Did Kerry mention the poor during the campaign?

[politicasista]

The reason I was asking is that I was on another board (the Chicago Defender link with his commentary) and someone said he talked about helping Americans, but didn't mention the poor or poverty issue and saw Kerry as "the lesser of two evils."

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. I'm sorry but why do you always post other people's negative comments?

I mean, there's been tons of research and links done on this forum to refute people who trash Kerry. Do you really need to drag every single negative comment you see in here and ask if Kerry ever did X or Y?

I'm sorry, don't take it personally, but I'm not in the mood for Kerrybashing.

[politicasista]

2. Sorry WEL

It wasn't here, it was somewhere else. I was trying to debunk that by stating the facts. I just told him to subscribe to his e-mailing list. I am tired of the bashing too, but I believe in stating facts.

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. I guess just get a set of links and put them in your favorites menu

That way whenever you see people complaining you can easily link to facts to back it up.

I wish I could give you more definite info but it's late and I'm tired. :hug: No offense meant, sista.

[politicasista]

4. It's all good. Thanks.

I just strictly said just join his e-mail list. It wasn't a bashing post really, just a setting the record straight one.

Don't stress yourself over the links. It's all good.

-pol. :hug:

[JI7]

5. yes he did

did the people who always complain about Kerry ever listen to what he says and his speeches.

CNN once cut Kerry off in a speech he was giving when he just started to talk about education and health care . they went to commercial but when they got back their report was on how the people are tired of candidates fighting about non issues and they want candidates to discuss education. but these fuckers cut Kerry off just as he was starting to talk about it.

[Mass]

6. Here is a link with plenty of resources concerning Kerry and the campaign

Next time you have a question like that, why dont you look there.

http://kerrylibrary.invisionzone.com/

Ron has kept together a lot of material concerning the campaign, and you will probably find what you need.

In addition, you may want to look at Kerry's record concerning Head Start, public housing, health care and particularly for kids, small businesses, ... All there measures are measures that are designed to help poor people and minorities. (Of course, I guess he could have stopped at making speeches on the issue and do nothing about it and that would be more satisfying for these people).

Concerning poverty, there is also his speech at the Push Rainbow convention in 2004.

[TayTay]

8. One set of answers is contained in all the SBA stuff

It's not enough to just mention poverty as a problem in America. (I am fairly certain that a vast majority of Americans are in favor of reducing poverty, but the devil is in the details.)

One area to explore is in the SBA loans programs. A lot of these loans are designed to give people with small businesses a leg up on getting established by giving them access to credit. There are several programs within the SBA that target minority and female-owned businesses. (A lot of big banks don't want to do these loans because they are not cost-effective.) Kerry has been a tireless champion of these programs over the years. He has also been one of, if not the most vocal critic of attempts by the Bushies to cut these Microloans programs.

These are the types of things that allow people in poorer communities to open stores, say start up a small hair-cutting salon and so forth. These types of poverty reduction programs don't get a lot of press, but they make a very big difference to the ones who get the loans.

That is but one way to answer. I will look up some more.

[TayTay]

7. I am glad that you ask questions like this

IMHO, it causes me to go look stuff up and get the facts, which is a good thing. I also think it is a barometer of the types of questions that are 'out there' in the real world and that will need to be addressed, especially if Kerry runs again. It never hurts to do the mental exercises that keep you sharp when facing criticisms. This sort of thing also makes it easier to defend against these criticisms when they come up in talking to friends and neighbors outside of DU and this group.

politicasista, I like it when you bring this up. I am grateful to you because for doing it because you remind us that we need to do more than preach to the choir. The choir is already on-board with the program, we need to answer questions from people who are not on-board with the program so that we can 'get' them to our side. This strengthens our arguments and toughens people up to the real criticisms that are out there.

Again, IMHO. Your mileage may reasonably and cogently vary.

[karynnj]

9. Bill Clinton in his auto biography, mentioned

that one reason he didn't want to lose Kerry in the Senate was "He had also devoted an extraordinary amount of time to the problem of youth violence, an issue he had cared about since his days as a prosecutor. Caring about an issue in which there are no votes today but which will have a big impact on the future is a very good quality in a politician." page 659

I know this does not fit your request, but thought it was related and that it "borrows" some of Clinton's credibility on an issue that impacts the poor disproportionately. That he has actively worked on this for over twenty years - also means it's real and not just campaign promises.

[JI7]

10. and during the campaign and other times when he talked about Kerry

he emphasized this issue the most. remember his " John Kerry said send me" speeches ? i thought that was one of the things the campaign should have used as a theme for Kerry's entire campaign.