KERRY A NATION? Kerry covers health issues, jobs, military

[JI7]

<Kerry opened his Northland presentation with recognition of a vintage Douglas DC-3 aircraft stored in the Airline History Museum hangar.

"My father flew one of those during the World War II period," Kerry said. "If it weren't a great aircraft, ladies and gentlemen, this might be a John Edwards or a Howard Dean rally."

"I've met people who haven't ever in their lives, at age 35 or 40, been able to afford health care in America. I've met young people who've had to downsize their dreams and turn away from the college of their choice or college at all because they simply couldn't afford the ... tuition that has gone up under George Bush," Kerry said. "Everything's gone up. Tuition's 35 percent up; health care, 50 percent up; gasoline, 41 percent up. But the wages of Americans keep going down or are locked in the same place."

Kerry said his record has been distorted over the past two months by an $80 million advertising campaign waged by President Bush.

"The reason is clear. He doesn't have a record to run on, he has a record to run away from," Kerry said. "He can't come out here to Missouri and 'show you.' He can't come out here and show you the jobs he's created because you've lost about 50,000 jobs, 30,000 of them, almost, in Kansas City alone. He can't come out here and tell you (it's) great we've got more Americans on health care because 4 million more Americans have lost their health care and countless others can't afford it. He can't come out here and tell you he's kept the promise ... to make college more affordable. He can't tell you he's protecting the environment. So the only thing they can do is try to tear down their opponent."

"One guy came up to me and said, 'What's all this fuss they're making about these jobs they've created? I should know. I've got three of them.' People are working harder," Kerry said. "Where's the time for family, where's the time for community, where's the time and the ability to be able to actually live? ... We need to make the American economy work for Americans, not just Americans working for the American economy."
"Under my economic plan ... 98 percent of all Americans will get a tax cut. I protect the middle class," Kerry said. "I roll back George Bush's unwise, unaffordable tax cut for the wealthiest Americans and I do it so that we can afford to reduce the deficit, be fiscally responsible, invest in health care, education and job creation. ...

"Within hours (of being elected), I will introduce legislation that will guarantee that we provide health care to Americans as a matter of right, not as a matter of privilege.">

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1452&dept_id=155076&newsid=11901025&PAG=461&rfi=9

[trogdor]

1. Sounds like a Contract With America to me.

"Within hours (of being elected), I will introduce legislation that will guarantee that we provide health care to Americans as a matter of right, not as a matter of privilege."

Lord knows we need one, a Contract that is. Having a universal health care bill ready for Congress by close of business Jan. 20th, 2005 is a good start.

[JI7]

2. hopefully we will have a congress that will support it also

kerry himself says to people that they need to make sure they send a democratic congress so he can get support in passing his plans.

[ItsMyParty]

3. Indeed, Kerry needs to directly inform the American people

that simply removing Bush will not help them in these areas of great concern. He must tell them that a Dem President will need a Dem controlled Congress if we are to start making progress on the issues that help and defend the American people. This has to be an across the board push to kick republicans out of office.

[On the Road]

4. "I Will Introduce Legislation "

Maybe that's Kerry's way of saying that he knows it probably won't pass (unless the democrats do very very well in Congressional races).

[JI7]

5. he makes a point of telling people that

he says they need to make sure that the congress is also democratic to help ensure actual passage. one of the best things about kerry was he didn't just say "i will promise you will get this or that". he explained to people the process .