A recent poll, published in The Primary Source, found that an astonishing 83 percent of Tufts students want John Kerry to be their next president, while only six percent plan to vote for George W. Bush. On the national scene, however, things are not looking nearly as good for the Democrats - a TIME Magazine poll of "likely voters," published Sept. 20, shows Bush ahead of Kerry 52 percent to 41 percent. The poll reveals that many Americans see John Kerry for what he is: an ambiguous politician who has accomplished little in his 20 years in the Senate, a man with no vision for what America can or should be and an unpredictable candidate whose voting is inconsistent and whose positions are ill-defined. Despite all of this, the vast majority of students here support Kerry, so what are Americans across the country seeing that is seemingly invisible here at Tufts?
In deciding whether a presidential candidate is fit to lead the country, examining his record would be a natural first step. This may frighten John Kerry, however, because his record highlights just how schizophrenic his voting has been. The list of his "flip-flops" is staggering. On Oct. 10, 2002, John Kerry voted to authorize military operations in Iraq. Now, as Bush's opponent, Kerry decries the war: "I would not have taken the country into war the way he did ... Americans are paying ... because this president rushed to war."
The lunacy does not end there. On Oct. 25, 2001, Kerry voted in support of the PATRIOT Act. He also voted to kill a proposal to restrict wiretapping and give the attorney general the power to detain foreigners suspected of terrorism.
Given his votes to expand Ashcroft's authority, it is understandable why the thoughtful listener was confused when Kerry, in a speech at Iowa State University in December of last year, stated, "We are a nation of laws and liberties ... so it is time to end the era of John Ashcroft. That starts with replacing the PATRIOT Act." But the list goes on. On Dec. 18, 2001, Kerry voted in support of the "No Child Left Behind" education act, yet in April, 2003, he was humming a different tune: "Between now and the time I'm sworn in, in January 2005, I'm going to use every day to make this president accountable for making a mockery of the words 'No Child Left Behind,'" he said.
This constant waffling is not a new phenomenon for Kerry. On Jan. 22, 1991, John Kerry told a constituent of his, "I share your concerns [about the use of force in Iraq. I voted in favor of a resolution that ... insisted that economic sanctions be given more time to work and against a resolution giving the president the immediate authority to go to war. Nine days later, he wrote, "From the outset of the invasion [of Kuwait by Iraq], I have strongly and unequivocally supported President Bush's response to the crisis and the policy goals he has established with our military deployment in the Persian Gulf." If John Kerry does not know where John Kerry stands on an issue, how can the American people know where he stands?
On July 29, 2004, John Kerry accepted the Democrats' nomination for president in a speech at the DNC. This was his chance to speak directly to America and explain why he should be our 44th president. In his 5,161 word speech, he devoted a grand total of four sentences to his senate history. It is not in the least bit surprising.
John Kerry's record is one characterized by indecisiveness, dishonesty and ambiguity. His inability to make conclusions and decisions has left him wholly unqualified to lead America, especially at this critical time. Indeed, his speech was riddled with broad statements and loose ends: "I know what we have to do in Iraq," he claimed, offering no further explanation. "I will fight a smarter, more effective war," he said, sharing no ideas about how to do it. Kerry has failed miserably to show us his vision for America, not because of a poor campaign or bad speechwriting, but because he simply has none. Twenty years of flip-flops, lies and inconsistencies is certainly enough to prove that we elect Kerry at our own peril.
Bruce Hamilton is a freshman who is undeclared and a member of Tufts Republicans
