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New Ad Highlights Kerry’s Plan to Put Opportunity in the Hands of All Americans
Ad Called "Fought for America" to Run in 17 States
March 22, 2004
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC –
"Fought for His Country"
The Kerry Campaign today launched a new ad campaign highlighting John Kerry’s plans to put opportunity into the hands of all Americans. While George W. Bush continues to blanket America with misleading attacks while ignoring the real concerns of average Americans, John Kerry is running his campaign on the real issues facing America, like making health care affordable, improving education and getting our economy back on track. John Kerry knows that as a nation we can do better than the last almost four years, and he has a plan to put the nation back on track and create a better future for America.
The 30-second spot will run in 17 states beginning Tuesday: Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, West Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas, Washington and Ohio.
“For four nearly four years, ordinary Americans have suffered through tremendous job losses, stagnant incomes and explosive increases in health care costs. Americans want a new approach, but George Bush stubbornly refuses to see the problems people are facing in this country each and every day,” said Kerry Campaign Manager Mary Beth Cahill. “John Kerry will be a President who recognizes what people are facing and who will do something about it. This ad is the beginning of an effort to communicate John Kerry's positive vision and determination to change the failed policies of the Bush Administration and lead America in a new direction.”
Text of Ad:
Announcer: “For 35 years John Kerry has fought for his country.”
John Kerry: “We need to get some things done in this country: affordable healthcare, rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy, really investing in our kids. That’s why I’m running for President.”
Announcer: “John Kerry: the military experience to defend America. A new plan to create jobs and put our economy back on track.”
John Kerry: “I’m John Kerry and I approved this message because it’s time to put opportunity in the hands of all Americans.”
Announcer: “John Kerry. A new direction for America.”
The ad can be viewed by going to www.johnkerry.com.
THE FACTS:
Title: “Fought for His Country”
Announcer: “For 35 years John Kerry has fought for his country.”
• John Kerry Has Fought for His Country for 35 Years: John Kerry began his service to his country as a young student when he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1966. Kerry served two tours in Vietnam, one in combat where his heroic actions resulted in his being awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Upon returning from Vietnam, Kerry and his fellow veterans fought the Nixon White House and rallied the nation against the war. Kerry, who also spoke at the first Earth Day in 1970, later continued his work for his country as a county prosecutor where he put away murders, rapists and a leading mob boss. In 1982, Kerry was elected as Lt. Governor of Massachusetts where he led efforts to curb pollution in the U.S. which causes acid rain. Kerry was elected to his first term in the United States Senate in 1984 where he has fought for veterans’ benefits, campaign finance reform, greater education opportunities, more affordable health care, 100,000 cops on the street, a military which is second to none and a sound, job producing economy.
John Kerry: “We need to get some things done in this country: affordable healthcare; rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy; really investing in our kids. That's why I'm running for President.”
• John Kerry Will Repeal Bush Tax Cuts for Wealthiest Americans: John Kerry “said he would repeal tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which he dismissed as ‘inappropriate and unconscionable at a time when we have all these needs before us.’ " (New York Times, 5/30/03)
• John Kerry “Has a Plan to Control Health Costs”: John Kerry “has a plan to control health costs…and he wants to give people a chance to buy into the same federal program that covers Bush and members of Congress.” (Contra Costa Times, 5/18/03)
• John Kerry is Focused on a “Drive to Curb Health Care Costs”: “Kerry has been the latest to unveil his proposals, centering on an expansion of coverage for the uninsured and a drive to curb costs.” (World Markets Analysis, 5/19/03)
o Rising Health Care Costs Prohibit Coverage For Many Families. President Bush has no plan to deal with runaway health care costs that “soared at double-digit rates in 2002 for the third straight year” and are considered the primary cause for the lack of insurance today. The average cost of employer-based health care costs increased $1,100 (14 percent) to $9,068 last year. “Affordability remains the number one reason people lack health coverage today,” said Dr. Donald Young, president of the Health Insurance Association of America. (Los Angeles Times, 9/30/03)
• John Kerry will Invest in Our Kids: "Each and every child in this country is valuable because they are our future as a society. We cannot afford to lose a single child to ill-health, under-education, abuse, addiction, jail, or gun violence. America’s highest goal should be for every child to grow up to be a successful young adult -- healthy, educated, free, secure, and a good citizen." Here are a few areas where Kerry will invest in our children: Health Insurance for Every Child; Quality Care so Children Start School Ready to Learn; Head Start; A Real Deal for America's Public Schools; Providing After-School Care to Every Child; Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment; Job Training & Opportunity; A New Kids Safety Effort at the FDA; and Greater Funding for Children With Disabilities. (http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/children )
Announcer: “John Kerry: The military experience to defend America. A new plan to create jobs and put our economy back on track.”
• John Kerry is a Decorated Combat Veteran of the Vietnam War: Kerry volunteered for the United States Navy after college and served from 1966 through 1970 rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. Afterwards, Kerry continued his military service in the United States Naval Reserves from 1972 through 1978. Kerry served two tours of duty in Vietnam--one tour as commander of a Navy Swift Boat in the Mekong Delta. Kerry’s action during the Vietnam War resulted in his being awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, three Purple Hearts, the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, three Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon. (Selective Service System National Headquarters; Boston Globe, 6/17/03)
• John Kerry Will Fight to Keep American Jobs in America: “Under this Administration, America’s middle class has been abandoned – its dreams denied, its Main Street interests ignored and its mainstream values scorned by a White House that puts privilege first,” said John Kerry. “Middle class Americans don’t ask for special favors, they just want basic fairness, and a President who fights for that ideal. Next November, we can change all that,” Kerry continued. “Because in a Kerry Administration, if you are doing your part and doing what’s right – whether you’re a CEO in the corner suite or a worker in an office or on the factory floor – you’ll have a President who honors you, respects your contribution, and who will fight for you and your future everyday.” Kerry’s economic plan to get America working and to keep American jobs at home includes: Revive American Manufacturing; Provide Tax Relief to Middle Class Families; Prepare Americans for 21st Century Jobs by Opening the Doors of College for All; Making Corporate America Live by America's Values; Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington; Expand Economic Opportunity for Women. (http://www.JohnKerry.com/issues/economy )
• John Kerry’s Economic Plan Will “Cut the Deficit in Half” in His First Term: “John Kerry presented his economic plan…an ambitious proposal that he said would increase aid to states by $25 billion annually, cut the federal deficit in half, and provide tax relief to the middle class and tax breaks for college students. ‘George Bush has brought back the days of deficits, debt and doubt,’ said Kerry, who is one of nine Democrats running for president. ‘He has put the interests of his buddies and big-shot campaign contributors ahead of the people he passes by in his motorcade.’” (Concord Monitor, 8/29/03)
o White House Report Celebrated Loss of U.S. Jobs to Outsourcing: Under the headline “Bush Supports Shift of U.S. Jobs Overseas” the LA Times reported that the Bush Administration “embraced foreign outsourcing, an accelerating trend that has contributed to U.S. job losses in recent years.” The Administration made the announcement even as analysts predict “as many as 2 million more U.S. white-collar jobs” will be exported at a time when eight million are already out of work. When asked whether the White House’s top economic advisor who touted outsourcing should resign, the Administration said the mere suggestion was “laughable.” (Los Angeles Times, 2/10/04; Reuters, 12/30/03; Hastert release, 2/11/04; CNN, 2/11/04)
John Kerry: “I'm John Kerry and I approved this message because it’s time to put opportunity in the hands of all Americans.”
Announcer: “John Kerry. A new direction for America.”
• John Kerry. A New Direction for America: “This nation is demanding for leadership that takes us in a new direction. And George Bush has made it clear that he’s not going to provide it. George W. Bush is running on the slogan of ‘steady leadership.’ But after four years of the same old failed policies, what we’ve seen is ‘stubborn leadership.’ George Bush stubbornly proposes tax cut after tax cut for the wealthiest Americans while we steadily lose millions of jobs. So tonight we say: Change is coming to America. George Bush stubbornly refuses to help families afford health care while premiums steadily rise through the roof. And tonight we say: Change is coming to America. This President stubbornly continues to let polluters rewrite our environmental laws while children steadily breathe dirtier and dirtier air. Tonight we say: Change is coming to America. George Bush stubbornly insists on a foreign policy where we go it alone and young Americans in uniform steadily pay the price. And so once again tonight we say: Change is coming to America.” – John Kerry Election Night Remarks (Chicago, 3/9/04)
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0322.html |
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