Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry delivered a sharp midnight address in Springfield, Ohio, on 2 September 2004, targeting President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over their avoidance of Vietnam-era military service. Kerry's remarks came as Republicans wrapped up their convention in New York, where speakers had repeatedly challenged his fitness to lead.
Kerry, who served two tours in Vietnam and received five military decorations, contrasted his record with Cheney's five deferments and Bush's stateside National Guard posting. "I'll leave it up to the voters," Kerry said, to judge who is better qualified to defend the country.
Kerry accused the administration of misleading the public into the Iraq war, presiding over massive job losses, leaving 45 million Americans without health coverage, and awarding government contracts to Halliburton. He called each of those failures disqualifying for national leadership.
Vice presidential running mate John Edwards also criticized the Republican convention, saying its tone was defined by hostility rather than a vision for the country. Edwards argued that a stronger America depended on domestic priorities, including jobs and health care, areas where he said the Kerry ticket offered a credible alternative.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in September 2004, in its own words.