by Courtney KunsU.S. Senator (Massachusetts)
Background Information
John Kerry was born in 1943 on the Denver military base where his father, an Army Air Corps volunteer in World War II, was stationed. After graduating from Yale University, Kerry entered the navy and served as a lieutenant in Vietnam. Disillusioned, he returned home from Vietnam in 1970 and became an outspoken critic of the war. He was a co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America and a leader of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Following a law career in Boston, he was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1983. The following year, he ran a PAC-free campaign and was elected to the U.S. Senate, a position that he retains.
Political Allies
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance and an influential attorney for other environmental organizations; Chicago Teamsters Local Union 705; International Association of Firefighters; Irwin Jacobs, CEO of San Diego’s Qualcomm; Planned Parenthood, which gave Kerry a 100% approval rating on his 1995-2002 congressional voting record
Political Fumbles
Kerry voted for the Iraq War. This has damaged his credibility among Democratic voters, a group that overwhelmingly opposed the war.
Issues at a glance A: Occupation of Iraq B: Economy C: Environment D: Health Care E: Civil Liberties
A: Although he would have preferred to give diplomacy a greater opportunity, Kerry supported the Iraq War. Opposed to sending more American troops to Iraq, he wants the international community to become more involved in the occupation.
B: In an interview with MoveOn.org, Kerry said, “The first thing we have to do is roll back the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. Fiscally responsible tax cuts for working families can grow the economy.” Not to be mistaken for an economic liberal, in 1995 he voted yes to eliminate the federal welfare system.
C: He supports renewable energy and increased funding for climate change research. He has typically voted along moderate environmentalist lines in congress.
D: His goal by 2010 is to reduce the number of uninsured Americans by 2/3 through tax credits and purchasing pools. He also wants to create a report card system to measure the service quality of health plans and providers.
E: Kerry believes that racial profiling should be prohibited and wants to expand hate crime laws. He voted in support of the PATRIOT Act.
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December 12, 2003
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