QandO

July 30, 2004

Emerods on Both Their Houses
Posted by Dale Franks

The editors of the Washington Post weren't impressed bySen. Kerry's speech last night. They may not like W, but Kerry didn't give them much reason to change horses this November. They listened to him for 50 minutes, just like I did, and, like me, have no idea what Kerry is proposing for national security.

The responsibility of sending troops into danger should weigh on a commander in chief. But so must the responsibility of protecting the nation against a shadowy foe not easily deterred by traditional means. Mr. Kerry last night elided the charged question of whether, as president, he would have gone to war in Iraq. He offered not a word to celebrate the freeing of Afghans from the Taliban, or Iraqis from Saddam Hussein, and not a word about helping either nation toward democracy.

In Iraq, Mr. Kerry said, "We need a president who has the credibility to bring our allies to our side and share the burden. . . . That's the right way to get the job done and bring our troops home." Mr. Kerry was right to chide Mr. Bush for alienating allies unnecessarily. But what is "the job" in Iraq? He didn't say...

Where Kerry was clear about what he wants to do, his proposals are, frankly, delusional.

Yet in economics as in national security, Mr. Kerry missed an opportunity for straight talk. His promises to stop the outsourcing of jobs and end dependence on Middle East oil are not grounded in reality. And Mr. Kerry failed to acknowledge the fiscal challenge posed by the imminent retirement of the baby boom generation, with its call on Medicare and Social Security. To the contrary, he raised the issue of Social Security only to reaffirm that he would not cut benefits -- a promise that a President Kerry might come to regret.

Frankly, I didn't expect this kind of panning from the WaPo. I thought they'd cut Kerry some slack.

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