John Kerry in 2008 MA Senate Debate

On Tax Reform: Abolishing state income tax would be calamitous

Kerry slammed Beatty’s support of Question 1 on the state ballot, the proposal to abolish the state income tax. “My prayer is that Jeff Beatty’s position will be soundly rejected by this state. To do what Jeff Beatty says we should do would be calamitous,” he said.

But Beatty said the abolition of the state income tax would act as an economic stimulus for families and businesses and would bring more jobs and opportunities to the state.

Source: 2008 MA Senate Debate reported in the Boston Herald Oct 20, 2008

On War & Peace: Based vote for Iraq war on CIA’s intelligence reports

Beatty accused Kerry of having “blood on his hands” over his vote to send U.S. troops into Iraq during a fiery televised debate last night. A combative Beatty launched a vicious verbal assault after Kerry snorted at Beatty’s claim that he failed to read vital intelligence reports before voting for the war. “Don’t laugh. It’s not a joke,” fumed Beatty, a counterterrorism consultant and former CIA agent. “You knew. You knew when you voted for that war that we didn’t have what we needed for the war... and you didn’t care because it was always about getting elected president. You have got blood on your hands.“

Kerry branded Beatty’s attack ”insulting and frankly disgusting.“ He said his vote was based on intelligence reports presented to him by forme CIA director George Tenet and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The candidates agreed the United States should withdraw from Iraq and concentrate on Afghanistan, while working to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.

Source: 2008 MA Senate Debate reported in the Boston Herald Oct 20, 2008

The above quotations are from 2008 Massachusetts Senate Debate between John Kerry and Jeff Beatty. Click here for other excerpts from 2008 Massachusetts Senate Debate between John Kerry and Jeff Beatty. Click here for other excerpts by John Kerry. Click here for a profile of John Kerry.
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2018