criticalviewer

After two weeks of televised assaults by President Bush's campaign, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) unveiled an ad about his domestic agenda yesterday in what Kerry's strategists described as an effort to change the tone of a resoundingly negative election season.

Q. Senator! What do you think about Clarke's recent allegations?

Kerry: When the nation's leading counter-terrorism official, who served in that capacity for four presidents since Reagan says that President Bush blew off the al qaeda threat from day 1 while he concentrated on Iraq, people should demand an explanation. When Clarke says that he couldn't get a meeting together on the impending attack because everyone was too busy, the american people should ask why? When Clarke says that on 9/12 that Bush practically told him to fabricate a reason to bomb Iraq when he knew they had nothing to do with it--that should lead the congress to call for impeachment.

Q. But what about the White House's charge that he's just angry over being demoted?

Kerry: The question isn't whether Clarke is angry--of course he's angry. His warnings went ignored, his urgent memos tossed aside. The real question is why did Bush downgrade the position of counter-terrorism advisor? I'll tell you why...because this president was so irresponsible that it didn't matter what the truth was. He was determined to make sure that nothing Clinton supported during his term would be continued. Not jobs, not a healthy economy, not peace, and certainly not a heightened alert for terrorism and a hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Q. Senator, the White House suggests that he's just got a grudge to bear.

Kerry: Look, there are no secrets about what this administration will do to those who cross them. Look at Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame. Look at Paul O'Neil. Look at what happened with Medicare. Do you really think that Richard Clarke expected anything less than he's getting? Would anyone set out to tell this story unless they thought it had to be told? Perhaps it will sell a few books, but it stands to ruin the rest of his career.

You see, this administration knows that it doesn't tell the truth. It knows its full of lies. Its just trying to hold it all together until November. By that point they won't care if the whole things falls wide open because it will be too late for the American people.

Q. They suggest maybe he's just lobbying for a job with your administration?

Kerry: Well, he sure has my attention if that was his goal. I need someone on my team who understands the urgency of the terrorist threat against this country. I need someone who is willing to stand up for what they believe in--for what they know is true and just. The country needs someone like Richard Clarke, and so do I. The Vice Presidential nomination is his if its a job he's looking for.