Sebastian White :: John Kerry Reports for Duty

NEWS

John Kerry Reports for Duty

The Alfred Sun | July 30, 2004
By Sebastian White

BOSTON, July 29—Presidential hopeful John F. Kerry strode confidently onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention Thursday evening for the most defining speech of his career, looking newly enthused and energized. An uncontainable chant of “Kerry, Kerry…” welcomed the candidate for a speech in which he appealed to the hopes of middle-class America by touting a platform of populist policies and stressing a military record that he believes qualifies him to be the nation’s next commander-in-chief.

“I’m John Kerry, and I’m reporting for duty,” he told America with a salute. “We are here with one purpose: to make America strong at home and respected in the world.” He offered up a somber declaration, telling his audience of millions, “This is the most important election of our lifetime.”

“As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House…I will be a commander-in-chief who will never mislead us in war,” he said. Making a thinly-veiled jab at the Bush administration, which has been accused in recent months of misleading the world about weapons of mass destruction and the reasons for going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kerry explained that restoring faith “starts by telling the truth to the American people.”

Mr. Kerry devoted the bulk of his acceptance speech to addressing concerns about his national security qualifications—one major sticking point with undecided voters—but made no mention of his more than 20 years in the U.S. Senate. He played up his experience in Vietnam, proudly saying “I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as president.”

He said that he would never hesitate to mobilize U.S. troops when necessary, but pointed out that “We never go to war because we want to. We only go to war because we have to.” In a bow to millions of concerned voters, Mr. Kerry said he supports a drive to expand the number of active duty troops by 40,000 as well as investments to modernize military weapons and technology.

“We need a president who has the credibility to bring our allies to our side…that’s the way to get the job done and bring our troops home,” he said. To service members, he offered this pledge: “You will never be asked to go to war without a plan to win the peace.”

In introducing his economic platform, Mr. Kerry appealed to the values and concerns of middle-class America, giving an impassioned vision of what he calls the “next great chapter of America’s history.” He said a Kerry-Edwards administration would ensure health care coverage for millions more Americans and restore vital after-school programs for children and teens.

“We’ll make the government live by the rule every family has to live by: pay as you go,” he said to rousing applause. And in marked contrast to Bush-Cheney policy, Mr. Kerry said he would “roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals” while not raising taxes for the middle class. “Our plan calls for a fair playing field,” he said.

A staunch opponent of the outsourcing and exportation of American jobs, Mr. Kerry took aim at “tax loopholes that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas” and announced plans to offer “new incentives to revitalize manufacturing” and renew emphasis on “investment in technology and innovation that will create the good-paying jobs of the future.”

“For all those who believe that our best days are ahead of us, with great faith in the American people, I accept your nomination,” Mr. Kerry said to cheers from the 4,353 delegates on the floor of the Fleet Center.

After being widely perceived as unapproachably aloof and stiff, Mr. Kerry used his acceptance speech to try to convince Americans that he can be a funny and engaging speaker—a likable person behind the distinguished record of service and commitment to equality so eloquently laid out by party supporters in Boston all week long.

Sen. Kerry was portrayed throughout the final night of the convention as a warm and personable leader, with heartfelt tributes from Washington insiders including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Gen. Wesley Clark. Further testimonials came via satellite from well-positioned groups in crucial swing states: Teamsters in Pittsburgh, nurses in Oregon, and young Hispanic voters in New Mexico.

Among those introducing Kerry to viewers were his two daughters, Vanessa and Alexandra, who delivered emotional reminiscences from their youth, anecdotes they say reveal the core strengths of their father and the values of love, respect, and unwavering integrity he embodies. “My father loves this country and is ready to lead it,” Vanessa said.

Sen. Max Cleland, the war veteran from Georgia, delivered a stirring tribute to his fellow senator, calling him “an authentic American…the captain of our ship of state.” Cleland was joined by the crew of Mr. Kerry’s Vietnam War swift boat, and used the opportunity to capitalize on the candidate’s Purple-Heart record of duty. “His service did not end in Vietnam,” Cleland said. “It began there.”

Although his strong delivery Thursday night is sure to swing a few undecided voters who were waiting to see a candidate who is a little warmer and a little fuzzier, the race is in such a virtual dead heat that a double-digit bounce in the polls would be unprecedented. In general opinion surveys, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Bush are neck-in-neck, but when it comes to protecting America’s homeland security, the president still has a substantial lead.

After thunderous addresses earlier in the week by the outspoken Rev. Al Sharpton, former President Bill Clinton, and rising political star Barack Obama, Mr. Kerry had tough acts to follow. Although his running mate, the gregarious Sen. John Edwards, drew an over-the-top reception from the audience in his address Wednesday night, he tried to not overshadow Mr. Kerry by instead casting the presidential candidate as a selfless, proud veteran committed to protecting the U.S. from further terrorist threat and to helping all citizens achieve the promise of America.

"Where we come from, you and I, we don't judge somebody's values based upon how they use the word in a political ad," Edwards said. "We judge their values based on what they spent their lives doing. And a man who served his country, who volunteered to put his life on the line for others, that's the man that represents the kind of values we believe in.”