SpeedRacer 1 #1 November 5, 2004 Some people have been saying that the Dems lost because Kerry is so far to the left, the most liberal senator in the USA etc. I would like to know specifically what it is that you think makes him significantly more left-wing than other Democrats. what are the specific issues please. --------- Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #2 November 5, 2004 http://www.juiceenewsdaily.com/1004/news/kerry_real_record.html His voting record for One. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,600 #3 November 5, 2004 Because the ad campaigns told them so, of course! There is an analysis of his 2003 votes (part of that year he was already campaigning for President -- he did miss a lot of 2003 votes) that shows him as taking the most liberal position on each. A longer-term analysis of his voting record indicates that he is by no means the most liberal. He is liberal, but the "most liberal" label comes from 2003. It is convenient, though, isn't it? Handy sound bite factoid, doesn't take any real thought to assimilate it. But incomplete, just like the vast majority of handy sound bite factoids. Heck, any of you pro-choice conservatives would come off as liberal if the last 3 votes had been about choice -- would that be accurate? Or would you vote against your personal principles just to hie to the party line? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 November 5, 2004 Lots of people protested the war vs Iraq. Even some Republicans. I can't believe that makes him the most Liberal. It was, if not a majority position, a very common position, not a fringe position. so what makes him further to the left than the other Democrats. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #5 November 5, 2004 Pro-choice conservative here.... Wendy come-on. Look at his last 20 years on voting against military spending. That alone is enough. Not to mention his voting against the war in 91 after it was painfully obvious something needed to be done. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #6 November 5, 2004 Why won't the Dem make him the Senate Minority Leader? He is probably the biggest Democratic name right now. Why? Because he is too far left for the Party. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #7 November 5, 2004 You're just repeating the accusation without giving reasons for it. My question is what specific positions has he taken that put him more to the left than other Democrats. So far people have posted only things that many other Democrats, and even some Republicans have taken. Nothing stands out particularly that would explain why Kerry is more to the left than so many others. I'm going to keep asking this question until I get a real and specific answer, or people just admit it was empty campaign rhetoric. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #8 November 5, 2004 thud, thud, thud, neighhh, neighhhh, thud, thud! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #9 November 5, 2004 Here are some votes... Make up your own mind. If you don't think he is liberal, you too might be liberal. It is all an opinion really. # Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004) # Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000) # Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999) # Voted NO on disallowing overseas military abortions. (May 1999) # Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003) # Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004) # Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002) # Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001) # Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000) # Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998) # Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997) # Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996) # Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995) # Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000) # Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996) # Voted NO on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996) More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001) # Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001) # Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001) # Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001) # Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000) # Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999) # Voted NO on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998) # Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997) # Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996) # Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994) # Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003) # Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003) # Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003) # Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002) # Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002) # Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000) # Voted YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999) # Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999) # Voted NO on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997) # Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. (Aug 1994) # Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997) # Voted YES on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994) # Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994) # Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. (May 2001) # Fund studies of sustainable fisheries. (Oct 1996) # Fund studies of invasive species and algal blooms. (Mar 1998) Fully fund Head Start for all 3- and 4-year-olds. (Mar 2004) Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003) # Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000) # Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999) # Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998) # Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998) # Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998) # Voted NO on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996) # Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. (Jan 1994) # Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000) # Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001) # Monitor human rights in Uganada-Sudan crisis. (Aug 2004) # Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001) # Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001) # Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000) # Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000) # Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997) # Voted YES on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995) # Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000) # Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002) # Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations. (Apr 2001) # Voted YES on continuing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999) # Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997) # Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996) # Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995) # Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004) # Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999) # Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999) # Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999) # Voted NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998) # Voted YES on allowing importation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002) # Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001) # Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001) # Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000) # Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999) # Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998) # Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998) # Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997) # Voted YES on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996) # Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999) # Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999) # Voted NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999) # Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999) # Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999) # Voted NO on deploying missile defense as soon as possible. (Sep 1998) # Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998) # Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997) # Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997) # Voted NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996) # Voted NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995) # Establish Maritime Security grants for ports and vessels. (Nov 2002) # Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001) # Temporary workers ok, and earned amnesty ok. (Oct 2004) # A guest-worker program alone won't solve the problem. (Oct 2004) # Restore immigrant benefits lost in 1996 welfare reform. (Mar 2004) # Expedited citizenship for members of the Armed Forces. (Mar 2004) # Earned legalization for immigrants to keep families together. (Feb 2004) # Earned legalization for undocumented immigrants. (Jan 2004) # Amnesty to anyone here over 5 or 6 years. (Sep 2003) # Voted NO on allowing more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work. (Jul 1998) # Voted NO on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998) # Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997) # Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001) # Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999) # Voted NO on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997) # Voted NO on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996) # Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999) # Voted NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998) # Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998) # Voted NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996) # Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003) # Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (May 2001) # Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001) # Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001) # Voted NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000) # Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999) # Voted NO on $792B tax cuts. (Jul 1999) # Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998) # Voted NO on FY99 tax cuts. (Apr 1998) # Rated 14% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003) # Voted NO on $86.5 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003) # Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002) # Voted NO on allowing all necessary forces and other means in Kosovo. (May 1999) # Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999) # Voted NO on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995) # Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001) # Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. (Nov 1995) ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #10 November 5, 2004 well, I always did think he was a liberal. and your list does confirm that. (btw, where did you get that list?) my question was why do people think he is more liberal than any other senator? A small number of items in that list are things that Bush would have agreed with.(missile defense, earned legalization for immigrants) And hardcore lefties would disagree with (free trade) Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #11 November 5, 2004 I never said everything he did was liberal :-) However, he is Liberal. I goodled his voting record. I have a copy on my home PC somewhere, I will have to get the sources later. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #12 November 5, 2004 You do realize that Bush is implementing missile defense, and signed legislation allowing more day workers into the country, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #13 November 5, 2004 yes, that's just what I pointed out in my post. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
