John Kerry in Intelligence Committee Record "Derelict"
Senate colleagues call for full release of private hearing attendance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - John Kerry claims that his experience on the Senate Intelligence Committee would be a powerful tool for his potential administration in the war on terror. Ironically, his record on that committee indicates the exact opposite. In his eight years of service on the Intelligence Committee from 1993-2000, Kerry missed 38 of 49 public hearings, or just over 76%.

"John Kerry's derelict record should be a giant red flag for voters," said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). "Kerry's eight year record of leadership on intelligence issues is marked by appalling neglect!"

John Kerry's neglect is not only on intelligence issues. Kerry has missed 71% of Senate floor votes since 2003. Worse still, of the 163 roll call votes held on the Senate floor in 2004, Kerry has shown up for a mere 17 (10%). John Kerry has not cast a vote in the Senate since May 25, 2004. He has missed crucial votes on Medicare reform, defense appropriations and tax legislation. The 17 votes Kerry did cast this year were highly partisan. Eight were against second amendment gun rights and two were against bills protecting unborn children from violent criminals.

The Kerry Campaign correctly points out that there are many more closed door Intelligence Committee hearings and claim that the Senator regularly attended these classified briefings. The attendance records for these meetings can only be released at Kerry's request, prompting his fellow Senators to call for a full disclosure. Said Sen. John Coryn (R-TX), "I would like to call on …Senator Kerry today to publicly release (his) attendance records at the private, or classified, hearings on the intelligence committee so the American people can really know the truth."

"If John Kerry really wants to demonstrate leadership on intelligence issues, he should release his full attendance history and let everyone know true record." continued Norquist. "Missing 76% of your committee meetings is not showing the leadership Americans deserve. If Kerry's attendance was better for private hearings as he claims, than he should release those records. If not, he should stop lying."



Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose all federal and state tax increases.

[QUOTE=iolaus] Kerry has missed 71% of Senate floor votes since 2003. Worse still, of the 163 roll call votes held on the Senate floor in 2004, Kerry has shown up for a mere 17 (10%). John Kerry has not cast a vote in the Senate since May 25, 2004.

uh, yeah, maybe because he is out on the road campaigning???

The Kerry Campaign correctly points out that there are many more closed door Intelligence Committee hearings and claim that the Senator regularly attended these classified briefings. The attendance records for these meetings can only be released at Kerry's request, prompting his fellow Senators to call for a full disclosure. Said Sen. John Coryn (R-TX), "I would like to call on …Senator Kerry today to publicly release (his) attendance records at the private, or classified, hearings on the intelligence committee so the American people can really know the truth."

"If John Kerry really wants to demonstrate leadership on intelligence issues, he should release his full attendance history and let everyone know true record." continued Norquist. "Missing 76% of your committee meetings is not showing the leadership Americans deserve. If Kerry's attendance was better for private hearings as he claims, than he should release those records.

yes, he definitely should release the records. full disclosure. otherwise, makes one wonder what is he hiding??

uh, yeah, maybe because he is out on the road campaigning??? Good point... still, he's pulling a full paycheck for all that time he's not representing his state.

It would be helpful to know what kind of attendance he had when not running. I tried to search for a while but couldn't find a compilation of earlier attendance/voting records. :shrug

don't even get started on what these politicians are getting paid. i think we can both agree on that point. they are all millionaires anyway, why they even get a paycheck at times seems odd to me.

Personally, I think public service should be forced, like Jury Duty. You get a notice in the mail: Boom, you're a Senator for 2 years. Go serve your country. If people had to do it, rather than actively pursued it, I'll bet we'd have a lot less bullshit going on. ha. Well, maybe not, but it would make things interesting, for sure.

don't even get started on what these politicians are getting paid. i think we can both agree on that point. they are all millionaires anyway, why they even get a paycheck at times seems odd to me.

There was a time when it was 'public service' but now it's all selfish.

Besides the base salaries, don't forget they get add'l monies for being on or chairing commities, and just about anything else they decide to pay themselves for.

Love those midnight votes with CSPAN turned off...hmmm, give myself a raise? SURE!!

uh, yeah, maybe because he is out on the road campaigning???



Nice spin, jack. It excuses NOTHING, you understand, but nice spin.

You see, Kerry isn't being paid to "campaign" He had/has a job to do, and if he can't or won't do it, then he should resign and let someone else in who will.

Clearly, he's let his ambition get in the way of his duty. You know, that "duty" that he allegedly was reporting for? Well guess what. He already HAS a duty, and to him, it/'s as meaningless as telling the truth about his service in Vietnam.

He always COULD have followed the example of a genuine, no-questions-asked war hero and resign his seat. But then, he doesn't want to be COMPLETELY unemployed in January, and by failing to do the honorable thing for the people who elected him to represent them, he'll at east have that senate job to fall back on.

Nice spin, jack. It excuses NOTHING, you understand, but nice spin.

like kerry is the first one to run for office who missed congressional votes. who are you kidding?

You see, Kerry isn't being paid to "campaign" He had/has a job to do, and if he can't or won't do it, then he should resign and let someone else in who will.

wouldn't you love that! so you are saying he should either resign and campaign, or keep his job and don't campaign? and you call yourself a political consultant?

Clearly, he's let his ambition get in the way of his duty.

you know, now that you mention it, running for president could be seen as ambitious. you think politicians are ambitious?

You know, that "duty" that he allegedly was reporting for? Well guess what. He already HAS a duty, and to him, it/'s as meaningless as telling the truth about his service in Vietnam.

now that's some spin. i applaud.

He always COULD have followed the example of a genuine, no-questions-asked war hero and resign his seat. But then, he doesn't want to be COMPLETELY unemployed in January, and by failing to do the honorable thing for the people who elected him to represent them, he'll at east have that senate job to fall back on.

i wouldn't expect anything less from ANY politicians. they are all the same.



:thumbup

Fact: Kerry had to campaign
Fact: If Kerry resigned the Rep governor could appoint someone in his place, most likely another Rep, then Kerry would not have a job.

The only point of contention is if it was an honorable decision or not.

BTW, just a point of interest here. I heard that when Gov. Bush was running for Pres., He declined his governers salary while he was campaigning.

Fact: Kerry had to campaign
Fact: If Kerry resigned the Rep governor could appoint someone in his place, most likely another Rep, then Kerry would not have a job.

The only point of contention is if it was an honorable decision or not.

Is it normal and customary for a politician to resign before or during participation in a presidential campaign?

Is it normal and customary for a politician to resign before or during participation in a presidential campaign?Some have and others haven't.

I liked 95 BXL's point about Kerry "...reporting for duty." Well stated!

If only a war hero should be elected, Klinton would have lost twice and Nixon would have lost to McGovern. As far as the 527 corporations go, the Swiftboat Vets for Truth seem to be getting more for their couple hundred thousand $ donations than George Soros is for his multi-million $ for Kerry!

Bob Dole from Kansas should have been president. He was a real WWII War Hero and carried around the real scars that he earned in Italy defending our country and all of Europe. Plus he resigned his seat before getting into the race.

dc

Fact: Kerry had to campaign
Fact: If Kerry resigned the Rep governor could appoint someone in his place, most likely another Rep, then Kerry would not have a job.

The only point of contention is if it was an honorable decision or not.

The issue of the party of his replacement is irrelevant. After all, won't this same Governor be naming his replacement anyway if Kerry wins? The only issue is this: is Kerry doing anything to keep picking up that salary they're paying him? Is he representing the people while he's missing hundreds of votes? Is he following his oath?

Obviously, for Kerry's supporters, his lack of availability to do his job is of no importance.

More on Kerry's medals:

Kerry wrote up his own citation for his first PH, an possibly his third. Normally, a PH is awarded for injuries suffered in combat, on the field of battle and by the enemy. Also required is a witness and no witness ever came forward to certify Kerry's first or third PH.

Kerry also wrote up the text of the citation for the Silver Star (for shooting a wounded NVA in the back) which was signed off on by his commanding officer. The strange thing is that in 1986, when Kerry was in his first term in the Senate, he "requested" copies of his citations from the Navy. Included was a more generous re-write of his Silver star citation signed by then Secretary Lehman of the Navy. A BRAND NEW CITATION? Unheard of! But then, Kerry was on the Senate Armed Services committee. Senators do have pull.

Only an arrogant SOB would fluff his resumé thinking nobody would ever check him out.
Well, there's plenty of time for the "responsible" media types to get the information from the Naval Archives at the Navy Yard in DC. That's where the daily logs of radio operators, ops types, after action reports and such are kept. The truth will out if you dare to look.

Quoting 95 in black and red, jackhart in blue.

Nice spin, jack. It excuses NOTHING, you understand, but nice spin.

like kerry is the first one to run for office who missed congressional votes. who are you kidding?

Of course he isn’t. But that doesn’t make it right. Face it… Dole did the right thing…the thing Kerry SHOULD do, but won’t.

My point is that it is wrong REGARDLESS of party or position to miss votes and avoid critical committee sessions while campaigning for some other job… even the presidency.

You see, Kerry isn't being paid to "campaign" He had/has a job to do, and if he can't or won't do it, then he should resign and let someone else in who will.

wouldn't you love that! so you are saying he should either resign and campaign, or keep his job and don't campaign? and you call yourself a political consultant?

Other than addressing the issue of right and wrong, I could care less. If Kerry is convinced he’ll win, then his absence won’t mean anything anyway, especially since the Governor picks his replacement either way. As for what I call myself, Yes… yes I do. Actually, a great many people believe that of me, and I make a damned good living at it, truth to tell.

That said, Senator Dole set the example. The issue is the honorable course, and if Kerry’s concern is over his job, which is to represent the people of Massachusetts, then the choice he must make is well stated by you. Otherwise, the people of Massachusetts are reduced to ½ of their constitutionally mandated senate representation.

Clearly, he's let his ambition get in the way of his duty.

you know, now that you mention it, running for president could be seen as ambitious. you think politicians are ambitious?

Sorry, I missed the part where anyone said that a politician running for president WAS a bad thing. But when that ambition interferes with his PRIMARY DUTY, which is effective representation of the people of Massachusetts, then it’s time for him to make a choice.

You know, that "duty" that he allegedly was reporting for? Well guess what. He already HAS a duty, and to him, it's as meaningless as telling the truth about his service in Vietnam.

now that's some spin. i applaud.

Sorry again, I missed the “spin” part. That he has a duty is a fact. That he’s ignoring that duty so he can campaign for president is another fact. That he’s lied about his service in Vietnam is also a fact. No spin there at all.

He always COULD have followed the example of a genuine, no-questions-asked war hero and resign his seat. But then, he doesn't want to be COMPLETELY unemployed in January, and by failing to do the honorable thing for the people who elected him to represent them, he'll at east have that senate job to fall back on.

i wouldn't expect anything less from ANY politicians. they are all the same.

Oddly enough, that’s not the case. Clearly, Mr. Kerry is not the same as Mr. Dole. And at the end of the day, they’re both politicians.

It’s like I told you before: It’s not the journey in politics that’s so great or honorable. It’s what you do once you arrive that makes you great… or not. Now, perhaps, you can see what I meant.