The Los Angeles Times' ultra-talented La Ganga and Hooks do more with one story than Jim Dyke could do in a month to plant the "John Kerry exaggerates like Al Gore" seed, looking at his stump claims of senatorial accomplishment. They say "while a review of his record shows he has a rightful claim to leadership in many . . . areas, it also finds that in some cases he exaggerates his role."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-kerry26feb26,1,7958677.story?coll=la-home-headlinesTHE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE Sizing Up the Democratic Contenders' Strengths - John Kerry claims bold leadership in the Senate on several major issues. The record bears him out on some but not quite on others. By Maria L. La Ganga and Janet Hook, Times Staff Writers
WASHINGTON — He fought Ronald Reagan over Nicaragua and missile defense programs. He fought for more cops on the street, cleaner air and protecting the Alaska wilderness.
To hear John F. Kerry tell it as he runs for the Democratic presidential nomination, he has been in the vanguard of dozens of legislative and policy battles during his almost 20 years as a senator from Massachusetts.
While a review of his record shows he has a rightful claim to leadership in many of these areas, it also finds that in some cases he exaggerates his role.
When Kerry told a town hall meeting in Ohio on Tuesday that "I led the fight to stop the drilling in the Arctic
Wildlife Refuge," he was on solid ground. A longtime environmentalist, he was a leader in the filibuster that successfully blocked President Bush's initiative to expand oil drilling in Alaska's backcountry.
But last month, when he told a campaign rally in Iowa that "I led the fight to stop Ronald Reagan's illegal, clandestine war in Central America," he was on shakier footing. Asked who headed that effort in the mid- to late 1980s, analysts are more likely to name other lawmakers, such as then-House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Texas), then-Rep. David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.).<snip>
"Sen. Kerry was certainly involved," said Edith Wilkie, former executive director of the Congressional Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus and an opponent of Reagan's policy. "He found his niche and did his thing, and it was a good contribution. But he didn't single-handedly gather the votes" to block Reagan's Contras policy.<snip>
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