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PrintThe Hiller Instinct: Kerry's Criticism
Two weeks after the opening shot in Baghdad, John Kerry this week fired the opening shot of the New Hampshire primary…
"What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States...to put in place a president... (applause)."Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate
Republican critics immediately made Kerry a target of opportunity, accusing him of putting New Hampshire before America and crossing a grave line. Kerry, an honored Vietnam War veteran, counter-attacked saying, "I don't need any lessons in patriotism or in caring about America from the likes of the right wing..."
"I believe the Bush administration’s blustering unilateralism is wrong, and even dangerous, for the country."Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate
While Kerry did vote for the use of force in Iraq, and pledged to support U.S. troops there, he has criticized Bush before…
"We need a new approach to national security, a bold and progressive internationalism that stands in stark contrast to the too often belligerent and myopic unilateralism of the Bush administration."Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate, January 23
Still, Kerry's critics aren't misfiring when they accuse him of looking at Iraq and seeing New Hampshire.
In the latest poll, Kerry is tied with former Vermont Governor Howard Dean for the lead with 38 percent undecided and no other democrats in double digits.
"I am the only candidate, who is running with the leadership in the polls... that did not support the president's policy in Iraq."Howard Dean (D) Presidential Candidate
Dean's clear anti-war stance has made him a favorite of protestors and he's criticized Kerry for being unclear. Kerry hopes he has a trump card…
"I am the only person running for president of the United States, who has actually fought in a war."Sen. John Kerry (D) Presidential Candidate
Just as the president is rolling the dice in Iraq, so is Kerry rolling them right here by trying to be both pro-war and anti-administration. It's easy to call that a contradiction, but Kerry is attempting a much harder sell… that unlike Bush, he can lead the world to peace, not just the United States to war. If voters don't buy that, Kerry's cooked.