The GOP has made up a list of 14 Kerry Flip Flops from today's speech alone.
A few of my favorites.
FLIP FLOP #2: Iraq Was “Diversion From” War On Terror. “That means 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.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)...Kerry Said Iraq “Is Critical” To Success Of War On Terror. SEN. JOHN KERRY: “Iraq may not be the war on terror itself, but it is critical to the outcome of the war on terror. And therefore any advance in Iraq is an advance forward in that. And I disagree with the Governor [Howard Dean].” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 12/15/03) FLIP FLOP #4: Saddam’s “Downfall … Has Left America Less Secure.” “The satisfaction we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: we have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)
...Kerry Questioned Judgment Of Those Claiming Saddam’s Capture Doesn’t Help American Security. “Those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein, and those who believe we are not safer with his capture, don’t have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be elected president.” (Anne Q. Hoy, “Dean Faces More Criticism,” [New York] Newsday, 12/17/03) FLIP FLOP #7: Iraq War Took “Attention And Resources” Away From Afghanistan. “The President's policy in Iraq took our attention and resources away from other, more serious threats to America. Threats like … the increasing instability in Afghanistan.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)
...Kerry Said War On Terror “Doesn’t End With Afghanistan” And Suggested U.S. Move On To Addressing Menace Of Saddam Huseein. KERRY: “I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn’t end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It’s a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein.” (CNN’s “Larry King Live,” 12/14/01) FLIP FLOP #10: Would Not Have Invaded Iraq Given What He Knows Now. “Yet today, President Bush tells us that he would do everything all over again, the same way. How can he possibly be serious? Is he really saying that if we knew there were no imminent threat, no weapons of mass destruction, no ties to Al Qaeda, the United States should have invaded Iraq? My answer is no - because a Commander-in-Chief's first responsibility is to make a wise and responsible decision to keep America safe.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)
...In Response To President's Question About How He Would Have Voted If He Knew Then What He Knows Now, Kerry Confirmed That He Would Still Have Voted For Use Of Force Resolution. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it's the right authority for a president to have. But I would have used that authority as I have said throughout this campaign, effectively. I would have done this very differently from the way President Bush has." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 8/9/04) FLIP FLOP #14: Would Have Continued Containment Of Saddam. “I would have tightened the noose and continued to pressure and isolate Saddam Hussein - who was weak and getting weaker -- so that he would pose no threat to the region or America.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)
Kerry Expressed Opposition To “Policy Of Containment.” “So we’ve got a major set of choices to make here. And we’d better make them. We’ve been sliding into a fundamental policy of containment, which I share with Major Ritter the notion is disastrous to our overall proliferation interests and disastrous with respect to the Middle East and our interests with respect to Saddam Hussein and Iraq . But we have to make a decision whether we’re prepared to do what is necessary, and I mean to the point of a sustained targeting of the regime; not the Iraqi people, but the regime.” (Sen. John Kerry, Committee On Armed Services And Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Joint Hearing, 9/3/98) -- GOP.com
I'm sorry, but I don't trust to run our national security and foreign policy a man who's willing to change his policy to suit whatever the crowd wants to hear.
