|
"To the questioner who asked about why I'm supporting Kerry instead of Dean, given my position on the war, I've always thought that military action might be required to achieve the objectives of disarming Saddam, an objective that was unanimously supported in the United Nations. That's why I would have voted for the resolution, even though the language was far broader than any Democrat would have liked. The question was never war, anti-war. It waas always how best to achieve the objective of disarmament. The high risk low reward unilateral strategy implemented by the administration came in the face of widespread opposition including John Kerry, not because of the fact that military action was included but because it was the wrong military action for the wrong objective. Put simply, we were lied to by the administration every step of the way.
It's not a question of not supporting anybody. It's a question of supporting John Kerry. I think Howard Dean added a lot to the debate and has animated Democrats across the land. John Kerry's personal courage in Vietnam and in front of Congress at a young age have convinced me that he is best suited to be President of the United States.
In addition to his experience in the Senate, which includes lead roles in the Iran-Contra investigation, and the Noriega investigation, his previous service in the state of Massachusetts and his military record. He is the one candidate who like me, has a shared experience of speaking truth to a hostile power that is an experience I can assure that tempers one. I have met with John on a number of occasions, and have been impressed with the breadth of his interests and with the passion for our country and our future.
Polititics is pollitics, but I hope that in the end the sound policies that John has expoused from Health care to International Relations will win out.
What distinguishes Kerry for me from the other excellent candidates was the personal integrity and courage he showed when after serving his country with distinction in Vietnam, he returned to tell the Senate that the war was a mistake, and who among them would send the last man to die for such a mistake. For me to have spoken out lat in my career was easy relative to what he did speaking to hostile power so early in his life.
Right now, I am most interested in getting John Kerry President of the United States.
|