My first wire story
Sen. Kennedy: defeat is a new beginning for Democrats
By Logan C. Adams -- Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON - The Democrats may be a minority in Congress, but Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said Wednesday that his party represents the majority of Americans.Kennedy, D-Mass., spoke at a National Press Club luncheon.
His speech, “A Democratic Blueprint for America’s Future,” outlined his hopes, plans and dreams for the Democratic Party, which is contemplating its positions and tactics after its losses in November’s election.“In an election so close, defeat has a thousand causes – and it is too easy to blame it on particular issues or tactics, or on the larger debate about values,” he said.
Kennedy noted that small swings in many states could have given Democrats control of the Senate, the House or the White House, in any combination. He said Democrats did many things right but should not feel satisfied.
He dismissed President Bush’s declaration of an electoral mandate for his policies as “deceptive and dangerous,” saying the election had been “dominated by memories of 9/11, fear of terrorism, the quagmire in Iraq and relentlessly negative attacks on our Presidential candidate.”
He said the party should keep away from Republicans’ tactics, which he said “exploit the politics of fear and division. … The last thing our country needs is two Republican parties.”Kennedy called for fresh “progressive vision.” He said that the war in Iraq and the danger of terrorism must be dealt with and reiterated his belief that Iraq is “Bush’s Vietnam.” He added that the “misguided resort to war has created more – and much more intense – anti-American feeling than Osama bin Laden ever dreamed of.”
He called for better education, especially for improvements in math and science. Several proposals would offer tuition to those who study math and science if they promise to teach and would guarantee cost would not keep anyone out of college. “Surely, we have reached a stage in America where we can say it and mean it – cost must never again be a bar to college education,” he said.
The senator said all employers should be required to offer seven days of annual paid sick leave to every employee and proposed “tax advantages” for companies that create new jobs.
Kennedy said that President Bush should be stopped from changing the Social Security system and that Medicare should be extended to all Americans. Under his plan, called Medicare for All, the transition would occur over a decade, starting with those closest to retirement.Kennedy said that a woman’s right to choose an abortion must be protected but that the number of abortions should be reduced by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancy. He also said he supports legalizing same-sex marriages.
Finally, Kennedy called on Americans to be better citizens and commended the nation’s efforts to help those affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
In response to a question, Kennedy, who will run for his ninth term 2006, drew a laugh when declined to comment on whether he believes his successor has been born yet.
By Logan C. Adams -- Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON - The Democrats may be a minority in Congress, but Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said Wednesday that his party represents the majority of Americans.Kennedy, D-Mass., spoke at a National Press Club luncheon.
His speech, “A Democratic Blueprint for America’s Future,” outlined his hopes, plans and dreams for the Democratic Party, which is contemplating its positions and tactics after its losses in November’s election.“In an election so close, defeat has a thousand causes – and it is too easy to blame it on particular issues or tactics, or on the larger debate about values,” he said.
Kennedy noted that small swings in many states could have given Democrats control of the Senate, the House or the White House, in any combination. He said Democrats did many things right but should not feel satisfied.
He dismissed President Bush’s declaration of an electoral mandate for his policies as “deceptive and dangerous,” saying the election had been “dominated by memories of 9/11, fear of terrorism, the quagmire in Iraq and relentlessly negative attacks on our Presidential candidate.”
He said the party should keep away from Republicans’ tactics, which he said “exploit the politics of fear and division. … The last thing our country needs is two Republican parties.”Kennedy called for fresh “progressive vision.” He said that the war in Iraq and the danger of terrorism must be dealt with and reiterated his belief that Iraq is “Bush’s Vietnam.” He added that the “misguided resort to war has created more – and much more intense – anti-American feeling than Osama bin Laden ever dreamed of.”
He called for better education, especially for improvements in math and science. Several proposals would offer tuition to those who study math and science if they promise to teach and would guarantee cost would not keep anyone out of college. “Surely, we have reached a stage in America where we can say it and mean it – cost must never again be a bar to college education,” he said.
The senator said all employers should be required to offer seven days of annual paid sick leave to every employee and proposed “tax advantages” for companies that create new jobs.
Kennedy said that President Bush should be stopped from changing the Social Security system and that Medicare should be extended to all Americans. Under his plan, called Medicare for All, the transition would occur over a decade, starting with those closest to retirement.Kennedy said that a woman’s right to choose an abortion must be protected but that the number of abortions should be reduced by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancy. He also said he supports legalizing same-sex marriages.
Finally, Kennedy called on Americans to be better citizens and commended the nation’s efforts to help those affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
In response to a question, Kennedy, who will run for his ninth term 2006, drew a laugh when declined to comment on whether he believes his successor has been born yet.
posted by Logan C. Adams at 1/13/2005 11:18:00 AM
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