From Deseret News archives:

Left, right jabs: Kerry hits at war, jobs; Bush blasts taxes, spending

Published: Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 8:56 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
TEMPE, Ariz. — Sen. John Kerry said Wednesday night that President Bush bears responsibility for a misguided war in Iraq, lost jobs at home and mounting millions without health care. Bush tagged his Democratic rival as a lifelong liberal bent on raising taxes and government spending.

"There's a mainstream in American politics, and you sit right on the far left bank," Bush said in the final debate of a close and contentious campaign for the White House. "Your record is such that Ted Kennedy, your colleague, is the conservative senator from Massachusetts."

Undeterred, the Democratic challenger said many of the nation's ills can be laid at Bush's feet.

He "regrettably rushed us into war" in Iraq, Kerry said, and the country is less safe as a result. He said 11 consecutive presidents, Republicans and Democrats alike, have been hit with recession and war, yet "none of them lost jobs the way this president has."

As for health care, the Democratic senator said, 5 million Americans have lost coverage under Bush's watch. "The president has turned his back on the wellness of America, and there is no system and it's starting to fall apart," Kerry said.

Kerry and the president also debated abortion, gay rights, immigration and more in a 90-minute debate that underscored deep differences only 19 campaign days before Election Day.

Story continues below
This debate was similar in format to the first — the two rivals standing behind identical lecterns set precisely 10 feet apart. Bush was on better behavior, though, and there was no grimacing and scowling this time when it was Kerry's turn to speak.

The encounter was also a policy wonk's dream — a blizzard of facts and figures, references to "budget caps" and other terms meaningful only to Washington insiders.

It also turned into a tug of war of sorts over Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican maverick who is Kerry's Senate friend but Bush's campaign supporter. Kerry twice invoked his name during the debate, and the second time Bush pounced.

"John McCain is for me for president" he said, because of his position on Iraq. Kerry, he said, offers a policy of "retreat and defeat."

Taxes were a particular flash point between the president and his challenger.

Questioned by moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS, Kerry said he would follow through on his plan to roll back tax cuts for Americans who earn more than $200,000 a year while preserving the reductions that have gone to lower and middle income wage earners.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Matt York, Associated Press

Sen. John Kerry and President Bush loosed a blizzard of facts and figures at Wednesday night's debate in Tempe, Ariz.

previousnext

Latest comments

@8:42 You raise a good question, and I hope someone more knowledgeable...

Nude bathers cited for lewdness

You and others probably find it confusing about concurrent jurisidiction on...

Utes are hard to figure out

Good win for Utah and for the MWC. I dont know why people have to discount...

Depleted uranium OK'd for storage

DU does NOT become more radioactive over time. The initial decay products...

No offense Harvey, but if people are telling you you'll be playing on...

Panel passes BCS playoff bill

BCS bids then their system wouldn't continue! MWC teams don't need the BCS...

I'm still hoping that the church will find a more open space for the temple....

Helicopters rescue stranded hikers

Thanks to all of those who know what it is like to volunteer time and...

BCS did TCU a favor?

be called, Church against State

Hes actually predicted #1 pick in the draft right now and deserving so,...

Advertisements