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Senator John Kerry
THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN #2401>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. LIVE FROM THE STUDIOS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, IT'S "THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN." TONIGHT DAVID YEPSEN'S GUEST IS SENATOR JOHN KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS, CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. HERE IS "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN. Yepsen: GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT WE BEGIN A TEN-PART SERIES FOCUSING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 2004, WITH A SPOTLIGHT ON THE IOWA CAUCUSES, SCHEDULED FOR TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, MONDAY, JANUARY 19. OUR GUEST ON THIS EVENING'S LIVE BROADCAST, MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR JOHN KERRY, BRINGS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN A LONG CAREER. HE'S A DECORATED VIETNAM WAR VETERAN: A SILVER STAR, A BRONZE STAR, AND THREE PURPLE HEARTS, IN TWO TOURS OF DUTY. HE'S BEEN APPOINTED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AS ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY. AT THE STATE LEVEL, HE'S BEEN ELECTED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, HE'S BEEN ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR. MR. KERRY IS IN HIS FOURTH SIX-YEAR TERM IN THE U.S. SENATE. SENATOR KERRY, WELCOME TO IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. Kerry: GLAD TO BE BACK HERE. IT'S FUNNY TO BE BACK HERE IN THIS BIG, OPEN PLACE WITHOUT ALL THOSE OTHER FOLKS. Yepsen: THIS IS WHERE WE WERE LAST NIGHT. Kerry: I KNOW. IT'S GREAT. Yepsen: SENATOR, THE BIG NEWS -- BUZZ TODAY IS THAT FORMER NEW JERSEY SENATOR BILL BRADLEY WILL ENDORSE HOWARD DEAN TOMORROW. WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT? Kerry: WELL, IT'S NOT NEWS TO ME. I'VE KNOWN THAT SINCE LAST SPRING. MY REACTION IS THE SAME AS ANYTHING ELSE. THE CITIZENS OF IOWA WILL MAKE THIS DECISION. AND I HAVE BEEN BOTH IN AWE AND RESPECTFUL OF THE REMARKABLE WAY IN WHICH THE CITIZENS HERE GO AT THAT. PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS. PEOPLE REALLY LISTEN. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WHO CAN LEAD OUR NATION, AND I DON'T THINK ALL THESE OUTSIDE THINGS ARE GOING TO DISTURB IOWANS. Yepsen: ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS IS JUST GIVE YOU, THE CANDIDATES, A CHANCE TO SAY YOUR PIECE AND HAVE A CHAT WITH PEOPLE. SO LET ME OPEN BY SIMPLY GIVING YOU THE COMMERCIAL. THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDECIDEDS IN THIS RACE, AS YOU'VE NOTED. WHY SHOULD AN IOWA DEMOCRAT STAND UP FOR YOU ON CAUCUS NIGHT? Kerry: BECAUSE I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE BREADTH IN FOREIGN POLICY AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE, TO LEAD US -- EXCUSE ME -- TO LEAD US, DAVID, IN A TIME WHEN THE WORLD IS VERY MUCH IN PERIL. THIS IS A TIME FOR STEADY HAND LEADING OUR NATION IN ALL OF OUR SECURITY ISSUES, OUR MILITARY AFFAIRS, OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THERE'S A HUGE AGENDA OUT THERE TO MAKE AMERICA SAFER. WE WILL NOT WIN THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES, WE DEMOCRATS, UNLESS WE HAVE A NOMINEE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO CONVINCE AMERICA THAT WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE COUNTRY SAFE, THAT WE CAN STAND UP TO THE ONSLAUGHT, WHICH IS SURE TO COME FROM GEORGE BUSH AND THE REPUBLICANS CHALLENGING OUR PATRIOTISM, AS THEY HAVE ALREADY, AS WELL AS OUR ABILITY TO LEAD AMERICA IN A TIME OF WAR. I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO DO THAT. I HAVE LED, LED MEN IN WAR AND I HAVE LED IN TIMES OF PEACE. I BELIEVE THAT MORE THAN EVER THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. GEORGE BUSH HAS PROVEN THAT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE SHOWN, UNLIKE ANY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD, A LIFETIME RECORD OF CHALLENGING THE ENTRENCHED POWERS, THE POWERS THAT PREVENT US FROM GETTING HEALTH CARE, THAT PREVENT US FROM A MEDICARE BILL THAT ACTUALLY HELPS SENIORS RATHER THAN PREVENTING THEM FROM IMPORTING DRUGS FROM CANADA OR EVEN NEGOTIATING LOWER PRICES. WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL STAND UP LIKE TEDDY ROOSEVELT DID, A REPUBLICAN, TO THE ENTRENCHED MONEY THAT IS IN POLITICS AND REPRESENT REAL PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR COUNTRY. I HAVE DONE THAT. I WILL DO THAT. AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED IN A NOMINEE AND IN A PRESIDENT. Yepsen: LET ME PUT A FINER POINT ON THAT QUESTION. THE POLLS ALL SHOW HOWARD DEAN AS THE FRONT-RUNNER, AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE. WHY YOU OVER HOWARD DEAN? IT'S A CHOICE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE WEIGHING RIGHT NOW. Kerry: WELL, REASON NUMBER ONE: I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO MAKE AMERICA SAFER. HOWARD DEAN HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN MILITARY, NATIONAL SECURITY, OR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD ENOUGH JUST TO COME ALONG AND SAY, "WELL, I CAN HIRE GOOD ADVISORS." PEOPLE ARE NOT ELECTING ADVISORS. PEOPLE ARE ELECTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AND THE PRESIDENT, OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN GUT AND OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN HEART AND HEAD, HAS TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO THE ADVISORS, NO. GEORGE BUSH DIDN'T SAY NO TO ADVISORS, POWERFUL ADVISORS, DICK CHENEY, DON RUMSFELD. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE MESS WE'RE IN TODAY. I THINK WE NEED TO ELECT A LEADER WHO HAS SHOWN THROUGH A LIFETIME OF EFFORT THAT THAT LEADER KNOWS HOW TO MAKE PEACE, THAT LEADER KNOWS HOW TO ACTUALLY SEE AROUND THE CORNERS. I WROTE SIX YEARS AGO IN A BOOK I WROTE CALLED "THE NEW WAR," I WROTE THAT IT WOULD TAKE ONE MEGATERRORIST EVENT IN ONE OF OUR CITIES TO CHANGE LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, AND I DEDICATED A CHAPTER OF THAT BOOK TO THE GLOBALIZATION OF TERROR. WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO KNOWS HOW TO LEAD AMERICA TO A SAFER PLACE, AND THAT COMES, FRANKLY, BY BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS GLOBALLY THAN WE HAVE TODAY. I'VE DONE IT. I KNOW HOW TO DO IT. I HAVE A VISION FOR HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR COUNTRY SAFER. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DAVID, WHEN THAT REPUBLICAN ONSLAUGHT COMES AT US, WHEN THEY CHALLENGE OUR PATRIOTISM, HOWARD DEAN WILL NOT HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO WITHSTAND AND CONVINCE AMERICA AND KEEP IT SAFE. INDEED HIS JUDGMENT -- HIS JUDGMENT I THINK IS CALLED INTO QUESTION IN THESE PAST MONTHS BY THE STATEMENTS HE'S MADE PUBLICLY. HE KEEPS HAVING TO RETRACT THEM. HE KEEPS HAVING TO CLARIFY THEM BY PRESS RELEASE. HE SAID WE'RE NOT SAFER WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN IN JAIL. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN EVERY SOLDIER IN IRAQ KNOWS THAT AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS OUT THERE, HE WAS A THREAT TO THE POSSIBLE RETURN OF THE BAATHIST PARTY AND THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF OUR MISSION, LET ALONE THAT HE TRIED ASSASSINATE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND TOOK US TO WAR ONCE BEFORE. THE SECOND REASON IS ECONOMICS. HOWARD DEAN WANTS TO RAISE TAXES ON AVERAGE CITIZENS OF IOWA. IF YOU'RE EARNING, $40-, $50-, $60,000 IN IOWA AND YOU'VE GOT TWO KIDS, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE THAN $2,000 ADDITIONAL TAXES UNDER HOWARD DEAN'S PLAN. I'M GOING TO PROTECT THE MIDDLE CLASS. I'M GOING TO CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF, LIKE BILL CLINTON DID, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING INCREASED TUITIONS, INCREASED HEALTH CARE, AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD MORE TAXES. Yepsen: GOVERNOR DEAN WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ALL THAT WHEN HE'S OUT HERE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR. I WANT TO TURN TO YOU PERSONALLY, ASK A QUESTION ROGER MUDD MADE FAMOUS TO ANOTHER MASSACHUSETTS POLITICIAN ONE TIME. Kerry: OH, YES. Yepsen: WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? Kerry: I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENCY IS THE PLACE THAT SETS THE AGENDA OF OUR NATION. THE PRESIDENCY IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU KEEP FAITH WITH THE PROMISES OF OUR COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENCY IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON KEEPING THE PROMISE OF AMERICA, AND I THINK WE'RE NOT KEEPING THAT PROMISE TODAY. I THINK GEORGE BUSH IS TAKING OUR COUNTRY IN A RADICALLY WRONG DIRECTION. HE HAS NOT MADE US SAFER IN THE WORLD. HE IS GOING BACKWARDS ON AIR QUALITY, BACKWARDS ON WATER QUALITY, BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE, WHILE POWERFUL INTERESTS ARE HAVING A FIELD DAY IN WASHINGTON. I WANT TO -- I WANT TO SET THE CONVERSATION OF OUR COUNTRY, IF YOU WILL, IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF AMERICANS. THAT CAN HAPPEN FROM THE BULLY PULPIT OF THE PRESIDENCY AND IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU SUBMIT TO CONGRESS. Yepsen: SENATOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY. WHO IS JOHN KERRY? Kerry: JOHN KERRY IS A KID, DAVID, WHO WAS BORN OF WONDERFUL OF PARENTS. BOTH OF THEM WERE GREAT PUBLIC SERVANTS. MY MOM WAS FIFTY YEARS A GIRL SCOUT GUIDE AND TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN IT, AND SHE ACTUALLY WAS MY DEN MOTHER WHEN I WAS IN CUB SCOUTS. SHE STARTED A RECYCLING PROGRAM YEARS BEFORE IT WAS FASHIONABLE. SHE WAS ON THE HEALTH BOARD, THE PLANNING COUNCIL. SHE BELIEVED IN COMMUNITY. MY DAD WAS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE. I WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN DENVER, COLORADO, BECAUSE MY FATHER HAD VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN WORLD WAR II, AND HE CAUGHT TUBERCULOSIS AND THEY SENT HIM TO DENVER TO BE CURED, AND I APPEARED ON THE SCENE. THEY PROMPTLY RUSHED ME BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS TO LEARN HOW TO WALK. Yepsen: WHAT -- WHO ARE THE ROLE MODELS IN YOUR LIFE? WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR GUIDANCE PERSONALLY, POLITICALLY? Kerry: THERE'S SO MANY, DAVID, IN A SENSE. I MEAN I LOOK AT A GUY LIKE MAX CLEVELAND. Yepsen: FORMER SENATOR FROM GEORGIA. Kerry: FORMER SENATOR FROM GEORGIA. HERE'S A GUY WHO LOST THREE LIMBS ON THE BATTLE FIELD OF VIETNAM, HAS EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD TO BE BITTER, ANGRY, TO SORT OF HOLD UP SOMEWHERE. BUT HE NEVER STOPPED MOVING FROM THE DAY HE CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM. HE REBUILT HIMSELF IN SPIRIT AND BODY, AND HE BECAME A UNITED STATES SENATOR, ONE, I MIGHT ADD, THAT THE REPUBLICANS SAW FIT, EVEN AFTER THE LOSS OF HIS THREE LIMBS, TO CHALLENGE HIS PATRIOTISM. THAT'S SORT OF WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A NOMINEE OF OUR PARTY, BECAUSE MAX'S BIGGEST REGRET IS THAT HE DIDN'T FIGHT BACK. I'M GOING TO FIGHT BACK. I'M GOING TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE TOM DELAYS AND THE STEVE KINGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CHALLENGE THE PATRIOTISM OF DEMOCRATS, TO QUESTION THE COURSE OF OUR COUNTRY. THAT'S WHAT I DID WHEN I CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM. I LED SEVERAL THOUSAND VETERANS TO WASHINGTON. WE CAMPED RIGHT ON THE MALL. PRESIDENT NIXON TRIED TO KICK US OFF, TOOK US TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT WE STOOD OUR GROUND AND SAID, "MR. PRESIDENT, YOU SENT US 8,000 MILES AWAY TO SLEEP IN THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM. WE'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO SLEEP HERE." SO I LOOK AT A GUY LIKE MAX CLEVELAND WHO'S BEEN THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AND HAS COME BACK, AND I'M JUST FULL OF AWE AND I'M FULL OF ADMIRATION. Yepsen: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN YOUR LIFE? WAS IT THE COMBAT EXPERIENCE IN VIETNAM? Kerry: WELL, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A HUGE EXPERIENCE. WHEN YOU -- Yepsen: WHAT'S IT MEAN? Kerry: WELL, IT'S -- I MEAN WHEN YOU GO FROM ALMOST DYING TO THE FULL FEELING OF LIFE -- I MEAN THERE YOU ARE WITH THE WATER AROUND YOU, THE BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS, AND YOU FEEL THIS INCREDIBLE FREEDOM AND SENSE OF LIFE. I MEAN THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING LIKE FEELING LIFE AFTER YOU'VE ESCAPED DEATH. AND WHEN YOU DO IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT, IT'S A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE. BUT ALL OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. I'M AN EXTRAORDINARILY LUCKY HUMAN BEING. PART OF THAT IS WHAT DRIVES ME TO WANT TO GIVE BACK, TO WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES. I MEAN HAVING A FATHER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE ALLOWED ME AT AGE 12 TO GET ON A BICYCLE IN BERLIN, GERMANY, NOT TOO LONG AFTER WORLD WAR II AND RIDE INTO THE EAST SECTOR AND KIND OF LEARN FIRST-HAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEDOM AND DICTATORSHIP. I MEAN THESE ARE GREAT LESSONS AND -- Yepsen: WHAT DID HE MAKE OF HIS SON RIDING AROUND -- AN AMERICAN DIPLOMAT RIDING AROUND? Kerry: I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. IT WAS MY FIRST GROUNDING. I GOT THOROUGHLY GROUNDED. HE YANKED MY PASSPORT. I USED MY DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT TO GET THROUGH, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY CREATIVE AT AGE 12. [ LAUGHTER ] BELIEVE ME, I WAS GROUNDED. Yepsen: THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES. Kerry: YEAH. Yepsen: SENATOR, I LIKE TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE ATTACKS OR CRITICISMS OR NEGATIVES THAT PEOPLE THROW AT THEM IN THESE CAMPAIGNS. A LOT OF THAT STUFF GOES AROUND, AS YOU KNOW. SO HERE'S THE CRITICISM THAT I HEAR OF JOHN Kerry: A NEW ENGLAND LIBERAL; CAN'T WIN; ANOTHER MIKE DUKAKIS; ANOTHER TED KENNEDY; AND YOU'VE HAD CAMPAIGN PROBLEMS; YOU'VE HAD TO REPLACE YOUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER, SHAKE THINGS UP; BOTTOM LINE, HE CAN'T WIN. SO HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT? Kerry: WELL, I CAN WIN. AND EVERY POLL HAS SHOWN THAT I RUN THE STRONGEST AGAINST GEORGE BUSH WHEN YOU TELL MY STORY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AND WE'RE DOING IT VERY, VERY EFFECTIVELY, I THINK. SO WHAT IF YOU'VE CHANGED A CAMPAIGN MANAGER. THAT SHOWS LEADERSHIP. THAT SHOWS JUDGMENT. IT ALSO, AT THE TIME THAT I DID IT, I THINK SHOWS A LITTLE COURAGE, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE'D TAKE SOME FLAK, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG, YOU CHANGE IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT IN A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF OUR COUNTRY. AND WITH RESPECT TO NEW ENGLAND, MY GOSH, MICHAEL DUKAKIS WON NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WON WEST VIRGINIA. IF AL GORE HAD WON EITHER OF THOSE STATES, HE'D BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY. THE FACT IS THAT I THINK MY LIFE IS A LIFE THAT WILL CONNECT AS WELL AND HAS CONNECTED AS WELL TO THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA OR FLORIDA OR ARKANSAS OR OTHER PLACES THAT I'VE BEEN WHERE BIG CROWDS HAVE COME OUT AND THEY'VE LISTENED. WHY? BECAUSE I'VE SERVED MY COUNTRY. I'M A VETERAN. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. I LED THE FIGHT TO PUT 100,000 COPS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA. I VOTED FOR WELFARE REFORM BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE IN OUR COUNTRY. I WAS A FISCAL HAWK, A DEFICIT HAWK. I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THREE DEMOCRATS TO MAKE BALANCING THE BUDGET AND REDUCING THE DEFICIT A KEY CORNERSTONE EFFORT OF OUR PARTY IN 1985. I HAVE LED ON ISSUES OF FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY. I'VE BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE. I'VE HELPED CREATE JOBS IN AMERICA. I THINK I CAN GO ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT MAINSTREAM AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING WITH TODAY: HOW TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE HOSPITAL BILL; HOW TO HAVE HEALTH CARE; HOW ARE YOU GOING TO AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE. THESE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IN THE COUNTRY, AND I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS A WHIP WHERE YOU COME FROM. WHAT MATTERS IS WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOUR LIFE IS, WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT, WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE, AND CAN YOU, IN FACT, HELP TAKE AMERICA TO THE PLACE AMERICA WANTS TO GO. I BELIEVE I CAN. Yepsen: SENATOR, LET'S WORK OUR WAY DOWN TO SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THEM ALREADY. BUT IRAQ... WHAT DO WE DO NOW? Kerry: WE INTERNATIONALIZE IT. WE HAVE TO GET OTHER COUNTRIES IN. WE HAVE TO END THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF IRAQ. WE HAVE TO GET THE TARGET OFF OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS. THAT CAN BE DONE WITH GOOD DIPLOMACY. I'VE TALKED TO LEADERS. I'VE TALKED TO LEADERS AT THE U.N. IT'S THERE TO BE DONE. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS UNWILLING TO DO IT. I WILL DO IT. Yepsen: DID YOU MAKE A MISTAKE VOTING FOR THE WAR? Kerry: NO, I DIDN'T -- WELL, WHEN YOU SAY VOTE FOR THE WAR, DAVID, NOBODY -- I MEAN NOBODY ON OUR SIDE CERTAINLY VOTED "FOR THE WAR." WE VOTED TO PUT A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE WAR WAS THE LAST RESORT. WE NEEDED THE LEGITIMATE THREAT OF IT TO GET OUR INSPECTORS INTO IRAQ AND DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO. AND GEORGE BUSH MADE A SERIES OF PROMISES TO AMERICA: PROMISED THAT HE WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BUILD A LEGITIMATE INTERNATIONAL COALITION; PROMISED HE WOULD DO THE INSPECTIONS JUSTICE AND GO THROUGH THE U.N.; PROMISED HE WOULD GO TO WAR AS A LAST RESORT. HE BROKE EVERY SINGLE PROMISE. AND I BELIEVE THAT I AM A PARTICULARLY STRONG CANDIDATE TO TAKE HIM ON BECAUSE I KNOW HOW A PRESIDENT OUGHT TO SEND PEOPLE TO WAR IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I LAID IT ALL OUT AHEAD OF TIME. IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO HOLD SADDAM HUSSEIN ACCOUNTABLE. GEORGE BUSH DID IT THE WRONG WAY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND I WOULD HAVE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY. AND EVERYONE WHO KNOWS MY LIFE KNOWS THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN US TO WAR THE WAY GEORGE BUSH DID. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRULY A LAST RESORT. Yepsen: SETTING ASIDE IRAQ AND LOOKING AT A LARGER FOREIGN POLICY QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD? Kerry: WE ARE THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD. WE ARE THE GREATEST IDEA, IF YOU WILL, ON EARTH, IN MY JUDGMENT. BUT WE HAVE TO SAY THAT WITH HUMILITY. WE HAVE TO SAY THAT NOT PUSHING IT IN PEOPLE'S FACES EVERY MOMENT, WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS PRIDE IN ITS HISTORY AND ITS CULTURE AND ITS OWN HOPES. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING AND MORE CAPABLE OF LISTENING AND BUILDING GENUINE COALITIONS IN THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OUR ROLE IS TO HELP LEAD THE WORLD TO A BETTER PLACE, LEAD ON GLOBAL WARMING. I WAS IN KYOTO. I WAS IN BUENOS AIRES AND RIO. I WAS PART OF ALL OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. WE CAN BRING THE LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO THE TABLE AND SOLVE THAT. WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA WITH BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS. WE COULD LEAD THE WORLD TO A BETTER PLACE ON PROLIFERATION, AND IT BEGINS BY SAYING NO TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT GEORGE BUSH IS NOW RESEARCHING AND BUILDING. THESE ARE ALL THE ISSUES THAT I'VE WORKED WITH; I UNDERSTAND. I AM GOING TO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS WITHIN WEEKS OF BEING INAUGURATED, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTRY, I AM GOING TO REENTER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AND I AM GOING TO TURN OVER A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD. AND, DAVID, IT WILL BE ONE THAT LIVES UP TO OUR VALUES AND HELPS LEAD THE WORLD TO A SAFER PLACE. Yepsen: SENATOR, POLLS TELL US THAT CAUCUS GOERS ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT ECONOMIC ISSUES, ABOUT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY. Kerry: YEP. Yepsen: LET'S TALK ABOUT TRADE FOR A MOMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR. IS THE DOLLAR TOO STRONG OR TOO WEAK RIGHT NOW? Kerry: I THINK THE DOLLAR NEEDS TO BE STRONG AND PROBABLY EVEN A LITTLE BIT STRONGER. IT'S BEEN WEAKENED NOW ON PURPOSE. THAT'S PART OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION STRATEGY FOR REELECTION. A STRONG DOLLAR SERVED US WELL UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON. I THINK, GENERALLY SPEAKING, FOR OUR DEBT, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT CAPITAL TO AMERICA AND TO BE STRONG AS WE NEED TO BE, YOU NEED A STRONG DOLLAR. IT CAN'T BE SO STRONG THAT WE CAN'T SELL OUR GOODS ABROAD. IT'S A BALANCE. THE REAL IMPEDIMENT TO AMERICA TODAY IS NOT THE DOLLAR AS MUCH AS IT IS MARKETS THAT ARE CLOSE TO US, UNFAIRNESS IN OUR TRADE RELATIONSHIP, AND THE LACK OF LABOR AND ENVIRONMENT STANDARDS IN TRADE AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE'RE RAISING UP THE COMPETITIVE FIELD. Yepsen: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS TRADE ISSUE, FREE TRADE. AMERICANS WERE TOLD IF YOU PASS THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A LOT MORE JOBS HERE. WE'LL LOSE SOME BUT WE'LL CREATE MORE. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT'S WORKED OUT THAT WAY. WHAT WOULD YOU -- HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH TRADE POLICY AS PRESIDENT? Kerry: I WILL, NUMBER ONE, FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE AMERICAN WORKER TO GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE LEGITIMATE ACCESS TO MARKETS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE. I WILL FIGHT TO GUARANTEE WE HAVE A FAIR PLAYING FIELD. GIVE THE AMERICAN WORKER A FAIR PLAYING FIELD TO COMPETE ON, AND THERE'S NO ONE AMERICA CAN'T COMPETE WITH. THEREFORE, I WILL SIGN NO TRADE AGREEMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE LABOR, ENVIRONMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS THAT WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THERE TOMORROW, BUT THE AMERICAN WORKER CANNOT POSSIBLY BE CHEATED OUT OF A FAIR PLAYING FIELD THE WAY THEY ARE TODAY. Yepsen: EDUCATION, WHAT'S THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION? Kerry: THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION IS TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE EDUCATION TO THEIR CHILDREN -- OUR CHILDREN. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY OUR CHILDREN. IT IS CRITICAL TO UNDO THE SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL EDUCATION SYSTEM WE HAVE IN AMERICA TODAY, WHICH IS BASED ON MONEY, HOW MUCH MONEY A COMMUNITY HAS IN ITS TAX BASE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO HELP ADJUST THAT. THIS PRESIDENT HAS WALKED AWAY FROM THAT PROMISE. WE NEED TO FIX "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND." WE NEED TO END THIS DEGRADING DISRESPECT THAT'S BEEN SHOWN TO TEACHERS IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WAY THEY'RE NOW FAILING A WHOLE SCHOOL BECAUSE A FEW STUDENTS FALL INTO A CATEGORY. WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES. I WILL FULLY FUND SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION. I WILL FULLY FUND "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND." AND A PASSION OF MINE IS TO START A 0-TO-8 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PLAN IN AMERICA. I'M TIRED OF OUR BEING THE COUNTRY THAT SPENDS $50,000 A YEAR TO SEND KIDS TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, DAVID, WHEN WE OUGHT TO BE INVESTING $10,000 IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL READY TO LEARN, AND HELP AMERICA SPEND LESS MONEY ON PRISONS AND DRUG ABUSE AND TRAUMA AND ALL THE REST OF IT. Yepsen: WHAT WOULD PRESIDENT JOHN KERRY DO ABOUT THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS? Kerry: I WILL -- I WILL COMPLETE THE MISSION BEGUN BY HARRY TRUMAN IN 1948. I WILL PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS WITH A PLAN THAT I'VE LAID OUT THAT, IN FACT, IS THE ONLY PLAN AMONG ALL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES THAT ACTUALLY LOWERS THE COSTS FOR PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE TODAY DIRECTLY ON THEIR PREMIUMS. I WILL LOWER EVERY PERSON WHO GETS HEALTH CARE WHERE THEY WORK, WILL LOWER THEIR PREMIUM BY A MINIMUM OF $1,000 BY PAYING FOR THE CATASTROPHIC CASES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. Yepsen: IT SOUNDS GREAT. HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT? Kerry: I ROLL BACK THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY AMERICANS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE AMERICA A CHOICE. IF GEORGE BUSH WANTS TO DEFEND TAX CUTS FOR PEOPLE EARNING MORE THAN $200,000 A YEAR WHILE I'M FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS, THAT'S A GREAT CHOICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CHOICE. Yepsen: SENATOR, WE'RE IN RURAL AMERICA. RURAL AMERICA IS ALSO PRETTY IMPORTANT IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: CENTRAL ILLINOIS, CENTRAL OHIO. Kerry: I HAVE BEEN COUNTING. Yepsen: WHY WOULD YOU BE THE BEST PRESIDENT FOR RURAL AMERICA? Kerry: BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT HAVE LITERALLY BEEN JUST DIGGING THEIR HEELS INTO RURAL AMERICA FOR YEARS. DAVID, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SMALL FAMILY FARMS OUT HERE FOR TWENTY-FIVE OR THIRTY YEARS OR MORE. HOW MANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE COME OUT HERE AND SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE; WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT FAMILY FARMS; WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT RURAL AMERICA"? BUT THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE: 2,500 FARMS WERE LOST IN IOWA LAST YEAR; $131 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT IN SUBSIDIES TO FARMERS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THE FARMERS GET TWO-THIRDS OF THE MONEY. THE FACT IS THAT AGRIBUSINESS IS CRUSHING THE SMALL FAMILY FARM, AND THE WHOLE QUALITY OF LIFE OF A PLACE LIKE IOWA, WHERE PARENTS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEIR KIDS BE ABLE TO GROW UP IN THE COMMUNITY AND STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND FIND WORK OR EVEN BE ABLE TO MAKE THE FARM WORK -- I'M GOING TO CHANGE THAT. THE REASON PEOPLE IN IOWA WILL KNOW THAT I MEAN WHAT I SAY AND SAY WHAT I MEAN AND I WILL GET IT DONE IS THAT I HAVE SPENT A CAREER TAKING ON THOSE KINDS OF SPECIAL INTERESTS. I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE TODAY WHO'S BEEN ELECTED FOUR TIMES VOLUNTARILY REFUSING TO EVER TAKE ONE DIME OF POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE MONEY IN ANY OF MY SENATE RACES. I DON'T TAKE THE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY. THEY DON'T GET THEIR CLAWS INTO ME. I'VE HAD -- ONLY INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS HAVE ELECTED ME. THAT'S THE KIND OF PRESIDENT I'M GOING TO BE, AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO BRING INTERNET ACCESS TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE'RE GOING TO FUND THOSE SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN HOLD ONTO THEIR SCHOOLS, AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE CONSERVATION TRUST FUND MONEY SO THE FARMERS WHO ARE TRYING TO USE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND WORK TO CONSERVE LAND OR ALTERNATIVE FARMING HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT. WE'RE GOING TO VALUE THOSE FARMS. Yepsen: SENATOR, VERY QUICKLY, WE'RE ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF TIME. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO END THE NATION'S RACIAL PROBLEMS? Kerry: YOU HAVE TO PUT THE PROBLEM ON THE TABLE. YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT IT, BUT YOU CAN'T DIVIDE AMERICA AS YOU TRY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. PART OF THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY -- OF RACE IS THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY. UNTIL WE DEAL WITH SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED SO PEOPLE HAVE REAL OPPORTUNITY, UNTIL WE DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN SO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, THOSE ARE PART OF DEALING WITH THE RACE PROBLEM. BUT IN THE END -- IN THE END IT WILL REQUIRE HAVING A PRESIDENT WHO STANDS UP FOR EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND ENFORCES -- DOESN'T EXPLOIT RACE, LIKE THE MICHIGAN CASE THE PRESIDENT EXPLOITED. WE HAVE TO MAKE REAL THE DREAM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND I'M PREPARED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THAT. Yepsen: SENATOR, WE'VE GOT JUST 45 SECONDS LEFT, SO I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT CAUCUS GOERS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOU AS THEY GO TO THEIR CAUCUSES? Kerry: THAT WE CANNOT WIN THE PRESIDENCY BY BEING "BUSH LIGHT." WE ALL KNOW THAT. BUT WE ALSO CAN'T WIN THE PRESIDENCY IF WE'RE LIGHT ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND LIGHT ON FAIRNESS FOR MIDDLE-CLASS WORKING AMERICANS. I CAN STAND UP TO GEORGE BUSH AND GIVE US A DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN A COUNTRY THAT CAN BE SAFER, AND I WILL SHOW THIS NATION HOW WE CAN FIGHT A WAR ON TERROR MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH CREDIBILITY THAT NO OTHER CANDIDATE CAN. AND I WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT THE MIDDLE CLASS. I WILL NOT RAISE TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS IN ORDER TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND REDUCE OUR DEFICIT. AND I WILL CREATE THE JOBS WE NEED. THANK YOU. Yepsen: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. NOW, TOMORROW NIGHT WE CONTINUE WITH OUR CAMPAIGN CONVERSATIONS, AND JOINING ME IS CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH OF OHIO. CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH JOINS US TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:30 P.M., HERE TO DISCUSS THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER." THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. |
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