YORK, Pa. – President Bush lashed out at Democratic rival John Kerry on Friday, labeling him an indecisive, far-left liberal and said he was “out of step with the mainstream values that are so important to our country.”
Bush leveled his charges on a Pennsylvania bus tour, answering a challenge from Kerry and his Democratic running mate, Sen. John Edwards, about the president’s values and honesty concerning Iraq, mushrooming budget deficits and other issues.
A crowd of several thousand loudly booed Kerry’s name, and cheered Bush with chants of “four more years.” In a state that he lost four years ago but has visited 30 times as president, Bush said, “It’s going to be a tough race.”
Taking aim at Kerry, Bush said that as a senator, Kerry had taken both sides on many issues, from education and trade to the war in Iraq and the USA Patriot Act.
“And now just last weekend, he even tried to claim he was the candidate with conservative values,” the president said before quoting Kerry as saying, “I’m a liberal and proud of it.”
“On issue after issue – from funding our troops who are on the battlefield … to involving parents in important decisions of their minor daughters … to supporting faith-based and community organizations that are helping those in need – the senator is out of step with the mainstream values that are so important to our country,” Bush said.
Bush called Kerry the Senate’s most liberal member and said Edwards was the fourth most liberal. “Back in Massachusetts, that’s what they call balancing the ticket,” Bush chided.
The speech marked Bush’s toughest attack against Kerry about values, which is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in the presidential campaign.
Associated Press
President Bush embraces Penn State football coach Joe Paterno during a rally Friday in York, Pa.
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