John Kerry in The Boston Globe


On Abortion: Kerry staunchly resists restrictions on abortions

Kerry staunchly resisted restrictions on abortions, including a ban on the ‘partial birth abortions
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.293 Apr 27, 2004

On Civil Rights: Questions the ultimate practicality of affirmative action

‘The truth is that affirmative action has kept America thinking in racial terms,’ Kerry said. Insisting that he still supported affirmative action, Kerry outlined its costs, particularly the white resentment that racial preferences had fostered. Kerry went on to state, ‘We cannot lecture our citizens about fairness and then disregard legitimate questions about the actual fairness of federal regulation and law.’
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.279-280 Apr 27, 2004

On Civil Rights: Defense of Marriage Act is fundamentally ugly

In 1996, John Kerry again parted with the church when he voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which created a federal defintion of marriage as the union between a man and a woman and prohibited the extending of federal marital benefits, such as Social Security, for same-sex partners. Kerry called the Defense of Marriage Act “fundamentally ugly, fundamentally political, and fundamentally flawed.”
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.294 Apr 27, 2004

On Health Care: Key issue: Does government control reduce cost?

Kerry was less clear on [his preferences regarding] the Clinton health care plan--involving unprecedented government intervention in the health markets--to dramatically expand insurance coverage. Kerry, who had once suffered his own bout with skyrocketing health costs said a crucial question to be considered [about health care plans] was: “Does it reduce cost?”
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.287-8 Apr 27, 2004

On Principles & Values: Clear separation of church and state

Kerry says, ‘I believe in the separation [of church and state].
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.293 Apr 27, 2004

On War & Peace: Kerry saves life under fire, awarded Bronze Star

[During an attack on Kerry’s Swift Boat in Vietnam], James Rassmann was thrown into the water, dodging bullets. He grabbed a netting and tried to pull himself up. But he was too weak. Kerry, who had been hit in the arm and was bleeding, reached down with his good arm and pulled Rassmann to safety. Kerry saved his life, Rassmann said, and ‘he deserved the Silver’ [Star instead of the Bronze Star he received].
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.106 Apr 27, 2004

On War & Peace: Anti-Vietnam but not left-wing anti-war

While some members of the antiwar [Vietnam] group viewed Kerry as an opportunist, others realized Kerry--erudite and clean-cut--was the ideal foil for those who viewed the group as hippie traitors or even Communists.
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.118-119 Apr 27, 2004

On War & Peace: Supported 1998 missile attacks against Afghanistan & Sudan

Kerry vigorously backed President Clinton’s decision in August 1998 to launch simultaneous long range cruise missile attacks against terrorist strongholds in Afghanistan and Sudan that were linked to bin Laden. Kerry stated, ‘Those who strike out against us with terror have to understand we will pursue them and do everything in our power to protect American citizens and interests.’
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.332 Apr 27, 2004

On War & Peace: Afghanistan incursion justified and not the same as Vietnam

Kerry rejected the leftist argument that America brought the 9/11 attacks on itself, that suicide hijackings constituted a ‘crime’ but not an act of ‘war’ and that US action against an impoverished Afghanistan was comparable to its aggression in Vietnam
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.337 Apr 27, 2004

On Crime: Death penalty for Osama bin Laden

“No, we can’t beat Bush by being Bush-lite,” Kerry said, using a favorite phrase of Dean’s. “But we also can’t beat George Bush by being light on national security, light on fairness for middle-class Americans, and light on the values that make us Democrats.” Speaking to reporters after his speech, Kerry said of Dean’s bin Laden remark: “The question asked [to Dean] was, do you believe Osama bin Laden should be tried in the United States and given the death penalty? The answer to both questions is a simple yes. Yes and Yes.“ A Dean aide cited another recent interview in which Dean said: ”As a president, I would have to defend the process of the rule of law. But as an American, I want to make sure he gets the death penalty he deserves.“ Dean recently issued a statement clarifying his position on bin Laden, after a newspaper account suggested he thought the Al Qaeda leader could be innocent. All he meant, Dean said, was that everyone, including terrorists, deserves a fair trial.
Source: Patrick Healy & Anne Kornblut, Boston Globe, p. A10 Dec 28, 2003

The above quotations are from Media coverage of MA political races in The Boston Globe.
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Page last updated: Oct 11, 2020