The case against Kerry

According to the political grapevine, former President Clinton has suggested to Sen. John Kerry that he stop talking about Vietnam.

Good advice, perhaps – albeit a little late.

So what will Kerry talk about?

It better be the future, because there’s not much in his political past worth bragging about.

This is a presidential candidate far outside the American political mainstream.

• He’s against the death penalty.

• He’s for unrestricted abortion on demand.

That’s always an interesting juxtaposition. Pro-abortion activists like to suggest there is something inconsistent about an anti-abortion, pro-death penalty position. I never saw any contradiction in supporting life for the innocent and punishment for the guilty, but moral relativists make no distinction between innocent life and those who take innocent life.

But how does one argue for killing unborn children and saving those who have murdered – sometimes often? It will be interesting to hear Kerry’s justification of that position if the press ever bothers to ask him.

Kerry is so extreme on abortion, he’s against bans on partial-birth procedures and opposed to parental-notification laws.

• In the U.S. Senate, Kerry has voted with Ted Kennedy 94 percent of the time. For 10 solid years – 2001, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986 and 1985 – they voted together 100 percent of the time. Kerry’s overall rating from the Americans for Democratic Action is actually 5 points higher than Kennedy’s.

• As Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor, Kerry supported Gov. Michael Dukakis prison furlough program. Does any one remember Willie Horton?

• Kerry has opposed a balanced-budget amendment five times.

• Kerry has consistently supported tax increases and opposed tax cuts.

• He has a 26 percent lifetime rating from Citizens Against Government Waste.

• Kerry has voted for at least seven major reductions in defense and military spending.

• Kerry voted five times to raid the Social Security Trust Fund for non-Social Security spending.

• Kerry was one of only 14 senators to vote against the Defense Of Marriage Act – a law signed by President Clinton.

• Kerry wants to expand so-called “hate-crime legislation” to include gender, sexual orientation and disability as new victim classes.

• He’s for human cloning.

How’s that for a record on which to run a successful presidential campaign?

No wonder Kerry wanted to talk about Vietnam. What else does he have to talk about?

When I heard Kerry tout his Vietnam War experience, I thought it was ludicrous. To me, it was like Jane Fonda running for president on her Vietnam War record. But let’s face it – this guy doesn’t have much in common with the electorate. He is out of step – far out of step – with the American people on virtually every issue under the sun.

So, maybe that’s why John Kerry reported for duty at the Democratic convention. He was attempting to portray himself as a war hero in hopes Americans would never discover he is – and always has been – a radical socialist and moral relativist.

With a record like that, where does Kerry go now?

My prediction? He will not talk about his record. He can’t. He cannot afford to defend himself any more. Instead, he will try to talk about his plans for the future. He will run away from his record – as fast and as hard as he can.

What else can he do?

What else can he say?

Where else can he run?

After all, this politician has spent his entire career in Massachusetts. And he’s no longer running in Massachusetts. Now he’s got to run in America.

If Americans understand his record, he’s finished. He’s buried. If they didn’t like McGovern, Mondale and Dukakis, why would they like Kerry?

If all that isn’t enough to persuade you Kerry is wrong for America, dangerous for America, I urge you to watch this 12-minute video on his foreign-policy flip-flops. After you view it, e-mail this column to every American voter you know.