While You Wait..Go Listen To Pink

There seems to be a problem with the live feed at Fanueil Hall, but here are some items JK will address this morning:

Kerry on Patriotism and Dissent in America
April 22, 2006

• Thirty-five years ago today John Kerry sat in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and asked “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

• In 1971 John Kerry came back from serving in Vietnam and told the truth about a war that had gone terribly wrong. Today Kerry is reaffirming that it is both a right and an obligation for Americans to ask questions about the war in Iraq – a war that our own generals say has no military solution and needlessly put our troops in harm’s way.

• John Kerry is taking on those who say we can’t ask tough questions because we are at war, insisting instead that in a time of war we have a moral obligation ask the hardest questions of all. This belief is fundamental to John Kerry’s character.

• Thirty-five years later, history is repeating itself. Generals, veterans, elected officials and Gold Star moms who ask questions are being attacked. They have a right to speak up as Americans. And we all have an obligation to speak out against a President who is wrong, a policy that is wrong, and a war in Iraq that weakens our country.

• It’s a big flashing warning light when those in power try to silence critics by calling them unpatriotic and un-American. It should tell you something when politicians don’t want to debate their own policies.

• John Kerry has always demonstrated the courage to speak out when the lives of American troops are in danger. Then and now, we owe it to our troops and to America to demand the truth and ask the tough questions.

• Having the courage to speak out and demand the truth when our troops are in harm’s way the true meaning of patriotism. Kerry is right – “The best way to support our troops is to oppose a course that squanders their lives, dishonors their sacrifice, and disserves our people and our principles.”

• John Kerry, who has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 21 years, is a responsible, thoughtful leader on national security. He has always demonstrated the courage to speak truth to power when the lives of American troops are in danger, drawing upon the lessons he learned serving his country in combat in Vietnam and later standing up to the Nixon Administration’s failed policies.

• In contrast to the Administration’s “stay the course” mantra no matter the consequence to American troops, American treasure, and American credibility, John Kerry tells the truth that the only responsible path forward in Iraq is an exit strategy. In October, John Kerry said that we were entering a make or break six month period in Iraq, and he outlined a series of steps to get our combat troops out in 2006. This month, he followed up on his plan by laying out two important deadlines – if Iraqi leaders can’t form a unity government by May 15 they are never going to, and American troops must leave rather than fight Iraq’s escalating civil war; if they do form a government, we need to empower the new Iraqi leaders by agreeing on a schedule to withdraw American combat forces by the end of 2006. Kerry has been tough with Iraq’s elected leaders, saying “No American soldier should be sacrificed because Iraqi politicians refuse to resolve their ethnic and political differences.”

• Thirty-five years ago today Kerry asked “Where are the leaders of our country? Where is the leadership?” John Kerry has shown the leadership we need in Iraq. John Kerry has spoken up. He’ll challenge the administration to do right by our troops and our country. He leads his party. And he lays out what we must do to provide leadership equal to our troops’ sacrifice.