'There's a lot of misleading going on'

[Violet_Crumble]

The argument over Latham's home-by-Christmas pledge has been shallow and unproductive, writes Michael Gordon.

The assumption underpinning much of the debate about the American alliance is that Mark Latham becomes prime minister in August or October and that George Bush triumphs in November.

But consider for a moment another scenario: John Howard wins his fourth election and John Kerry becomes president of the world's only superpower. This, after all, is the outcome foreshadowed in some of the most recent polls in both countries. How warm would the first handshake be between the two leaders on Howard's next trip to Washington?

The Prime Minister is already on record as saying that Bush deserves to be returned and that he expects this to happen. But Howard went one step further when replying to questions during Tuesday's National Press Club address.

Asked if he had any concerns about the policy positions of the Democrat candidate on the subject of energy policy or anything else, the PM took what could only be described as a cheap shot at Kerry and Latham.

"I'm having a bit of difficulty in actually knowing precisely what his (Kerry's) positions are. That reminds me of somebody, too," Howard replied.

Funny, isn't it? Bush is accused of meddling in an Australian election when he answers a question from an Australian journalist, yet no such accusation is levelled against Howard when, in answer to another question, he suggests Kerry is a policy flake.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245036383.html?oneclick=true