[IP] PSF: In Their Own Words
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jon Delano <jon.delano@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 6, 2004 10:20:58 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: PSF: In Their Own Words
Reply-To: Jon Delano <jon.delano@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Politically Savvy Friends,
No, I have not disappeared in the vortex of political rhetoric in
Boston and New York City, but I have taken a few weeks off -- both to
cover the conventions and to grab a short vacation in between. Later
this week, I will offer some analysis of the last six weeks, and where
we are headed over the next eight weeks of this campaign.
But, first, I thought it might be helpful to review some of the words
of George Bush and John Kerry from their acceptance speeches at their
presidential conventions. There are, of course, some similarities --
both see this election as defining -- but there are many more
differences. Obviously, both men had much more in their speeches, so
this is just an arbitrary list of highlights.
And if any of you feel moved to share your thoughts on both
conventions, just let me know. In the meantime, I hope you are having
(or have had) a terrific Labor Day weekend.
Yours,
Jon
Jon Delano
Political Analyst
H. John Heinz School of Public Policy
Carnegie Mellon University
EXCERPTS FROM THE NOMINATION ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES OF JOHN KERRY (July
29) AND GEORGE BUSH (September 2):
ON THIS ELECTION:
GB: "Voters will make a choice based on the records we have built, the
convictions we hold, and the vision that guides us forward. A
presidential election is a contest for the future."
JK: "This is the most important election of our lifetime. The stakes
are high. . . . Elections are about choices. And choices are about
values. . . . Never has there been a more urgent moment for Americans
to step forward and define ourselves. I will work my heart out. But,
my fellow citizens, the outcome is in your hands more than mine."
ON VICE PRESIDENTS:
GB: "I am fortunate to have a superb vice president. I have counted
on Dick Cheney's calm and steady judgment in difficult days, and I am
honored to have him by my side."
JK: "I am proud that at my side will be a running mate whose life is
the story of the American dream and who's worked every day to make that
dream real for all Americans. . . . This son of a mill worker is ready
to lead -- and next January Americans will be proud to have a fighter
for the middle class to succeed Dick Cheney. . . . I will have a vice
president who will not conduct secret meetings with polluters to
rewrite our environmental laws."
ON THE FUTURE:
GB: "To everything we know there is a season -- a time for sadness, a
time for struggle, a time for rebuilding. And now we have reached a
time for hope. This young century will be liberty's century. By
promoting liberty abroad, we will build a safer world. By encouraging
liberty at home, we will build a more hopeful America."
JK: "John Kennedy called my generation into service. It was the
beginning of a great journey -- a time to march for civil rights, for
voting rights, for the environment, for women, and for peace. We
believed we could change the world. And you know what? We did. But
we're not finished. The journey isn't complete. The march isn't
over. The promise isn't perfected. Tonight, we're setting out again.
And, together, we're going to write the next great chapter of America's
story."
ON THE ECONOMY:
GB: "Because we acted, our economy is growing again and creating jobs,
and nothing will hold us back."
JK: "Wages are falling, health care costs are rising, and our great
middle class is shrinking. People are working weekends; they're
working two jobs, three jobs, and they're still not getting ahead."
OUTSOURCING JOBS:
GB: "We now compete in a global market that provides new buyers for
our goods, but new competition for our workers. To create more jobs in
America, we must be the best place in the world to do business."
JK: "We're told that outsourcing jobs is good for America . . . .
They say this is the best economy we've ever had. And they say that
anuyone who thinks otherwise is a pessimist. Well, here is our
answer. There is nothing more pessimistic than saying America can't do
better. We can do better and we will. We're the optimists."
GB: "To create jobs, we will expand trade and level the playing field
to sell American goods and services across the globe. And we must
protect small business owners and workers from the explosion of
frivolous lawsuits that threaten jobs across America."
JK: "We value jobs that pay you more, not less than you earned
before. We value jobs where, when you put in a week's work, you can
actually pay your bills, provide for your children, and lift up the
quality of your life. We value an America where the middle class in
not being squeezed, but doing better."
SEPTEMBER 11TH:
GB: "Three days after September 11th, I stood where Americans had
died in the ruins of the Twin Towers. . . . Since that day, I wake up
every monring thinking about how to better protect our country. I will
never relent in defending America whatever it takes."
JK: "Remember the hours after September 11th when we came together as
one to answer the attack against our homeland. . . . It was the worst
day we have ever seen, but it brought out the best in all of us. I am
proud that after September 11th all our people rallied to President
Bush's call for unity to meet the danger. There were no Democrats.
There were no Republicans. There were only Americans. How we wish it
had stayed that way."
GOING TO WAR:
GB: "September 11th requires our country to think differently. We
must, and will, confront threats to to America before it is too late."
JK: "I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition: The
United States of American never goes to war because we want to, we only
go to war because we have to."
JK: "I know what kids go through when they are carrying an M-16 in a
dangerous place. . . . I know what it's like to write letters home
telling your family that everything's all right when you're not sure
that's true. As president I will wage this war with the lessons I
learned in war. . . . And on my first day in office, I will send a
message to every man and woman in our armed services: You will never
be asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace."
GB: "Our men and women in uniform are doing a superb job for America
. . . . Because of you, the world is more just and will be more
peaceful. We owe you our thanks, and we owe you something more. We
will give you the resources, all the tools, and all the support you
need for victory."
ON WINNING IN IRAQ:
JK: "I know what we have to do in Iraq. We need a president who has
the credibility to bring our allies to our side and the share the
burden, reduce the cost to American taxpayers, and reduce the risk to
American soldiers. Here is the reality: that won't happen until we
have a president who restores America's respect and leadership, so we
don't have to go it alone in the world."
GB: "Our allies also know the historic importance of our work. About
40 nations stand beside us in Afghanistan, and some 30 in Iraq. . . .
We have led, many have joined, and America and the world are safer."
ON USING FORCE:
GB: "Do I forget the lessions of September 11th and take the word of
a madman, or do I take action to defend our country. Faced with that
choice, I will defend America every time."
JK: "I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as
president. Let there be no mistake. I will never hesitate to use
force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and
certain response. I will never give any nation or international
institution a veto over our national security."
ON FIGHTING TERRORISM:
GB: "Our strategy is clear. We have tripled funding for homeland
security . . . We are transforming our military and reforming and
strengthening our intelligence services. We are staying on the
offensive striking terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them
here at home. . . . You know where I stand."
JK: "I will fight a smarter, more effective war on terror. We will
deploy every tool in our arsenel: our economic as well as our military
might; our principles as well as our firepower. . . . Strength is more
than tough words. After decades of experience in national security, I
know the reach of our power and I know the power of our ideals. . . .
We need a strong military and we need to lead strong alliances. And
then, with confidence and determination, we will be able to tell the
terrorists: You will lose and we will win. The future doesn't belong
to fear; it belongs to freedom."
ON TELLING THE TRUTH:
JK: "We have it in our power to change the world again. But only if
we're true to our ideals -- and that starts by telling the truth to the
American people. That is my first pledge to you tonight. As
president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House. . .
. I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war."
GB: "In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. . . . We knew his long
history of pursuing, even using, weapons of mass destruction. . . .
Members of both political parties, including my opponent and his
running mate, saw the threat, and voted to authorize the use of
force."
COMPLEXITIES V. FLIP-FLOPS:
JK: "Now I know there are those who criticize me for seeing
complexities -- and I do -- because some issues just aren't all that
simple. Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't
make it so. Saying we can fight a war on the cheap doesn't make it
so. And proclaiming mission accomplished certainly doesn't make it
so. As president, I will ask hard questions and demand hard evidence."
GB: "When asked to explain his vote [for funding the war], the
senator said, 'I actually did for for the 87 billion dollars before I
voted against it. Then he said he was 'proud' of that vote. Then,
when pressed, he said it was a 'complicated' matter. There is nothing
complicated about supporting our troops in combat."
ON VALUES:
GB: "Some things do not change: the values we try to live by, the
institutions that give our lives meaning and purpose. . . . Because a
caring society will value its weakest members, we must make a place for
the unborn child. . . . Because the union of man and woman deserves an
honored place in our society, I support the protection of marriage
against activist judges."
JK: "We've heard a lot of talk about values. But values spoken
without action are just slogans. Values are not just words. . . . It's
time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families."
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
GB: "We have a moral responsibility to honor America's seniors so I
brought Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen Medicare. Now
seniors are getting immediate help buying medicine. Soon every senior
will be able to get prescription drug coverage."
JK: "You don't value families by denying real prescription drugs
coverage to seniors, so big drug companies can get another windfall. .
. . We will make sure that senior citizens never have to cut their
pills in half because they can't afford life-saving medicine."
SOCIAL SECURITY:
GB: "We will always keep the promise of social security for our older
workers. . . . We must strengthen social security by allowing younger
workers to save some of their taxes in a personal account."
JK: "As president, I will not privatize social security. I will not
cut benefits."
ON TAXES:
GB: "My plan will encourage investment and expansion by restraining
federal spending, reducing regulation, and making tax relief permanent.
. . . I will lead a bipartisan effort to reform and simplify the
federal tax code."
JK: "Let me tell you what we won't do: we won't raise taxes on the
middle class. You've heard a lot of false charges about this in recent
months. So let me say straight out what I will do as president. I
will cut middle class taxes. I will reduce the tax burden on small
business. And I will roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest
individuals who make over $200,000 a year, so we can invest in job
creation, health care, and education."
ON HEALTH CARE:
GB: "More than half of the uninsured are small business employees and
their families. . . . We will offer a tax credit to encourage small
businesses and their employees to set up health savings accounts and
provide direct help for low-income Americans to purchase them."
JK: "The story of people struggling for health care is the story of
so many Americans. . . . When I'm president, American will stop being
the only advanced nation in the world which fails to understand that
health care is not a privilege for the wealthy, the connected, and the
elected. It's a right for all Americans."
ON PATRIOTISM:
JK: "We have an important message for those who question the
patriotism of Americans who offer a better direction for our country.
Before wrapping thesmelves in the flag and shutting their eyes and ears
to the truth, they should remember what America is really all about. .
. . You see that flag up there. We call her Old Glory. I fought under
that flag . . . . That flag doesn't belong to any president. It
doesn't belong to any ideology, and it doesn't belong to any political
party. It belongs to all the American people."
ON WINNING:
GB: "I am running with a compassionate conservative philosophy: that
government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their
lives. I believe this nation wants steady, consistent, principled
leadership and that is why, with your help, we will win this election."
ON GOD:
JK: "In this cause and in this campaign, we welcome people of faith.
America is not us and them. . . . Faith has given me values and hope to
live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday. I don't want
to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want
to pray humbly that we are on God's side."
ON CONSERVATIVE VALUES:
GB: "My opponent recently announced that he is the candidate of
'conservative values,' which must have come as a surprise to a lot of
his supporters. . . . If you say the heart and soul of America is found
in Hollywood, I'm afraid you are not the candidate of conservative
values."
TO PRESIDENT BUSH ON NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS:
JK: "In the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, no just opponents. Let's
build unity in the American family, not angry division. The high road
may be harder, but it leads to a better place. Republicans and
Democrats must make this election a contest of big ideas, not
small-minded attacks."
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