In Blistering Midnight Attack, Kerry Charges Bush, Cheney "Unfit To Lead"
In an indication of Sen. John Kerry's determination to blunt any momentum President Bush may carry out of the Republican convention, his campaign organized an unusual midnight rally in the battleground state of Ohio. At the rally, running mate John Edwards introduced Kerry, who angrily criticized both Bush and Vice President Cheney and called them "unfit to lead this nation." Kerry blasted Bush's performance on several domestic issues, such as employment, healthcare, and energy prices, which his campaign views as the Administration's "Achilles Heel." But most media outlets quickly latched onto Kerry's confrontational tone on Iraq and his irate response to Vice President Cheney's criticism in his Wednesday convention speech. In response, says NPR this morning, Kerry "criticized President Bush and Vice President Cheney for not serving in the military during the Vietnam era." The New York Times adds Kerry was "roaring back at his Republican rivals," saying Bush was "'unfit to lead this country' for 'misleading' America into war in Iraq" and that Bush and Cheney "avoided fighting in the Vietnam War." CBS News Radio calls Kerry's response to the GOP convention "angry," while the Los Angeles Times refers the Democratic candidate's "biting and personal" comments.
Edwards Criticizes GOP Convention Anger.
As Kerry prepared to deliver his blistering midnight speech, vice presidential nominee John Edwards spoke in the Philadelphia suburbs, criticizing the Republican convention for its negativity, attacks, and anger. USA Today reports Edwards "accused Republicans of using their convention to assail Kerry rather than offer ideas for solving the nation's most pressing problems." Edwards said, "The anger we heard from Senator Miller, the anger we heard from the vice president – anger is not going to change this country and do what needs to be done for America."
Owens Likens Bush Administration To Nazi Germany.
The Washington Times reports in its "Inside Politics" column that Democratic Rep. Major Owens "warned a crowd of feminist protesters in New York that the Bush administration is taking America 'into a snake pit of fascism,' Marc Morano reports for Cybercast News Service (www.CNSNews.com)." Owens added that the Bush administration "'spits on democracy' and is leading the country down a path reminiscent of 'Nazi Germany.'"
