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John Kerry
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Guilty, by Ann Coulter
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Obama's Challenge, by Robert Kuttner
Free Ride: John McCain and the Media, by David Brock and Paul Waldman
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates 2008 series, with Tim Russert
This Moment On Earth, by John Kerry
Giuliani: Flawed or Flawless?
Meet the Press: 2006-2007 "Meet the Candidates" series
State of Denial, by Bob Woodward
The Truth, (with jokes), by Al Franken
Take Back America Conference
2008 Presidential race speculation
Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race
The Case for Hillary Clinton, by Susan Estrich
A Patriot`s Handbook, selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy
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Kerry: The Complete Biography By the Boston Globe
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Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum
The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security
Kerry-Weld debates of 1996
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John Kerry on Abortion
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Click here for 34 full quotes on Abortion
OR background on Abortion.
- Criticized ban on stem cell research; Bush claims no ban. (Nov 2010)
- No undoing Constitutional rights, including right of choice. (Oct 2004)
- Cannot change Roe v. Wade because of my own faith. (Oct 2004)
- Embryos used in stem cell research are not from abortions. (Oct 2004)
- Supreme Court justices should be able to make good decisions. (Oct 2004)
- We cannot force people to share our faith. (Oct 2004)
- Bush allows the destruction of life up to a certain amount. (Oct 2004)
- Life begins at conception, but we can’t legislate that. (Jul 2004)
- Will not appoint Justice against Roe while Court is 5-4. (May 2004)
- Kerry staunchly resists restrictions on abortions. (Apr 2004)
- Partial-birth abortion ban undermine women’s right to choose. (Nov 2003)
- No criminalization of a woman’s right to choose. (Jun 2003)
Voting Record
- FactCheck: Yes, Kerry did vote against Laci Peterson law. (Oct 2004)
- Against partial-birth abortion but there are exceptions. (Oct 2004)
- Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies. (Mar 2009)
- Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
- Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
- Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
- Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
- Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
- Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
- Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006)
- Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims. (Sep 2006)
- Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
- Provide emergency contraception at military facilities. (Apr 2007)
- Protect the reproductive rights of women. (Jan 1993)
- Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
- Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. (Jan 2009)
- Emergency contraception at all military health facilities. (Dec 2009)
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John Kerry on Budget & Economy
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Click here for 17 full quotes on Budget & Economy
OR 11 older headlines
OR background on Budget & Economy.
- Restore pay-as-you-go for fiscal discipline. (Oct 2004)
- Incentives to create jobs at home and end corporate welfare. (Jul 2004)
- We can do better on economy--lift people out of poverty. (Jul 2004)
- Base policy on broad growth and progressive taxation. (Oct 2003)
- No excuse for special tax cuts for the rich. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
- Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
- Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
- Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
- Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
- Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
- Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
- Voted NO on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
- Require full disclosure about subprime mortgages. (Dec 2007)
- Reform mortgage rules to prevent foreclosure & bankruptcy. (Feb 2008)
- Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)
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John Kerry on Civil Rights
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Click here for 49 full quotes on Civil Rights
OR background on Civil Rights.
- 2004: Agreed with people of Missouri on banning gay marriage. (Mar 2012)
- Right of public dissent vital for patriotic Americans. (Jun 2006)
- FactCheck: Kerry would change Patriot Act, as Bush claims. (Oct 2004)
- FactCheck: Bush DID meet with Congressional Black Caucus. (Oct 2004)
- Help minority business by small business set-aside programs. (Oct 2004)
- We need to hold on to equal pay for women. (Oct 2004)
- The President must reach out to help end discrimination. (Oct 2004)
- The Patriot Act has been used to abuse people’s rights. (Oct 2004)
- Raising the minimum wage is a working women’s issue. (Aug 2004)
- Questions the ultimate practicality of affirmative action. (Apr 2004)
- Supports affirmative action now and into the future. (Mar 2004)
- Support “mend it, don’t end it” for affirmative action. (Jan 2004)
- Flag burning is displeasing, but it’s free expression. (Jan 2004)
- Introduced to integration at prep school. (Jan 2004)
- Voted for PATRIOT Act, but genuinely alarmed at PATRIOT II. (Oct 2003)
- Politicians use “crime” as codeword for “race”. (Jun 1998)
Gay Rights
- Cheney’s daughter, a lesbian, would say gay is not a choice. (Oct 2004)
- The Constitution calls for same-sex partnership rights. (Oct 2004)
- Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman. (May 2004)
- Defense of Marriage Act is fundamentally ugly. (Apr 2004)
- Opposes Massachusetts DOMA since there’s a federal DOMA. (Feb 2004)
- For partnership rights and civil union. (Nov 2003)
- Provide gays and lesbians with full coverage of civil rights. (Jun 1996)
Voting Record
- Include a sunset provision in the Patriot Act. (Jun 2003)
- Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
- Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
- Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
- Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
- Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
- Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
- Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
- Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
- Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
- Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
- Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
- Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
- Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business. (Mar 2004)
- Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp. (Dec 2005)
- Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
- Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
- Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
- ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
- Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (Mar 2011)
- Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights. (Jun 2011)
- Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
- Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
- Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan 2008)
- Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. (Jan 2009)
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John Kerry on Corporations
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Click here for 16 full quotes on Corporations
OR background on Corporations.
- Industry-sponsored chem safety research leaves US behind. (Jan 2007)
- Precautionary Principle: producers must prove harmlessness. (Jan 2007)
- 96% of small businesses not affected by my tax plan. (Oct 2004)
- Kerry owned a small business: they’re engine of economy. (Mar 2004)
- Close the loopholes that reward corps taking jobs overseas. (Jan 2004)
- Regulate on side of citizens, not on side of corporations. (Oct 2003)
- Offshore tax havens cause higher middle class taxes. (Oct 2003)
- Democratize the process of corporate boards. (Sep 2003)
- End “Get Mine and Get Out” ethic at White House. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
- Voted NO on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
- Voted NO on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
- Increase SBA loan subsidies for small businesses. (Nov 2001)
- Expand microloans to small businesses. (Apr 2002)
- Rated 0% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Rated 80% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record. (May 2012)
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John Kerry on Crime
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Click here for 24 full quotes on Crime
OR background on Crime.
- Opposes death penalty except for post 9-11 terrorists. (Jul 2004)
- States should not engage in killing-too many mistakes. (Feb 2004)
- Moratorium on federal executions-only exception is terrorism. (Jan 2004)
- Death penalty for Osama bin Laden. (Dec 2003)
- Bush wants to eliminate federal assistance to local police. (Oct 2003)
- Transnational crime is a national security threat. (Jun 1998)
- Organized transnational crime threatens America. (Jun 1998)
- A state doesn’t honor life by sanctioning killing. (Sep 1996)
- Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)
- Voted YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
- Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996)
- Voted NO on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
- Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
- Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
- Voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. (May 1994)
- Voted NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals. (May 1994)
- Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation. (Dec 2000)
- More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
- Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)
- Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program. (Jan 2007)
- Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance. (Mar 2007)
- Facilitate recovering crime victim restitution fees. (Apr 2011)
- Rated 0% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance. (Dec 2014)
- Establish an FBI registry of sexual offendors. (Oct 1996)
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John Kerry on Drugs
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Click here for 11 full quotes on Drugs
OR background on Drugs.
- 1986: Nicaraguan Contras support network of drug trafficking. (Mar 2010)
- Target traffickers as well as reducing demand. (Mar 2004)
- 1967: Skeptical of the illicit drug culture. (Jan 2004)
- Never touched marijuana nor opium while in Vietnam. (Jan 2004)
- Admits having smoked marijuana. (Nov 2003)
- Colombia is entirely criminalized by drug cartels. (Jun 1998)
- Cali cocaine cartel can't coexist with democracy in Colombia. (Jun 1998)
- Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
- Voted NO on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)
- End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine. (Jun 2007)
- Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use. (Sep 2007)
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John Kerry on Education
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Click here for 34 full quotes on Education
OR background on Education.
- FactCheck: Bush increased Pell Grants, but not as promised. (Oct 2004)
- People qualify for Pell Grants because they don’t have money. (Oct 2004)
- Bush’s cut the Pell Grants and the Perkins Loans for college. (Oct 2004)
- Bush broke promise to pay for No Child Left Behind. (Oct 2004)
- FactCheck: Bush never promised to fully fund NCLB. (Oct 2004)
- Fully fund No Child Left Behind. (Oct 2004)
- Invest in the children, not the prison system. (Jul 2004)
- Chides Bush for not fully funding No Child Left Behind. (May 2004)
- Roll back tax cuts for rich to fund education. (May 2004)
- National Education Trust Fund: fully fund mandated standards. (Mar 2004)
- Measure learning, but with flexible standards. (Feb 2004)
- Vouchers drain resources from public schools. (Jan 2004)
- Stop viewing charter schools as threatening innovation. (Oct 2003)
- Nothing good about vouchers can’t be done in public schools. (Oct 2003)
- Providing student loans for college kids is an ethical issue. (Oct 1996)
Voting Record
- Supported “No Child Left Behind,” but Bush reneged. (Oct 2003)
- Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
- Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
- Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
- Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
- Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
- Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
- Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
- Voted NO on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
- Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
- Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
- Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
- Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
- Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
- Three R’s: $35B for Reinvestment,Reinvention,Responsibility. (Jan 2001)
- More foreign languages courses and exchange students. (Feb 2001)
- Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
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John Kerry on Energy & Oil
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Click here for 60 full quotes on Energy & Oil
OR background on Energy & Oil.
- Secured agreement to phase down use of super-pollutant HFC. (Nov 2020)
- Advised fund setting global price for carbon emissions. (Sep 2020)
- Dismiss nuclear power until weapons & waste are resolved. (Jan 2007)
- No American should be held hostage to our oil dependence. (Jul 2004)
- Encourage fuel efficient cars & use reserves in short-term. (May 2004)
- No nuclear waste dump in Nevada’s Yucca Mountain. (Feb 2004)
- Ban MBTE and sue companies who make it. (Jan 2004)
- Drilling for oil doesn’t gain energy independence. (Oct 2003)
- Apollo project approach to energy independence. (Oct 2003)
- ANWR won’t provide any oil for 20 years. (Sep 2003)
- Create new energy sources to end Mideast dependency. (May 2002)
Global Warming
- Avoid Senate votes on voluntary emissions reductions. (Dec 2020)
- Net carbon neutral by 2050; must lay out path to get there. (Dec 2020)
- First on National Security Council to work on climate change. (Nov 2020)
- Global Warming as “hoax” is funded by Big Oil & GOP. (Jan 2007)
- Legislation to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050. (Jan 2007)
- Global warming as "hoax" is funded by Big Oil and GOP. (Jan 2007)
- We cannot drill our way to energy independence. (Jan 2007)
- Clean coal is only OK if we sequester tons of CO2. (Jan 2007)
- Senate rejection of Kyoto was to renegotiate, not ignore it. (Jan 2007)
- The Kyoto Treaty was flawed but could be fixed. (Oct 2004)
- Raise CAFE standard to 36 mpg by 2015. (Jan 2004)
- 20% renewable energy by 2020. (Nov 2003)
- Dismissal of Kyoto indicative of Bush’s unilateralism. (Oct 2003)
- Invent our way out of oil dependency-don’t drill our way out. (Sep 2003)
- Invest in advancing secure forms of energy instead of oil. (Jun 2003)
Voting Record
- FactCheck: No, Kerry never voted for a 50-cent gas tax hike. (Oct 2004)
- Led effort to try to raise fuel efficiency standards. (May 2003)
- Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
- Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
- Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
- Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
- Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
- Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
- Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
- Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
- Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
- Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
- Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
- Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
- Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
- Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
- Voted YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
- Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
- Voted NO on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
- Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. (Aug 1994)
- Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)
- Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes. (Feb 2002)
- Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report. (Jun 2003)
- Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)
- Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
- Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
- Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Jan 2007)
- Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness. (Nov 2007)
- Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
- Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards. (Jan 2008)
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John Kerry on Environment
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Click here for 35 full quotes on Environment
OR background on Environment.
- Minority communities more likely polluted than white areas. (Jan 2007)
- New environmentalists motivated by personal stewardship. (Jan 2007)
- Live by "Precautionary Principle": first, do no harm. (Jan 2007)
- Consumer convenience costs the planet a price. (Jan 2007)
- EPA limits on mercury emissions made sense. (Jan 2007)
- Minority communities more likely polluted than white areas. (Jan 2007)
- CWA is bedrock protection; but today it's in decline. (Jan 2007)
- The Clear Skies bill is Orwellian and makes things worse. (Oct 2004)
- Fact Check: Contaminated home uses city water, not bottled. (Dec 2003)
- Make environmental justice an EPA priority. (Oct 2003)
- Safeguard the environment and grow the economy. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Aug 2009)
- Voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
- Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
- Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
- Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
- Voted NO on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
- Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997)
- Voted YES on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994)
- Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994)
- Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. (May 2001)
- End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat. (Jun 2001)
- Support UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference. (Jul 2002)
- Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment. (Dec 2003)
- EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)
- Sponsored health impact bill for environmental health. (Apr 2006)
- Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act. (Apr 2008)
- Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs. (Feb 2011)
- Prohibit invasive research on great apes. (Apr 2011)
- Sponsored ban on breeding or possessing Big Cat species. (Sep 2012)
- Rated 100% by HSLF, indicating a pro-animal welfare voting record. (Jan 2012)
- Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
- Fund projects for international conservation of cranes. (Jan 2009)
- Fund studies of sustainable fisheries. (Oct 1996)
- Fund studies of invasive species and algal blooms. (Mar 1998)
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John Kerry on Families & Children
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Click here for 15 full quotes on Families & Children
OR background on Families & Children.
- 2004: Campaign event featured Mayor plus a single mother. (Nov 2009)
- Care for our children and protect the neighborhoods. (Jul 2004)
- Fighting for America’s Children: insurance & care for all. (Mar 2004)
- Fully fund Head Start for all 3- and 4-year-olds. (Mar 2004)
- Supports Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act. (Mar 2004)
- New “Kids Safety Effort” at the FDA. (Mar 2004)
- Fund Head Start to leave no child behind. (Sep 2003)
- Voted YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors. (May 1999)
- Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)
- Small Business loans for child care businesses. (Apr 2003)
- Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Call for a White House Conference on Children and Youth. (Mar 2008)
- Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception. (Mar 2009)
- Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception. (Mar 2009)
- Fund 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas. (Dec 1997)
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John Kerry on Foreign Policy
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Click here for 45 full quotes on Foreign Policy
OR background on Foreign Policy.
- Co-founded US-China Climate Change Working Group. (Dec 2020)
- Trump turned world of respect into world of chaos. (Aug 2020)
- Freed Libya by rejecting false choice of force vs. diplomacy. (Sep 2012)
- 1994: Worked with John McCain to normalize Vietnam relations. (Mar 2008)
- No nation will ever have a veto over us. (Oct 2004)
- The President deceived the people with this war. (Oct 2004)
- Missouri would be the third largest country in “coalition”. (Oct 2004)
- Preemptive strike must pass a global test. (Sep 2004)
- Will never take my eye off the real dangerous threats. (Sep 2004)
- Bush is sending mixed messages to South Korea. (Sep 2004)
- Want both bilateral and multinational talks with North Korea. (Sep 2004)
- Take notice of political oppression in Russia. (Sep 2004)
- China is involved with North Korea no matter what. (Sep 2004)
- America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist. (Aug 2004)
- American power comes from respect, not weapons. (May 2004)
- Bush undermines generations of American leadership. (May 2004)
- Haiti is in crisis because Bush hates Aristide. (Feb 2004)
- Excluding other nations in rebuilding Iraq is dumb. (Dec 2003)
- Enlist allies through strength of ideas, not just arms. (Oct 2003)
- 3rd World's BCCI: "Bank of Crooks & Criminals International". (Jun 1998)
- Support progressive Russian leaders but fight Russia's mafia. (Jun 1998)
- China's system is based on corruption, not Communism. (Jun 1998)
- Support Colombia's democracy against drug crime. (Jun 1998)
Voting Record
- Supports multilateral cooperative internationalism. (Oct 2003)
- Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Oct 2008)
- Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
- Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
- Voted NO on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
- Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
- Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
- Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
- Voted NO on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
- Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. (Jan 1994)
- Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000)
- Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)
- Monitor human rights in Uganda-Sudan crisis. (Aug 2004)
- Impose sanctions and an import ban on Burma. (Oct 2007)
- Remove African National Congress from terrorist list. (May 2008)
- Implement Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force. (Feb 2008)
- Condemns Russia for provocative statements to Georgia. (May 2008)
- Rated +3 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
- Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s. (Mar 2007)
- Develop a strategy to protect civilians in Darfur. (Feb 2007)
- Sanction Mugabe until Zimbabwe transitions to democracy. (Apr 2008)
- Pressure friendly Arab states to end Israeli boycott. (Oct 2007)
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John Kerry on Free Trade
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Click here for 23 full quotes on Free Trade
OR background on Free Trade.
- 2004: "Benedict Arnold CEOs" profit from outsourcing. (Aug 2008)
- All new trade must include labor and environmental standards. (Jan 2004)
- Dean’s trade policy is protectionist. (Sep 2003)
- FTAA needs more labor and environmental standards. (Sep 2003)
- Fix NAFTA-canceling it would be disastrous. (Sep 2003)
- Capitalism and democracy go hand in hand. (May 2003)
- Crime got globalized along with all other globalizations. (Jun 1998)
- Only multilateral actions will pressure China on free trade. (Jun 1998)
Voting Record
- Veto FTAA and CAFTA until they have stronger standards. (Jan 2004)
- Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
- Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
- Voted NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
- Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
- Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
- Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
- Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
- Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
- Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
- Voted YES on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995)
- Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)
- Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
- Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)
- Rated 63% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade. (Dec 2012)
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John Kerry on Government Reform
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Click here for 27 full quotes on Government Reform
OR background on Government Reform.
- Won't overstep climate role with State Department. (Dec 2020)
- FactCheck: Yes, Kerry was absent from Senate 76% in 2003. (Oct 2004)
- FactCheck: Kerry passed more than 5 bills, but less than 56. (Oct 2004)
- Every vote must be counted. (Jan 2004)
- Only Senator elected 4 times without a dime of PAC money. (Jun 2003)
- Flag and patriotism belong to all Americans. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on Congressional pay raise. (Jul 2009)
- Voted YES on providing a US House seat for the District of Columbia. (Feb 2009)
- Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
- Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
- Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
- Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
- Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
- Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
- Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
- Voted YES on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
- Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
- Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
- Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
- Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)
- Make Election Day a national holiday. (Aug 2001)
- Criminalize false or deceptive info about elections. (Nov 2005)
- Reject photo ID requirements for voting. (Sep 2005)
- Post earmarks on the Internet before voting on them. (Jan 2006)
- Prohibit voter intimidation in federal elections. (Mar 2007)
- Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures. (Jul 2012)
- Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting. (Nov 2007)
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John Kerry on Gun Control
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Click here for 16 full quotes on Gun Control
OR background on Gun Control.
- Country less safe-terrorists can now buy assault weapons. (Oct 2004)
- Supports 2nd Amendment, but wants to ban assault weapons. (Sep 2004)
- Gun owner & hunter, but rights come with responsibility. (Mar 2004)
- Democratic Party shouldn’t be for the NRA. (Nov 2003)
- Supports assault weapons ban & Brady Bill. (Oct 2003)
- Voted NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. (Apr 2009)
- Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
- Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
- Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
- Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
- Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
- Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
- Voted NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
- Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)
- Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales. (May 2009)
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John Kerry on Health Care
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Click here for 55 full quotes on Health Care
OR 12 older headlines
OR background on Health Care.
- Find common ground to cover 11 million uninsured children. (Nov 2006)
- Fight for affordable health care for all children. (Jun 2006)
- Flu vaccine failure means system is failing US families. (Oct 2004)
- Passed 56 individual bills that I’ve personally written. (Oct 2004)
- Lawsuits contribute less than 1% of all healthcare costs. (Oct 2004)
- Choose your doctor and your healthcare plan. (Oct 2004)
- Health care is not a privilege but a right for all. (Jul 2004)
- Research, prevention, and wellness can reduce Medicare costs. (Jan 2004)
- Day 1: Make health care a right, not a privilege. (Jan 2004)
- Simultaneously address costs, coverage, and choice. (Oct 2003)
- Lack of accessible health care is a disgrace. (May 2002)
Health Insurance
- FactCheck: Kerry’s plan covers 95% of Americans, not 100%. (Oct 2004)
- Health care plan is not an empty promise and provide choice. (Oct 2004)
- Covering more people can lower health costs in many ways. (Oct 2004)
- It is morally wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured. (Aug 2004)
- Start providing health insurance for every child in America. (Aug 2004)
- Provide a bonus for states to get children insured. (Aug 2004)
- More help to those who fall through the cracks of the system. (Aug 2004)
- Save families up to $1,000 a year on their premiums. (Jul 2004)
- Catastrophic health coverage for all costs over $50,000. (Feb 2004)
- Cut $350B of bureaucracy and cover 90% of Americans. (Oct 2003)
- Cover more citizens with health plan like Congress gets. (May 2003)
- Providing health care for kids is an ethical issue. (Oct 1996)
Voting Record
- Key issue: Does government control reduce cost? (Apr 2004)
- Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (May 2011)
- Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Jun 2009)
- Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
- Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
- Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
- Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
- Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
- Voted NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
- Voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
- Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
- Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
- Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
- Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
- Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
- Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
- Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
- Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
- Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
- Voted YES on blocking medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
- Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
- Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage. (Apr 2001)
- Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations. (May 2003)
- Increase funding to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. (Mar 2003)
- Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
- Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
- Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy. (Apr 2011)
- Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn. (Apr 2008)
- Disclose payments from manufacturers to physicians. (Jan 2009)
- Expand the National Health Service Corps. (Mar 2009)
- Collect data on birth defects and present to the public. (Apr 1998)
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John Kerry on Homeland Security
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Click here for 60 full quotes on Homeland Security
OR 19 older headlines
OR background on Homeland Security.
- 1971: Accused US forces of rape & carnage in Vietnam. (Mar 2010)
- OpEd: Lost 2004 because wouldn't stand up to terrorists. (Jan 2007)
- Our container ports, bridges, & plants are not secure. (Oct 2004)
- Isolate the radical Muslims, not have them isolate the US. (Sep 2004)
- Protect loose nuclear materials from the terrorists. (Sep 2004)
- Double the number of special forces. (Sep 2004)
- Build the strongest network to prevent nuclear proliferation. (Sep 2004)
- Offer a military modernization plan for the troops. (Aug 2004)
- Make better use of the National Guard. (Aug 2004)
- Keep our promises to American veterans. (Aug 2004)
- Make certain the veterans have benefits. (Nov 2003)
- Invest billions to secure loose nukes abroad. (Oct 2003)
- Stop terrorism by focusing on banks, computers & weapons. (Jun 1998)
- China sells nuclear technology to America's enemies. (Jun 1998)
- Need to be smarter about how we wage a war on terror efforts. (Sep 2004)
- Automatic citizenship to immigrants who serves in army. (Sep 2003)
Anti-terrorism
- We must break our oil addiction to win War on Terror. (Jan 2007)
- Cast a global net for terrorists. (Aug 2004)
- Improve intelligence capabilities to counter terrorism. (Aug 2004)
- Cut off terrorists funds. (Aug 2004)
- Prevent Afghanistan & others from becoming terrorist havens. (Aug 2004)
- Add 40,000 troops and double anti-terrorism special forces. (Jul 2004)
- Will lead a global effort against nuclear proliferation. (Jul 2004)
- Quickly implement the recommendations of the 9-11 commission. (Jul 2004)
- Four new imperatives: alliances, modernize, end Mideast oil. (May 2004)
- Increase military by 40,000 troops-but no draft. (Jan 2004)
- Focus more on human intelligence gathering. (Nov 2003)
- The New War: We are no longer safe at home. (Oct 2003)
- Modernize the Middle East to prevent future terrorism. (Oct 2003)
Voting Record
- FactCheck: No, Kerry voted FOR 16 out of 19 defense packages. (Oct 2004)
- Zell: Kerry voted against weapons needed for War on Terror. (Sep 2004)
- Voted NO on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
- Voted YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
- Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
- Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
- Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
- Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
- Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
- Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
- Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
- Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
- Voted NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
- Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
- Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
- Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
- Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
- Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
- Voted NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996)
- Voted NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
- Establish Maritime Security grants for ports and vessels. (Nov 2002)
- Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
- Small business in developing homeland security technologies. (Jul 2002)
- Rated 20% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
- Study & address suicides among veterans. (Apr 2008)
- Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays. (Mar 2010)
- Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
- School assistance to survivors of injured federal police. (Oct 1996)
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John Kerry on Immigration
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Click here for 22 full quotes on Immigration
OR background on Immigration.
- Committed to increasing number of refugees that we take. (Sep 2015)
- Temporary workers ok, and earned amnesty ok. (Oct 2004)
- A guest-worker program alone won’t solve the problem. (Oct 2004)
- Restore immigrant benefits lost in 1996 welfare reform. (Mar 2004)
- Expedited citizenship for members of the Armed Forces. (Mar 2004)
- Earned legalization for immigrants to keep families together. (Feb 2004)
- Earned legalization for undocumented immigrants. (Jan 2004)
- Amnesty to anyone here over 5 or 6 years. (Sep 2003)
- Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
- Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
- Voted NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
- Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
- Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
- Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
- Voted NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work. (Jul 1998)
- Voted NO on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
- Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
- Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty. (May 2005)
- Cover child resident aliens under Medicaid and SCHIP. (May 2005)
- Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
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John Kerry on Jobs
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Click here for 32 full quotes on Jobs
OR background on Jobs.
- Bush could make an impact on the loss of jobs. (Oct 2004)
- Bush cut job training money and ignored the unemployed. (Oct 2004)
- Many things can be done to control jobs loss and outsourcing. (Oct 2004)
- FactCheck: 0.6M jobs lost under Bush, not 1.6M. (Oct 2004)
- End tax incentives for companies to move jobs abroad. (Oct 2004)
- Can’t stop all outsourcing, but can level the playing field. (Oct 2004)
- 2.7M manufacturing jobs lost under Bush. (Aug 2004)
- Raise minimum wage to $6.65 by next year, then higher. (Jan 2004)
- Provide employment opportunities to minorities. (Jan 2004)
- Weekly economic policy summit to create jobs. (Oct 2003)
- Trade grows jobs. (Sep 2003)
- Jump start jobs at home via energy independence. (Sep 2003)
- We need job opportunities, not photo opportunities. (Jun 2003)
- Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Nov 2008)
- Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
- Voted NO on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on limiting farm subsidies to people earning under $750,000. (Dec 2007)
- Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
- Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
- Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
- Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
- Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
- Voted NO on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
- Voted NO on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)
- Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
- Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
- Match minimum wage increases to Congressional pay raises. (May 2006)
- Form unions by card-check instead of secret ballot. (Mar 2009)
- Extend unemployment compensation during recession. (Jan 2008)
- Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue. (Jan 2009)
- Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination. (Jan 2009)
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John Kerry on Principles & Values
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Click here for 43 full quotes on Principles & Values
OR 24 older headlines
OR background on Principles & Values.
- OpEd: Supports "Great Reset" for social & economic issues. (Dec 2020)
- Let's get back to fact-based democracy. (Sep 2018)
- American exceptionalism is about what we do, not what we say. (Sep 2012)
- AdWatch 2004: disastrous intro ad as liberal elitist. (May 2012)
- OpEd: Bush & Rove saw flip-flop theme as key opening. (Nov 2010)
- Attempted to filibuster Sam Alito Supreme Court nomination. (Mar 2010)
- 2004 flawed exit polls showed Kerry tied in Mississippi. (Nov 2009)
- OpEd: Dem 527s funded Kerry well; but GOP 527s destroyed him. (Aug 2008)
- Challenging Ohio voting irregularities was too "personal". (Oct 2006)
- OpEd: Swift Boat mess caused by media reporting accusations. (Oct 2005)
- We need to do more to link good work with faith. (Oct 2004)
- Bigotry and hatred should never steal our hope and future. (Jul 2004)
- The flag represents who we are and what we believe in. (Jul 2004)
- Reject politics that divide people. (Jul 2004)
- Pray humbly that we are on God’s side. (Jul 2004)
- Jewish grandparents fled anti-Semitic Europe in 1905. (Jan 2004)
- Honors the separation of church and state. (Dec 2003)
- Persecuted Catholics rely on church-state separation. (Oct 2003)
- Need a president who won’t write laws only for contributors. (Sep 2003)
Campaign Themes
- Service is what brought America peace and prosperity. (Jul 2004)
- Restore trust and credibility to the White House. (Jul 2004)
- Seeing complexities of complex issues is not flip-flopping. (Jul 2004)
- Shutting one’s eyes and ears to the truth is not patriotism. (Jul 2004)
- America can do better and help is on the way. (Jul 2004)
- Ready to lead America: I was there and I led the fight. (Dec 2003)
- Campaign built around a call to service. (Oct 2003)
- Redeem promise for a better America for our children. (Oct 2003)
- It is time for this country to ask again, why not? (May 2003)
Personal
- My faith affects everything that I do. (Oct 2004)
- My mother was the rock of our family. (Jul 2004)
- Grandfather committed suicide; John never told he was Jewish. (Jul 2004)
- Spent summers on Cape Cod and hometown in Millis MA. (Jul 2004)
- Member of Skull & Bones at Yale, like Bush. (Jan 2004)
- Political heroes: Max Cleland, FDR, JFK, Lincoln. (Nov 2003)
- Voted YES on confirming of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. (Aug 2009)
- Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
- Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
- Religious affiliation: Catholic. (Nov 2000)
- Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
- New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
- Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)
- Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2007)
- Fund the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program. (Dec 1997)
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John Kerry on Social Security
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Click here for 16 full quotes on Social Security
OR background on Social Security.
- FactCheck: Kerry did tax some benefits, to fund Medicare. (Oct 2004)
- Personal retirement accounts are an invitation to disaster. (Oct 2004)
- Social Security privatization will cost $2 trillion more. (Oct 2004)
- Will not privatize Social Security nor cut benefits. (Jul 2004)
- I will never privatize, extend retirement age, nor cut SS. (Jan 2004)
- Guarantee Social Security soundness, even if unpopular. (Sep 2003)
- Don’t threaten Social Security on Wall Street trading block. (May 2002)
- Never thought about pulling money out of Social Security. (Jun 1996)
- Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
- Voted NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
- Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
- Voted NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
- Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)
- Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
- Require small businesses to allow automatic IRA deposits. (Mar 2008)
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John Kerry on Tax Reform
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Click here for 37 full quotes on Tax Reform
OR background on Tax Reform.
- Abolishing state income tax would be calamitous. (Oct 2008)
- The middle class has seen their tax burden go up under Bush. (Oct 2004)
- Support the part of Bush’s tax cut given to the middle class. (Oct 2004)
- Pledges not to raise taxes on earnings under $200,000. (Oct 2004)
- More tax cut for all people earning less than the $200,000. (Oct 2004)
- Enron received $254 million after the Bush tax cut. (Oct 2004)
- Homeland security should come before tax cut for the wealthy. (Sep 2004)
- Offer tax cuts that will help the middle class families. (Aug 2004)
- More tax cuts for people who make less than $200,000. (Jul 2004)
- Keep child tax credit, and new 10% tax bracket. (Jan 2004)
- Kerry vs. Bush on taxes is a fight we deserve to have. (Jan 2004)
- GOP tax policy comforts the comfortable. (Oct 2003)
- 10% bracket in Bush tax cuts was Democrats’ idea. (Sep 2003)
- Bush tax cuts reach 32 million in middle class. (Sep 2003)
- We’re tired of being trickled on--Middle class tax cuts now. (Jun 2003)
- Trade a tax cut for the huge cuts in student loans. (Sep 1996)
- They’re not Bush tax cuts, they’re Democrat tax cuts. (Oct 2003)
Voting Record
- FactCheck: No, Kerry did not vote 350 times to raise taxes. (Oct 2004)
- I supported or voted for tax cuts over 600 times. (Oct 2004)
- Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
- Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
- Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
- Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
- Voted NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
- Voted YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut. (Feb 2006)
- Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Feb 2006)
- Voted NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. (Nov 2005)
- Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
- Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
- Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
- Voted NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
- Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
- Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
- Rated 14% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
- Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
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John Kerry on Technology
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Click here for 20 full quotes on Technology
OR background on Technology.
- Supports "Fairness Doctrine" requiring balance in talk radio. (Nov 2009)
- Technological advances make environmental progress cheap. (Jan 2007)
- $3B in tax credits to spur hybrid vehicle development. (Jan 2007)
- Reallocate spectrum for wireless phone networks. (Mar 2004)
- Empower Americans by making Internet access universal. (Mar 2004)
- Invest in high-speed commuter rail & double-dip benefits. (Oct 2003)
- Member of “Digital Dozen” of tech-savvy legislators. (Oct 2003)
- Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure. (Nov 2007)
- Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
- Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
- Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
- Chief information officer to digitize federal government. (Aug 2000)
- Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus. (Jan 2001)
- $500 tax credit for each employee who telecommutes. (Dec 2001)
- Fund nanotechnology research & development. (Dec 2003)
- Facilitate nationwide 2-1-1 phone line for human services. (Jan 2007)
- Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access. (Oct 2007)
- Ensure net neutrality: no corporate-tiered Internet. (Jan 2007)
- Overturn FCC approval of media consolidation. (Mar 2008)
- Let companies share Y2K plans with no risk of lawsuits. (Oct 1998)
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John Kerry on War & Peace
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Click here for 91 full quotes on War & Peace
OR 47 older headlines
OR background on War & Peace.
- Change calculation in Syria by enforcing ceasefires. (Sep 2018)
- Use of force to respond to Syrian sarin gas attacks. (Sep 2018)
- 2006 Arab Peace Initiative is a re-alignment towards peace. (Jun 2010)
- OpEd: War hero unlikely role for former antiwar activist. (Apr 2010)
- OpEd: Lied about being in Cambodia on 12/24/1968. (Nov 2009)
- North Korea’s got nuclear weapons due to Bush’s ambivalence. (Sep 2004)
- Need credible Arab partner to negotiate with Israel. (Sep 2004)
- OpEd: Served his conscience at home after service abroad. (Jan 2004)
- Pre-emptive strike ok only when US survival at stake. (Jan 2004)
- Get US more deeply involved in Arab-Israeli peace process. (Nov 2003)
- Leadership comes from experience: share the war burden. (Oct 2003)
- Supported Kosovo action & Powell Doctrine. (Oct 2003)
- Palestinians renounce right of return; get treated equally. (Oct 2003)
- Regrets nothing more that his 2002 vote for Iraq War. (Oct 2006)
Afghanistan
- Focus on the real war on terror and find bin Laden. (Oct 2004)
- The right war was Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan. (Oct 2004)
- Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden is, is forgotten. (Sep 2004)
- Afghanistan incursion justified and not the same as Vietnam. (Apr 2004)
- Supported 1998 missile attacks against Afghanistan & Sudan. (Apr 2004)
Iraq
- 1998: respond militarily to Saddam's threat of WMDs. (Aug 2011)
- 2003: Believed Saddam had deadly arsenal of WMD. (Nov 2010)
- Bush-McCain stategy in Iraq is policy to stay, not to win. (Sep 2007)
- No al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2002; we invaded under false pretense. (Sep 2007)
- Reduce US military presence in Iraq; and bring in neighbors. (Sep 2007)
- Would have given Clinton the power to use force if necessary. (Oct 2004)
- Iraq is diverting our attention from the real war on terror. (Sep 2004)
- Iraq wasn’t the center of the war on terror before invasion. (Sep 2004)
- It’s getting worse by the day in Iraq. (Sep 2004)
- The US has no long-term designs on staying in Iraq. (Sep 2004)
- 90 percent of our Army is in Iraq instead of fighting terror. (Sep 2004)
- Wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. (Sep 2004)
- Never fight a war without enough troops and a plan to win. (Aug 2004)
- Intelligence information should not be manipulated. (Jun 2003)
- Preferred diplomacy, but supported invading Iraq. (May 2003)
Iraq Criticism
- War in Iraq was founded & perpetuated on lies, like Vietnam. (Jun 2006)
- Ending Iraq war requires summit including Iran & Syria. (Jun 2006)
- Bush rushed to war without having a plan to win the peace. (Oct 2004)
- Iraqi war is a catastrophic mistake. (Oct 2004)
- Saddam Hussein didn’t attack us, Osama bin Laden did. (Sep 2004)
Vietnam
- 2004: Swift Boat ad "Sellout" devastated campaign. (Mar 2010)
- 2004: attacked Rove and Cheney for draft deferments. (Mar 2010)
- OpEd: Kerry's attitude was "I'm a vet! I know war & peace!". (Nov 2009)
- Veteran biography strategy failed with “Reporting for duty”. (Oct 2005)
- Nothing in Vietnam realistically threatened America. (Apr 2005)
- Vietnamese villagers say Swift Vets’ account is incorrect. (Oct 2004)
- Kerry’s C.O. says Kerry deserved his Silver Star? (Aug 2004)
- Man Kerry rescued says Kerry deserved his Bronze Star. (Aug 2004)
- Only veteran to testify to congress about Vietnam. (Jul 2004)
- Accused US government of war crime, not veterans. (Jul 2004)
- Before enlisting, believed in the US saving face in Vietnam. (Jul 2004)
- Condemned early Vietnam protests as “irresponsible”. (Jul 2004)
- Anti-Vietnam but not left-wing anti-war. (Apr 2004)
- Kerry saves life under fire, awarded Bronze Star. (Apr 2004)
- Word “atrocity” is too strong, though it reflected anger. (Apr 2004)
- Served in Vietnam as "winter soldier" not "sunshine patriot". (Jan 2004)
- The term "Vietnam" encapsulates an era. (Jan 2004)
- 1969: Awarded bronze Star for rescue. (Jan 2004)
- 1971: Led anti-war march on Washington. (Jan 2004)
- Vets cheered Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony. (Jan 2004)
- 1966: Questioned Vietnam in Yale graduation speech. (Jan 2004)
- Loss of close friend in war made Kerry see soldiers as pawns. (Jan 2004)
- Night skirmish earned first Purple Heart for wounded arm. (Jan 2004)
- Considered the Domino Theory ludicrous, while in Vietnam. (Jan 2004)
- Rescued 42 half-starved Vietnamese civilians. (Jan 2004)
- Vietnam was genocide, but no point calling it “war crimes”. (May 2001)
- War crimes by leadership policy, not personal atrocities. (Jun 1971)
- Vietnamization just changed the color of the bodies fighting. (Jun 1971)
- US actions in Vietnam were counter to Geneva Conventions. (Jun 1971)
- Objected to war policy while in Vietnam, and after. (Jun 1971)
- Vietnam didn’t threaten US; US war crimes did. (Apr 1971)
- Vietnam war was criminal hypocrisy and tore apart US. (Apr 1971)
- How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake. (Apr 1971)
- US soldiers committed atrocities in Vietnam, including me. (Apr 1971)
Voting Record
- Voted for Iraq war in 2002, but voted against 2004 funding. (Nov 2006)
- No regrets on war vote-but regrets on Bush breaking promises. (Feb 2004)
- Vote for war was needed to push Saddam on inspectors. (Sep 2003)
- $87B for Iraq only when internationalization is addressed. (Sep 2003)
- Voted YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
- Voted NO on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
- Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
- Voted YES on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
- Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
- Voted NO on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
- Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
- Voted NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
- Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
- Voted NO on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
- Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
- Deploy UN multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur. (Jul 2007)
- Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment. (Sep 2012)
- Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. (Nov 1995)
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John Kerry on Welfare & Poverty
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Click here for 18 full quotes on Welfare & Poverty
OR background on Welfare & Poverty.
- My faith is why I fight poverty and protect the earth. (Nov 2010)
- It’s long overdue time to raise the minimum wage. (Oct 2004)
- Raise the minimum wage and training fund to help the poor. (Aug 2004)
- Third World poverty worse than rural American poverty. (Jan 2004)
- Desperate need to build more affordable housing. (Nov 2003)
- Ok for government to partner with non-profits & for-profits. (Oct 2003)
- Expand EITC as anti-poverty measure. (Oct 2003)
- Voted YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention. (Mar 2009)
- Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
- Voted YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps. (Jul 1996)
- Voted NO on allowing state welfare waivers. (Jul 1996)
- Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
- Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs. (Aug 2000)
- Add 10% for HUBZone businesses in federal awards. (Oct 2002)
- Establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. (Jul 2003)
- Tax credits to promote home ownership in distressed areas. (Apr 2003)
- Fully fund AmeriCorps. (Jun 2003)
- Support school breakfast for low-income children. (Mar 2009)
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VoteMatch Responses
(Click here for VoteMatch quiz) |
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background) |
Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation) |
Strongly Favors
topic 1:Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)
| No undoing Constitutional rights, including right of choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 Life begins at conception, but we can’t legislate that: Opposes topic 1 Kerry staunchly resists restrictions on abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Partial-birth abortion ban undermine women’s right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 No criminalization of a woman’s right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1 Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims: Favors topic 1 Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1 Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1 Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1 Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 Emergency contraception at all military health facilities: Strongly Favors topic 1 Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception: Favors topic 1 NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1 NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1 |
Strongly Favors
topic 2:Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Questions the ultimate practicality of affirmative action: Opposes topic 2 Supports affirmative action now and into the future: Strongly Favors topic 2 Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Add 10% for HUBZone businesses in federal awards: Favors topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2 Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp: Favors topic 2 Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2 Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2 Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2 Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP: Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2 |
Strongly Favors
topic 3:Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+5 points on Social scale)
| 2004: Agreed with people of Missouri on banning gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman: Opposes topic 3 Defense of Marriage Act is fundamentally ugly: Strongly Favors topic 3 Opposes Massachusetts DOMA since there’s a federal DOMA: Opposes topic 3 For partnership rights and civil union: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide gays and lesbians with full coverage of civil rights: Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Increase funding to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3 Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 |
Opposes
topic 4:Keep God in the public sphere
(+2 points on Social scale)
| We need to do more to link good work with faith: Favors topic 4 Persecuted Catholics rely on church-state separation: Opposes topic 4 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Sex Ed including both abstinence and contraception: Opposes topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4 |
Strongly Favors
topic 5:Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Find common ground to cover 11 million uninsured children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Fight for affordable health care for all children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Health care is not a privilege but a right for all: Favors topic 5 Lack of accessible health care is a disgrace: Favors topic 5 It is morally wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured: Favors topic 5 Start providing health insurance for every child in America: Strongly Favors topic 5 Catastrophic health coverage for all costs over $50,000: Favors topic 5 Cut $350B of bureaucracy and cover 90% of Americans: Favors topic 5 Cover more citizens with health plan like Congress gets: Strongly Favors topic 5 Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Favors topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5 Disclose payments from manufacturers to physicians: Favors topic 5 Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5 YES on blocking medical savings acounts: Favors topic 5 YES on Medicare means-testing: Opposes topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5 |
Strongly Opposes
topic 6:Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Personal retirement accounts are an invitation to disaster: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Will not privatize Social Security nor cut benefits: Opposes topic 6 I will never privatize, extend retirement age, nor cut SS: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Don’t threaten Social Security on Wall Street trading block: Opposes topic 6 Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6 |
Strongly Opposes
topic 7:Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Vouchers drain resources from public schools: Opposes topic 7 Stop viewing charter schools as threatening innovation: Favors topic 7 Nothing good about vouchers can’t be done in public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Nothing good about vouchers can’t be done in public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on education savings accounts: Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7 |
Strongly Opposes
topic 8:Fight EPA regulatory over-reach
(+5 points on Social scale)
| Live by "Precautionary Principle": first, do no harm: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Technological advances make environmental progress cheap: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Make environmental justice an EPA priority: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Safeguard the environment and grow the economy: Opposes topic 8 Global Warming as “hoax” is funded by Big Oil & GOP: Strongly Opposes topic 8 End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Support UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference: Opposes topic 8 Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 8 EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8 Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act: Opposes topic 8 Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8 Prohibit invasive research on great apes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Sponsored ban on breeding or possessing Big Cat species: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Fund projects for international conservation of cranes: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Fund studies of invasive species and algal blooms: Opposes topic 8 YES on continuing desert protection in California: Strongly Opposes topic 8 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 8 NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land: Opposes topic 8 |
Opposes
topic 9:Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)
| Opposes death penalty except for post 9-11 terrorists: Favors topic 9 States should not engage in killing-too many mistakes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Moratorium on federal executions-only exception is terrorism: Opposes topic 9 A state doesn’t honor life by sanctioning killing: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9 Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9 Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Facilitate recovering crime victim restitution fees: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 0% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 9 NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Opposes topic 9 NO on limiting death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9 |
Strongly Opposes
topic 10:Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Gun owner & hunter, but rights come with responsibility: Favors topic 10 Democratic Party shouldn’t be for the NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports assault weapons ban & Brady Bill: Opposes topic 10 Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales: Opposes topic 10 NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Opposes topic 10 |
Strongly Favors
topic 11:Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Abolishing state income tax would be calamitous: Strongly Favors topic 11 Offer tax cuts that will help the middle class families: Favors topic 11 More tax cuts for people who make less than $200,000: Favors topic 11 Base policy on broad growth and progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 GOP tax policy comforts the comfortable: Favors topic 11 Bush tax cuts reach 32 million in middle class: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No excuse for special tax cuts for the rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 We’re tired of being trickled on--Middle class tax cuts now: Strongly Favors topic 11 Trade a tax cut for the huge cuts in student loans: Strongly Favors topic 11 They’re not Bush tax cuts, they’re Democrat tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Rated 14% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Favors topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 |
Strongly Favors
topic 12:Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+5 points on Social scale)
| Committed to increasing number of refugees that we take: Strongly Favors topic 12 Temporary workers ok, and earned amnesty ok: Strongly Favors topic 12 Restore immigrant benefits lost in 1996 welfare reform: Strongly Favors topic 12 Earned legalization for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Amnesty to anyone here over 5 or 6 years: Strongly Favors topic 12 Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Cover child resident aliens under Medicaid and SCHIP: Favors topic 12 Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12 NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Opposes topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12 |
Favors
topic 13:Support & expand free trade
(+2 points on Economic scale)
| Trade grows jobs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Veto FTAA and CAFTA until they have stronger standards: Opposes topic 13 Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13 Rated 63% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13 |
Strongly Opposes
topic 14:Support American Exceptionalism
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Trump turned world of respect into world of chaos: Strongly Opposes topic 14 No nation will ever have a veto over us: Favors topic 14 Bush is sending mixed messages to South Korea: Opposes topic 14 Take notice of political oppression in Russia: Opposes topic 14 Don’t miss 3rd opportunity in Iraq to bring in UN: Strongly Opposes topic 14 US actions in Vietnam were counter to Geneva Conventions: Strongly Opposes topic 14 I’d vote to authorize war, but with allies: Strongly Opposes topic 14 More foreign languages courses and exchange students: Opposes topic 14 Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls: Opposes topic 14 YES on $17.9 billion to IMF: Opposes topic 14 NO on capping foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14 |
Opposes
topic 15:Expand the military
(+2 points on Social scale)
| Increase military by 40,000 troops-but no draft: Favors topic 15 Bring allies to share our burden in fighting terrorism: Opposes topic 15 Voted against a $87 billion supplemental that hurts veterans: Opposes topic 15 Zell: Kerry voted against weapons needed for War on Terror: Strongly Opposes topic 15 $87B for Iraq only when internationalization is addressed: Favors topic 15 Rated 20% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15 NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes topic 15 NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Opposes topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 YES on allowing another round of military base closures: Opposes topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15 |
Strongly Favors
topic 16:Make voter registration easier
(+5 points on Social scale)
| Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16 Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16 |
Favors
topic 17:Avoid foreign entanglements
(+2 points on Social scale)
| Co-founded US-China Climate Change Working Group: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Change calculation in Syria by enforcing ceasefires: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Use of force to respond to Syrian sarin gas attacks: Strongly Opposes topic 17 The President deceived the people with this war: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Preemptive strike must pass a global test: Strongly Favors topic 17 America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist: Strongly Favors topic 17 Get US more deeply involved in Arab-Israeli peace process: Strongly Favors topic 17 Regrets nothing more that his 2002 vote for Iraq War: Strongly Favors topic 17 1998: respond militarily to Saddam's threat of WMDs: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Based vote for Iraq war on CIA’s intelligence reports: Opposes topic 17 We stood up to Bush’s aimless and failed course in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17 War in Iraq was founded & perpetuated on lies, like Vietnam: Strongly Favors topic 17 Nothing in Vietnam realistically threatened America: Strongly Favors topic 17 Supports multilateral cooperative internationalism: Strongly Favors topic 17 Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Favors topic 17 |
Strongly Favors
topic 18:Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Secured agreement to phase down use of super-pollutant HFC: Strongly Favors topic 18 Advised fund setting global price for carbon emissions: Strongly Favors topic 18 $3B in tax credits to spur hybrid vehicle development: Strongly Favors topic 18 Avoid Senate votes on voluntary emissions reductions: Favors topic 18 Net carbon neutral by 2050; must lay out path to get there: Strongly Favors topic 18 First on National Security Council to work on climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18 20% renewable energy by 2020: Strongly Favors topic 18 Invent our way out of oil dependency-don’t drill our way out: Favors topic 18 Invest in advancing secure forms of energy instead of oil: Strongly Favors topic 18 Led effort to try to raise fuel efficiency standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup: Opposes topic 18 Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes: Favors topic 18 Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report: Favors topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18 Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Favors topic 18 NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Favors topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18 |
Opposes
topic 19:Marijuana is a gateway drug
(+2 points on Social scale)
| 1986: Nicaraguan Contras support network of drug trafficking: Opposes topic 19 End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19 Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19 |
Strongly Favors
topic 20:Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)
| Restore pay-as-you-go for fiscal discipline: Opposes topic 20 End tax incentives for companies to move jobs abroad: Favors topic 20 Homeland security should come before tax cut for the wealthy: Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage and training fund to help the poor: Strongly Favors topic 20 We can do better on economy--lift people out of poverty: Strongly Favors topic 20 Raise minimum wage to $6.65 by next year, then higher: Strongly Favors topic 20 Desperate need to build more affordable housing: Strongly Favors topic 20 Base policy on broad growth and progressive taxation: Favors topic 20 Increase SBA loan subsidies for small businesses: Favors topic 20 Expand microloans to small businesses: Favors topic 20 Rated 80% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package: Strongly Favors topic 20 YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending: Strongly Favors topic 20 |
John Kerry is a Hard-Core Liberal
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