NEWS
Kerry speaks to thousands
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Ryan Masse:
Related Stories:
- Rally moved to accomodate masses (October 27, 2004)
- City officials, Mifflin residents to discuss annual block party (April 29, 2002)
- White House urges Kerry to apologize for expletive (December 8, 2003)
- Mifflin Party back on track (December 8, 2006)
- Police: Lock up doors at Mifflin (April 18, 2008)
Share This:
by Ryan Masse
Friday, October 29, 2004
It’s times like these the Mifflin Street Block Party seems like a small get-together.
One block away from the site of the annual springtime ritual for University of Wisconsin students, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., delivered a blistering stump speech in downtown Madison Thursday in what is quickly becoming an October ritual for Democratic presidential candidates.
West Washington Avenue swelled with upwards of 80,000 supporters as Kerry rallied his base near the Capitol five days before the election. His visit to downtown Madison was reminiscent of campaign stops made by Bill Clinton and Al Gore late in their respective bids for the presidency.
The turnout for Kerry’s rally, however, shattered the lofty attendance figures posted by the former president and vice president. George Twigg, Kerry’s Wisconsin communications director, said the event was the largest campaign rally in Wisconsin history — and one of the largest of the entire Kerry campaign.
“You have no idea how beautiful you look all the way back towards the steps of the Capitol,” Kerry, perched upon a platform on Bassett Street, said to the crowd spanning to the square.
Joined by rock legend Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and nearly every prominent Wisconsin Democratic political figure, Kerry offered a scorching critique of the Bush administration’s foreign policy.
“We have a better chance of success when we have a leader who understands that we’re better off leading strong alliances, bringing people together [and] not going it alone,” Kerry said.
The Democratic nominee said the 380 tons of explosives recently revealed to be missing in Iraq “speak to the continuing misjudgments” of President Bush. He blamed Bush for failing to secure the weapons stock and subsequently neglecting to take responsibility for the mishap.
Kerry repeatedly claimed he, unlike Bush, would look out for the middle class. By lowering the costs of health care and establishing a $4,000 college tuition tax credit and $1,000 child-care tax credit, Kerry said he would combat a decline in real household earnings under Bush.
The Massachusetts senator promised to close loopholes benefiting both the wealthy and businesses that outsource jobs overseas. To prevent undue stress on the bulging federal deficit, Kerry renewed his call for a return to the “pay-as-you-go” philosophy prevailing in Washington under the Clinton administration.
“If you liked the economy we had in the 1990s, you’re going to like what John Kerry and John Edwards do for America,” he said.
Bush has alleged there is a large gap between the new spending proposed by Kerry and his ability to pay for it. During his rally in Richland Center Tuesday, the president indicated Kerry will resort to a “predictable pattern” of tax increases to fill the shortfall.
Prior to Kerry’s arrival, Springsteen and Grohl fired up the crowd with short sets featuring a few of their biggest hits. Kerry later credited Springsteen for singing about the struggles of common Americans, and even used the rock legend’s nickname to jab at the Bush administration.
“When George Bush heard that the Boss was playing with me today, he thought they meant Dick Cheney,” Kerry joked, indicating his belief in who is pulling the strings at the White House.
Grohl delivered a three-song set interspersed with humorous commentary on the presidential race. Turning serious, he said foreigners’ reactions to Americans have taken on a more negative flavor since his earlier days touring with the Foo Fighters and his previous band, Nirvana.
“I’d love to see the world come together again, and I’d love to see people view America with respect,” Grohl said.
Despite the attendance record, some Republicans say it is a bad omen for Kerry to hold two rallies in Madison in little more than a month.
“This is because he knows that he is losing Wisconsin,” former Congressman Scott Klug said in a statement about Kerry’s visit. “Voters here know we have a clear choice on Tuesday between a president willing to do whatever it takes to win the War on Terror and a candidate willing to do anything for political gain.”
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 8:39am):
Wish I could have been there
Bonita Fleming (October 29, 2004 @ 9:31am):
The rally was wonderful. John Kerry will be our next president if women, blacks, hispanics, everyone votes. America--our beautiful country will not be around as we know it if John Kerry is not elected. He will keep us safe. Kerry is warm, compassionate, intelligent, etc. He is brave. He fought for all of us in Vietnam and will fight for us everyday. My husband & I compare him to FDR, JFK, & Clinton. God bless him and I pray to God he becomes our next President of the United States of America.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 9:47am):
Kerry will be more comparable to Jimmy Carter if he wins.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 9:55am):
Jimmy Carter has to make any list of the ten worst presidents in US history. George W. Bush, however, is /the/ worst president in US history. So even a Jimmy Carter clone would be an improvement.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 10:14am):
If John Kerry is elected we will have an end to war. The economy will flourish and there will be 0% unemployment. Cats and dogs will live together in harmony. All babies will sleep through the night soundly, knowing that President Kerry is watching over them. There will be complimentary lap dances on Fridays. If John Kerry is elected, no one will ever get the flu again or gain any weight around the holidays. No one will ever fail to hit a ten after doubling-down on eleven. Our socks will always smell fresh and we will never have to shower again, basking in the good-smelling vapors of John Kerry.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 1:25pm):
Dude, that anonymous guy knows what he is talking about.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 1:29pm):
Is it really so great to be compared with JFK and Clinton? You make it sound like John Kerry is going to bring world peace and we are all going to live forever if he is elected, get a clue.
Anonymous (October 29, 2004 @ 3:18pm):
I think it's sad that so many Bush supporters are upset over the enormous turn-out at the rally yesterday. They're upset that Dick Cheney could only draw a crowd of 12 people. They're upset that President Bush doesn't care about the city of Madison and will not step foot in it. They're upset because the Kerry rally went off without a major hitch and that tens of thousands came downtown to show their support on a beautiful day.
But, Bush supporters, don't be mad at us because of these things; we have a candidate that cares about this city and wants our support. The same cannot be said about yours.
Barmak Kusha (October 29, 2004 @ 9:37pm):
This brings back so many great memories! I don't live in Wisconsin anymore, but I wish I had been there for this.
While a medical student in Madison, my dear and awesome hometown, I attended an identical rally for Clinton/Gore in Fall 1992 (and then shook hands with them both during an "impromptu/unannounced" appearance at the Union that same night)!
Anonymous (October 30, 2004 @ 1:03pm):
If I were Bush I wouldn't step foot in Madison either, you communists
Anonymous (October 31, 2004 @ 4:08pm):
kerry all the way baby!
Anonymous (October 31, 2004 @ 8:25pm):
They were there to see Springsteen, not Kerry lol
Kerry is a loser.
Anonymous (October 31, 2004 @ 11:36pm):
Bush is the dumbest man alive.
Anonymous (November 8, 2004 @ 4:55pm):
John kerry lost the election fair and square. Stop bashing Bush, especially with the explicit language.
