We Will Beat Bush

Leading With Strength

In a keynote address to the Democratic Leadership Council’s 2004 National Conversation, John Kerry today pledged that as President he will lead with strength and discussed what strength means on his terms: providing true leadership in foreign policy so that America is once again respected in the world and building a stronger America at home by expanding the middle class and reforming education and health care.

“It is time America had a president who understands that strength abroad means providing true leadership in the world, and taking responsibility for the bad and the good. And strength at home means building a stronger economy by getting results for the American people, and demanding accountability,” Kerry said. “This is the kind of President we need in Washington, the kind of President I will be. It’s not a new way or a third way—it’s the right way to lead America and make America strong again.”

Click here to read the entire speech.

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By DickBell on May 7, 2004 at 08:26 PM

Teresa Heinz Kerry on Barbara Walters Tonight!

Tune in to Barbara Walters on ABC's 20/20 at 10:00 pm ET for an interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry.

For more information, go to: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Sections/2020/index.html

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By DickBell on May 7, 2004 at 06:29 PM

Jobs Up, but the Middle Class Squeeze Continues

John Kerry released the following statement on the new jobs numbers released today:

“Any step forward in the job market is good news for America’s workers, but let’s be clear: we still have a long way to go to get America working again. America is still in the worst job recovery since the Great Depression, with 2.2 million private-sector jobs lost in the Bush presidency, 8.1 million Americans still looking for work, and long-term unemployment at the highest level in twenty years.

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By DickBell on May 7, 2004 at 03:49 PM

Kerry Forum Passes 20,000 Members

I'm happy to announce that John Kerry's Internet Town Meeting forum gained its 20,000th registered member today. Congratulations to volunteer administrator Mike Sullivan, who has shepherded the forum from its birth, and dealt with the thousand and one things that can go wrong on an online forum. Since January, the forum has grown from 0 members to 20,000, and members have posted more than 200,000 messages. That's a lot of messages, and Mike has had wonderful help from a small group of volunteer moderators, who have worked hard to build a forum that people want to participate in.

For those of you who've only spent time on the blog, check out the Town Meeting. The forum and this blog serve similar purposes. Once you've registered, you can post your own ideas and suggestions for the campaign, and talk about why John Kerry should be our next president. On the forum, you can post to specific topics, and the replies form a single thread on your subject.

Either way, all the volunteers who staff the blog and the forum have done a remarkable job in taking John Kerry's message, often one-to-one, on the Internet. Thanks to everyone, and let's keep building!

Dick

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By DickBell on May 7, 2004 at 12:15 PM

Bush's Failed Policies on Cuba

President Bush announced several punitive steps today that he said were intended to increase pressure on the government of Cuba. In response to the President's election-year promises, Kerry campaign spokesman Dag Vega issued the following statement:

“The Cuban people deserve to live in a free, peaceful, and democratic nation. And Cuban Americans deserve a president who will be honest with them and dedicated to the cause of removing Fidel Castro from power. But four years after candidate Bush came to Florida and promised Cuban Americans the moon, all they’ve gotten from this president is lip service and broken promises. Fidel Castro’s tyrannical grip is still tight, and conditions have not improved at all for the Cuban people.

“Today, after four years of repeatedly breaking promises and failing the nation, George Bush is back with more promises for Cuban Americans. But this time his election year promises ring hollow.

“When John Kerry is President, he will fight for a free and democratic Cuba every single day, not just when election time comes around.”

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By DickBell on May 7, 2004 at 01:46 AM

Kerry Praises Nation's Nurses

John Kerry has been a strong supporter of nurses throughout his legislative career. He issued the following statement to honor National Nurses Week:

“From the battlefield to the emergency room, today’s 3.5 million nurses are on the frontlines of our nation’s health care system. I salute their dedication, commitment and service to the noble work of saving lives and promoting health. Our nation’s nurses are crucial in our efforts to build a stronger America.

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By DickBell on May 6, 2004 at 10:44 PM

Kerry Statement on Latest Iraqi Photos and Chain of Command

Colton, CA – John Kerry made the following statement today on the latest Iraqi photos:

“I want to say a few words at the outset about the appalling images of abuse that are flashing across the television screens of the world. The pain and the shame that we feel looking at these images is the understanding that this is not who we are, that this is not what we stand for, and that we are seeing things that contradict everything that the brave men and women of the armed forces of the United States of America are fighting to defend. These despicable actions have endangered the lives of our soldiers, and they have, frankly, made their mission harder to accomplish. America is stronger and our families are safer and they are respected around the world when we take actions that live up to our values and earn that respect around the world. We cannot succeed in Iraq by abandoning the values that define America.

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By DickBell on May 6, 2004 at 05:55 PM

A New Bargain for Our Teachers

John Kerry went back to high school this morning in California at Colton High School in Colton, CA to do a little teaching, and to deliver a major speech about upgrading the teaching profession.

John's first stop was with 50 students from a combined Advanced Placement U.S. History Class and an Advanced Placement Introduction to Economics class. He and Teresa Heinz Kerry sat at the front of the room, talked with the students, and answered questions about current events and the campaign.

In the school auditorium, Kerry laid out "A New Bargain for Our Teachers." This new bargain is based largely on the recommendations of a recent blue-ribbon commission, which recommended a fundamental upgrade of teaching as a profession by changing the way teachers come into the field, as well as the way they are trained, assessed, supported, and compensated. The proposal combines necessary and generous increases in teacher compensation and professional development with increased accountability and standards for teachers.

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By DickBell on May 6, 2004 at 03:22 PM

Hope for the Future

This morning as I drove out Woodrow Wilson High School in East L.A., I reflected on the past months that I have been volunteering for the Kerry campaign. Like so many volunteers, I came to the Kerry campaign looking for hope for the future. As a single mother, with a teenage daughter in a Los Angeles Unified School District High School, I was particularly interested in hearing John Kerry’s speech today on expanding educational opportunities.

Teresa Heinz Kerry at Woodrow Wilson HS
(Photo by Pamela Leavey)

Here in Los Angeles we suffer from grossly overcrowded, understaffed schools. Yet, there are so many dedicated teachers who strive to bring quality education to the children of Los Angeles, and so many bright children who strive to stay in school, get a good education, and continue on to college.

(Photo by Wayne Williams)

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By Pamela Leavey on May 6, 2004 at 08:27 AM

John Kerry on Univision

Watch John Kerry’s interview with Univision on Ultima Hora at 11:30 pm ET tonight.

Tomorrow morning, Kerry’s interview will appear on Despierta America at 7:00 am and 9:00 am ET.

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By DickBell on May 5, 2004 at 10:39 PM

John and Teresa on Cinco de Mayo

John and Teresa Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles
Photo by Sam Park

John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry issued the following statement today from Los Angeles commemorating Cinco de Mayo:

“Today, Cinco de Mayo, we join our fellow Americans and our Mexican neighbors in commemorating this day of liberty and triumph. The spirit that led to the victory at the Battle of Puebla lives on today in our daily fight for equality, freedom and a brighter future for all Americans. However, as we look back it is also important to look forward.

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By DickBell on May 5, 2004 at 05:19 PM

Welcome Aboard!

Like most of you, I have a special place in my heart for Jeb Bush and Kathleen Harris, so I'm always happy to see new Democratic online activity in Florida. Today we welcome two new Florida unofficial Kerry websites, Orange County for Kerry and Orlando for Kerry.

Douglas De Clue from the Kerry Orlando Meetup group wrote in about getting the Kerry Meetup going in Orlando:

"The Kerry Orland Meetup group started last summer with about 6 people and now we are having monthly attendance at our meetups of over 150 people.

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By DickBell on May 5, 2004 at 01:56 PM

Cahill Calls on Bush to End Smears

Kerry Campaign Manager Mary Beth Cahill issued the following statement in response Marc Racicot’s assertion that the Bush/Cheney campaign is not connected to Tuesday's attacks aimed at John Kerry:

“This attack was organized by the same pro-Bush group that smeared John McCain in 2000. It has ties to the White House and to Bush in Texas. If he wanted to, the President could stop these baseless attacks on John Kerry with one phone call. But instead he allows groups like this to attack John Kerry, who put his life on the line to serve his country.”

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By DickBell on May 5, 2004 at 10:42 AM

Hold A House Party!

Dear Friend,

Our first National House Party Day is shaping up to be a huge success. Right now more than 1,000 parties will take place in all 50 states on May 22nd. The thousands of people who attend these parties will get to take part in a conference call with John Kerry and a surprise special guest. This call will be John Kerry's opportunity to thank you for our campaign's ongoing success and discuss strategies for the future. In addition these parties are a great way to meet all the Kerry supporters in your neighborhood.

National House Party Day is our first major step towards building the grassroots army that will do the work this summer and fall to win the election in November. We've set a goal this month to grow our email base to 1,000,000 supporters. We won't get there without a hugely successful wave of house parties on May 22nd.

Many of you have emailed the campaign asking for ways that you can help. House parties are one of the best ways to bring in new supporters and volunteers.

Come, read more, and schedule your own party today:

http://www.johnkerry.com/parties

Yesterday we set a goal of growing our email base to 1,000,000 supporters by the end of May. A million names would be a million reasons to believe we can win this election and send Bush back to Texas. Think of it as a million people telling John Kerry, "We won't quit until you're in the White House." Your house party can be a huge part of building this movement. In fact if you like, we will publicize your house parties on our website.

The networks you build at house parties will become a vital part of our strategy in the fall to reach out to undecided voters. But we NEED to build this base now.

Please schedule your own party today:

http://www.johnkerry.com/parties

Thank you,

Nancy Eiring
National Director of Grassroots Fundraising

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By DickBell on May 5, 2004 at 01:18 AM