U.S. National - AP
Bush Mocks Kerry Claim of Foreign Backing
Sun Mar 21, 4:17 AM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By NANCY BENAC, Associated Press Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bush used the first rally of his re-election campaign to cast Democrat John Kerry on Saturday as a serial tax-raiser who has voted for tax increases 350 times. He also mocked Kerry's claims of support from undisclosed foreign leaders.
Bush took note of Kerry's proposals to expand health care, education and other domestic programs while still cutting in half the deficit. Kerry, the president, said, has promised more than he can pay for.
"He's going to have to pay for it somehow," Bush told thousands of cheering supporters at the Orange County Convention Center. "It's pretty clear how he's going to fill the tax gap — he's going to tax all of you. Fortunately, you're not going to give him that chance."
Bush, on his 20th visit to Florida as president, could not have picked a more crucial location in a more crucial state for his first big rally of the 2004 campaign.
In 2000, it was only after the Supreme Court ended Florida ballot recounts that Bush was able to seal his victory in the state — by a mere 537 votes — and thus claim the presidency. The state is a battleground once again this election, and central Florida is critical to deciding which way it will go.
There were a few voices both inside and outside the convention center to counter the support Bush received. A half-dozen anti-Bush college students were escorted from the hall before the president arrived despite holding tickets for the event and three more people were forced out after chanting "No more Bush" as the president made his way across the stage. About 80 protesters demonstrated outside, many gripping red balloons pointing out the expanding national debt under Bush's watch.
This is a ground swell against Bush if I've ever seen it....80....LMAO 
Amplifying the message of his first wave of negative campaign ads, Bush said Kerry has voted in support of tax increases 350 times during his nearly two decades in Congress, including a 50-cent boost in the gasoline tax.
"He wanted you to pay all that money at the pump and wouldn't even throw in a free car wash," Bush declared.
"We're beginning to see a pattern here," Bush said. "Senator Kerry is one of the main opponents of tax relief in the United States Congress. However, when tax increases are proposed, it's a lot easier to get a yes vote out of him."
Bush faulted Kerry for voting against tax breaks for some married couples and families with children and for an expansion of the 10 percent tax bracket, as well as other pieces of the tax cut bills enacted under Bush.
Kerry has proposed a health care plan that has been estimated to cost about $900 billion over 10 years. His campaign has not laid out how that plan would be paid for.
First lady Laura Bush, making a rare introduction of her husband, reminisced about their first — losing — campaign for Congress, in 1978. She noted that things have changed since the days when they canvassed for votes in an old Chevy.
"By the end of the campaign, he even convinced me to vote for him and so far he hasn't given me any reason to change my mind," she joked.
Bush used his speech to jab at Kerry on two other counts: his vote against an $87 billion aid plan for Iraq and Afghanistan, and his claim that some foreign leaders would prefer to see Kerry win the election.
On the foreign aid, Bush mocked Kerry's awkward explanation that "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
Bush read aloud the quote, then declared: "That sure clears things up, doesn't it?"
"His answers aren't always clear but the voters will have a very clear choice in this campaign."
As for Kerry's claim that foreign leaders would prefer a Kerry White House, the president told the crowd, "That's OK, I'm not too worried, because I'm going to keep my campaign right here in America."
Kerry has said that to identify the leaders would betray confidences. But a campaign statement said he is neither seeking nor accepting the endorsements of foreign leaders.
Democrats signaled their intention to fight for every Florida vote in a Miami news conference on the eve of Bush's visit.
"I wish the president would spend some more time in central Florida and speak to people other than his most loyal supporters, because he needs to hear that his misguided policies are hurting people," said Sen. Bob Graham.
The president spent about two hours in Florida before returning to Washington.
This cutting and pasteing stuff is so easy!!!
Bush Mocks Kerry Claim of Foreign Backing
Sun Mar 21, 4:17 AM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By NANCY BENAC, Associated Press Writer
ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bush used the first rally of his re-election campaign to cast Democrat John Kerry on Saturday as a serial tax-raiser who has voted for tax increases 350 times. He also mocked Kerry's claims of support from undisclosed foreign leaders.
Bush took note of Kerry's proposals to expand health care, education and other domestic programs while still cutting in half the deficit. Kerry, the president, said, has promised more than he can pay for.
"He's going to have to pay for it somehow," Bush told thousands of cheering supporters at the Orange County Convention Center. "It's pretty clear how he's going to fill the tax gap — he's going to tax all of you. Fortunately, you're not going to give him that chance."
Bush, on his 20th visit to Florida as president, could not have picked a more crucial location in a more crucial state for his first big rally of the 2004 campaign.
In 2000, it was only after the Supreme Court ended Florida ballot recounts that Bush was able to seal his victory in the state — by a mere 537 votes — and thus claim the presidency. The state is a battleground once again this election, and central Florida is critical to deciding which way it will go.
There were a few voices both inside and outside the convention center to counter the support Bush received. A half-dozen anti-Bush college students were escorted from the hall before the president arrived despite holding tickets for the event and three more people were forced out after chanting "No more Bush" as the president made his way across the stage. About 80 protesters demonstrated outside, many gripping red balloons pointing out the expanding national debt under Bush's watch.
Amplifying the message of his first wave of negative campaign ads, Bush said Kerry has voted in support of tax increases 350 times during his nearly two decades in Congress, including a 50-cent boost in the gasoline tax.
"He wanted you to pay all that money at the pump and wouldn't even throw in a free car wash," Bush declared.
"We're beginning to see a pattern here," Bush said. "Senator Kerry is one of the main opponents of tax relief in the United States Congress. However, when tax increases are proposed, it's a lot easier to get a yes vote out of him."
Bush faulted Kerry for voting against tax breaks for some married couples and families with children and for an expansion of the 10 percent tax bracket, as well as other pieces of the tax cut bills enacted under Bush.
Kerry has proposed a health care plan that has been estimated to cost about $900 billion over 10 years. His campaign has not laid out how that plan would be paid for.
First lady Laura Bush, making a rare introduction of her husband, reminisced about their first — losing — campaign for Congress, in 1978. She noted that things have changed since the days when they canvassed for votes in an old Chevy.
"By the end of the campaign, he even convinced me to vote for him and so far he hasn't given me any reason to change my mind," she joked.
Bush used his speech to jab at Kerry on two other counts: his vote against an $87 billion aid plan for Iraq and Afghanistan, and his claim that some foreign leaders would prefer to see Kerry win the election.
On the foreign aid, Bush mocked Kerry's awkward explanation that "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
Bush read aloud the quote, then declared: "That sure clears things up, doesn't it?"
"His answers aren't always clear but the voters will have a very clear choice in this campaign."
As for Kerry's claim that foreign leaders would prefer a Kerry White House, the president told the crowd, "That's OK, I'm not too worried, because I'm going to keep my campaign right here in America."
Kerry has said that to identify the leaders would betray confidences. But a campaign statement said he is neither seeking nor accepting the endorsements of foreign leaders.
Democrats signaled their intention to fight for every Florida vote in a Miami news conference on the eve of Bush's visit.
"I wish the president would spend some more time in central Florida and speak to people other than his most loyal supporters, because he needs to hear that his misguided policies are hurting people," said Sen. Bob Graham.
The president spent about two hours in Florida before returning to Washington.
This cutting and pasteing stuff is so easy!!!
