WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (AFP) - Quotes from John Kerry's quest for the US presidency:
IRAQ
"I actually voted for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it."
Kerry in West Virginia on March 16 speaking of his position on a Senate vote for funding for the Iraq war. The quote has been widely exploited by the Bush campaign to back accusations of flip-flopping by the Democrat.
"It's the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Kerry in an attack on the president's Iraq policies in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania on September 6, 2004.
"We must have a great honest national debate on Iraq. The president claims it is the centerpiece of his war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden and the terrorists. Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and, if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight."
Kerry speaking at New York University, September 20, 2004
"The greatest position of strength is by exercising the best judgement in the pursuit of diplomacy, not in some trumped-up, so-called coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought and the extorted, but in a genuine coalition."
Kerry at rally in Des Moines, Septembeer 9, 2003
"I will never forget what Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Reagan all knew -- that America is stronger, our troops are safer, and success is more certain when we build and lead strong alliances, not when we go it alone. George Bush has failed to learn this lesson."
Kerry at rally in Sioux City, Iowa on October 27, 2004
"Right now there is one parallel that's very disturbing, and that is the leadership in Washington has not told the truth to the American people. Unless this president begins to change direction, and recognize his mistakes, and get the policy right in Iraq, he could create a whole lot more parallels."
Kerry on parallels between Iraq and the Vietnam war in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. October 23, 2004
KERRY ON BUSH
"I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq."
Kerry talking about the Vietnam war records of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney at a rally in Springfield, Ohio on September 2, 2004
THE CAMPAIGN AND POLITICS
"I think the intensity of it is greater than I could imagine. It is, actually, beyond description. You have to experience it to know what that is."
Kerry highlighting the "intrusiveness" of the election campaign. Rolling Stone magazine. October 23, 2004.
"I'll make you a deal. I'll send people to George Bush's rallies and they can bang their unemployment cheques together."
Kerry to Republican hecklers banging together flip-flops at a Democratic rally in New Hampshire. April 13
"I cut and paste, the old scissors and paste, write it out, have somebody type it up, read it, sleep on it, see how shitty it is in the morning.
John Kerry on his speechwriting tactics. Reported by ABC news, July 16
10/31/2004 02:29 GMT - AFP