thedrifter
04-03-03, 03:49 PM
Apr 3, 4:15 PM EST
Hastert, Delay Criticize Kerry's Comments
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top two Republicans in the House sharply criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Thursday for saying that the United States, like Iraq, needs a regime change.
In a speech Wednesday in Peterborough, N.H., Kerry said President Bush so alienated allies prior to the U.S.-led war against Iraq that only a new president can rebuild damaged relationships with other countries.
"What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States," said Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., released a statement that said in the midst of war, the nation should pull together to support the troops and commander in chief.
"Once this war is over, there will be plenty of time for the next election," the statement said. "But the war is not yet over, and we still have much work to do to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime."
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, released a statement calling Kerry's words "desperate and inappropriate."
"America before New Hampshire," DeLay said.
Kerry backed a congressional resolution last fall giving Bush the authority to use force to oust Saddam, but he repeatedly has criticized the president for failing to give diplomacy more time.
"Clearly, Senator Kerry intended no disrespect or lack of support for our commander in chief during wartime, but the point of this campaign is, obviously, to change the administration of this government," said Kerry spokesman Robert Gibbs. "And unlike many of his Republican critics, Senator Kerry has worn the uniform, served his country, seen combat, so he'd just as soon skip their lectures about supporting our troops."
Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. Hastert and DeLay did not serve in the military.
In response to Gibbs, DeLay's spokesman Jonathan Grella said, "His service to our country was admirable, but his words now are shamelessly political."
Leading congressional Democrats have generally avoided criticism of the conflict, letting retired generals and unnamed military officials raise concerns about the number of troops in the region and the overall war plans.
On the day that Bush announced military strikes would begin unless Saddam left Iraq, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Bush's diplomatic efforts failed "miserably" because he failed to secure a U.N. resolution for the war. Daschle's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Hastert and DeLay. This week, Daschle said that he was satisfied with Bush's strategy.
---
Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina wants to take President Bush's job from him next year, but he said that didn't stop them from chatting Thursday on their trip to a military base in Edwards' home state.
Edwards, one of nine Democrats seeking the presidential nomination, said he, Bush and Republican North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole had a "good conversation about the progress of the war" on Air Force One en route to Camp Lejeune. Asked whether politics came up Edwards said, "Not really, no."
During his visit to the base, Bush addressed thousands of cheering Marines and their families, pledging not to stop the war until Iraq is free. He also met with relatives of five soldiers lost in the two-week-old war.
As the plane departed for the return trip to Washington, White House aides positioned Edwards and Dole about 25 feet from Air Force One's stairway as Bush departed North Carolina. That put Edwards out of the picture for photographers shooting Bush's climb onto the presidential aircraft.
---
Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Howard Dean to publish a book about his life and his presidential campaign agenda.
The yet untitled book will be published in November 2003 in paperback. In it, the former Vermont governor will discuss his positions on health care, social justice, education, balancing the federal budget and the environment.
Representatives from Simon & Schuster and the Dean campaign did not immediately return calls seeking comment about terms of the agreement.
"Howard Dean has captured the imagination of the media and many party activists," David Rosenthal, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. "This book is a chance for him to present his platform and ideology to the broadest public."
At least two of Dean's opponents for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina, are also working on books that will be released as next year's primary elections approach.
---
Associated Press Writer Scott Lindlaw in Jacksonville, N.C., contributed to this report.
Sempers,
Roger
Hastert, Delay Criticize Kerry's Comments
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top two Republicans in the House sharply criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Thursday for saying that the United States, like Iraq, needs a regime change.
In a speech Wednesday in Peterborough, N.H., Kerry said President Bush so alienated allies prior to the U.S.-led war against Iraq that only a new president can rebuild damaged relationships with other countries.
"What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States," said Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., released a statement that said in the midst of war, the nation should pull together to support the troops and commander in chief.
"Once this war is over, there will be plenty of time for the next election," the statement said. "But the war is not yet over, and we still have much work to do to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime."
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, released a statement calling Kerry's words "desperate and inappropriate."
"America before New Hampshire," DeLay said.
Kerry backed a congressional resolution last fall giving Bush the authority to use force to oust Saddam, but he repeatedly has criticized the president for failing to give diplomacy more time.
"Clearly, Senator Kerry intended no disrespect or lack of support for our commander in chief during wartime, but the point of this campaign is, obviously, to change the administration of this government," said Kerry spokesman Robert Gibbs. "And unlike many of his Republican critics, Senator Kerry has worn the uniform, served his country, seen combat, so he'd just as soon skip their lectures about supporting our troops."
Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. Hastert and DeLay did not serve in the military.
In response to Gibbs, DeLay's spokesman Jonathan Grella said, "His service to our country was admirable, but his words now are shamelessly political."
Leading congressional Democrats have generally avoided criticism of the conflict, letting retired generals and unnamed military officials raise concerns about the number of troops in the region and the overall war plans.
On the day that Bush announced military strikes would begin unless Saddam left Iraq, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Bush's diplomatic efforts failed "miserably" because he failed to secure a U.N. resolution for the war. Daschle's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Hastert and DeLay. This week, Daschle said that he was satisfied with Bush's strategy.
---
Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina wants to take President Bush's job from him next year, but he said that didn't stop them from chatting Thursday on their trip to a military base in Edwards' home state.
Edwards, one of nine Democrats seeking the presidential nomination, said he, Bush and Republican North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole had a "good conversation about the progress of the war" on Air Force One en route to Camp Lejeune. Asked whether politics came up Edwards said, "Not really, no."
During his visit to the base, Bush addressed thousands of cheering Marines and their families, pledging not to stop the war until Iraq is free. He also met with relatives of five soldiers lost in the two-week-old war.
As the plane departed for the return trip to Washington, White House aides positioned Edwards and Dole about 25 feet from Air Force One's stairway as Bush departed North Carolina. That put Edwards out of the picture for photographers shooting Bush's climb onto the presidential aircraft.
---
Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Howard Dean to publish a book about his life and his presidential campaign agenda.
The yet untitled book will be published in November 2003 in paperback. In it, the former Vermont governor will discuss his positions on health care, social justice, education, balancing the federal budget and the environment.
Representatives from Simon & Schuster and the Dean campaign did not immediately return calls seeking comment about terms of the agreement.
"Howard Dean has captured the imagination of the media and many party activists," David Rosenthal, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. "This book is a chance for him to present his platform and ideology to the broadest public."
At least two of Dean's opponents for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina, are also working on books that will be released as next year's primary elections approach.
---
Associated Press Writer Scott Lindlaw in Jacksonville, N.C., contributed to this report.
Sempers,
Roger