On the excuse that Kerry really hated the Iraq invasion because he wanted diplomacy

[ProSense]

19. Then as now

" And that wasn't even the worst blunder Kerry made either the one that basically sunk him is when he said I voted for it before I voted against it. There aren't enough face palms in the world to cover that one."

...the problem was people jumping on the RW bandwagon, namely Roves.

Talking Points

Actually, it was Bush who threatened to veto a bill Kerry co-sponsored to provide $87B to the troops by rolling back Bush's tax cuts on the wealthy elite. Effectively, Bush put his "have mores" ahead of our troops.

Kerry was telling the truth -- although he put it rather badly -- when he claimed that he "voted to provide the money before he voted against it". That's because there were two bills (hence, two options) for providing the funds. The first was S.1634, which Kerry co-sponsored but died in committee because of the Bush veto threat.

The bill that passed, S. 1689, had no provision for paying for the funding; thus, it provided $87 billion by running up the deficit further. An amendment offered by Biden (discussed below) which would have paid for the bill by rolling back tax cuts on the wealthy was defeated (tabled) by the majority Republicans.

The bottom line is this: Kerry proposed a bill to fund the troops. He proposed to pay for the funding, too, without running up the deficit. Bush threatened to veto a bill for funding the troops if it didn't run up the deficit. The GOP agreed, and their version passed.

http://dkosopedia.com/wiki/87_billion_dollar

KERRY CALLS FOR SHARED SACRIFICE BY WEALTHIEST 1% OF AMERICANS TO PAY FOR $87 BILLION IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL

“I am confident that these patriotic Americans are prepared to sacrifice,” says Kerry

Thursday, October 2, 2003


WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today joined Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.) in calling for shared sacrifice by the wealthiest one percent of Americans to help pay the cost of $87 billion supplemental spending request for the war in Iraq.

“Senator Biden and I are making a common-sense proposal. Rather than borrowing an additional $87 billion, we want to scale back some of the new tax cuts for Americans making over $300,000 a year,” said Kerry in a speech delivered from the floor of the Senate.

“To put this in perspective with the men and women who are making the sacrifice in uniform – who are putting it all on the line for the country – the average enlisted man or woman makes $30,000 per year and the average officer makes $67,000.

“We all know what’s happening. The troops didn’t make millions in the 1980s and 1990s; they’re hardworking men and women, mostly from the middle class, who are fighting America’s war. It’s not unfair to ask those that earn the very most – those many fortunate, talented and hardworking Americans earning more than $300,000 – to sacrifice some of their tax cuts in order to promote a free Iraq; to reduce some of the burden being placed on future generations; and help sustain education, health care, and homeland security.”

The Biden-Kerry amendment to the supplemental spending request reduces the size of the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest one percent of Americans to help pay for the war in Iraq. The rate adjustment would occur during the final six years of the President’s 10-year tax cut plan.

“With 130,000 troops sacrificing every day in Iraq, terribly unfunded domestic programs, and historic debt growing in Washington, it is an equitable and responsible proposal. And I am confident that these patriotic Americans are prepared to sacrifice as well,” Kerry concluded.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5366285