Fuente : John Kerry
http://www.johnkerry.com

From Lincoln-Douglas Debate City, John Kerry Calls on Bush to Join Him in Debates on Americans’ Real Concerns

/noticias.info/ In an effort to turn the campaign for the Presidency toward a debate on the issues that matter most to Americans, John Kerry today traveled to a city famous for hosting the legendary Lincoln-Douglas debates in order to answer George W. Bush’s misleading, negative attack ads by calling on him agree to substantive, respectful debates every month on the great issues facing the country today.

In his Quincy Address today – delivered in the largest city to host one of the historic 1858 Senatorial debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas – John Kerry noted that the Bush campaign is spending millions of dollars on misleading attack ads, and he said, “Surely, if the attack ads can start now, at least, we can agree to start a real discussion about America’s future.”
The Lincoln-Douglas debates included sharp exchanges, but they were a serious, honest discussion of the important questions of the day, sparking enormous public interest. In Quincy on October 13th, for instance, an estimated 20,000 people gathered to hear Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in the 6th of their 7 debates – transforming the city of 10,000 with interested voters from miles around.

Kerry also cited his personal experience elevating the tone of a hard-fought, competitive campaign. In their 1996 U.S. Senate race, Senator Kerry and then-Gov. William Weld (R-MA) held a series of eight debates on the important issues facing voters. Millions tuned in, and millions said that the debates helped them make informed decisions on the issues.

“2004 can’t be just another year of politics-as-usual,” Kerry said. “The challenges we face are just too great and too grave. Every minute that passes, we’re losing two jobs and adding a million dollars to our national debt. In the past three years, three million more Americans have slipped into poverty and four million more are uninsured. And two and a half years after September 11th, our firefighters are getting laid off, our troops have been left without body armor, and potential allies in the War on Terror have been pushed away. We confront big issues – as big as any in our history – and they call for a new and historic commitment to a real and informed exchange of ideas.”

Since announcing for the White House, John Kerry has pushed for a “campaign of ideas.” He has repeatedly outlined a positive vision for change that includes comprehensive plans on the big issues facing America today – like bringing back jobs and restoring economic growth, national security and homeland defense, making health care affordable, fulfilling the promise of educational excellence and opportunity for all.

Noting that Lincoln and Douglas shared a steamer from Quincy to their next debate, Kerry said, “Maybe George Bush and I won’t travel on the same boat or on the same airplane. But we can give this country a campaign that genuinely addresses our real issues and treats voters with respect. And who knows, maybe after it’s all over, George Bush and I will be able to sit down together at a Red Sox-Rangers game and shake hands as friends. And that would be an election where all Americans would win in the end.”


13/03/2004 notas_de_prensa_archivo