vietnam.

"But I was surprised that we heard so much more about his short time in Vietnam and so little about his long tenure in the Senate. Because he has a very good record. And talking about it would have given him and our party a real chance to respond on the attacks that he waffles on issues and changes his positions," Gittlen said.

Gittlen has participated in discussions with Kerry on free trade and has seen Kerry accept some trade limits to protect American jobs.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1091179240253400.xml

or printer format:
http://www.pennlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1091179240253400.xml

[papau]

1. I like Kerry's Senate Record - but vote discussions put many to sleep

I suspect Kerry made the right decision to focus on themes.

:-)