Kerry courts young voters with college-cost warning
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, pressed by college students Monday to chart the different course he would follow in Iraq, said he would keep the United States in control of the military operation.
Kerry also repeated his call for greater international involvement.
“I would be prepared to turn over to the United Nations the authority for the political transformation of Iraq and for the reconstruction of Iraq,” he said. “I would hold on to the military security component of the Iraqi command.”
Kerry’s visit to the University of New Hampshire launched a week of college appearances aimed at energizing younger voters by warning them of the soaring costs of a college education. He stopped by a foreign policy class, and the first question put to him was what would he do to solve “this mess in Iraq.”
Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, but has criticized what he says is President Bush’s unilateral approach to the war. Kerry also voted against an $87 billion aid package for the troops and to pay for reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While critical of Bush’s war management, Kerry conceded that the United States can’t walk away from Iraq.
“Clearly we’re going to have a very significant military aspect, a very significant cost aspect,” he said.
Kerry again criticized the administration for sticking with a June 30 deadline for turning over control of the country to Iraqis. But he said missing the deadline would likely send a bad signal to a country growing resentful of the U.S. occupation.
“The real measurement is the stability in Iraq,” Kerry said.
Bush’s re-election campaign dismissed Kerry comments.
“John Kerry again chose to play politics instead of offering a credible alternative,” said spokesman Steve Schmidt.
In focusing on the college crowd, Kerry’s campaign released a study arguing that 220,000 youngsters have been shut out of college because of soaring tuition. The study blames that on state cuts in higher education spending.
At a noisy campus rally, Kerry renewed his call for a comprehensive commitment to national service by all, telling the approximately 1,000 students that “change starts with you.” He proposed linking tuition assistance and service.
“With college tuition rising higher this year than ever before, it’s time to make four years of college affordable and available to every single young American,” Kerry said. “We’ll help you pay for school, and we’ll help even more if you’re willing to serve your country. And together, we’ll make 2004 the last year that debt and dollar signs come before degrees and dreams for the future.”
The campaign also released a “middle class misery index,” calculated for Bush’s and previous administration, and found a 13-point dip — from 112 to 99 — between 2000 and 2003. A higher score means families are better off.
The report listed a drop of five points during President Reagan’s two terms, a decline of 12 points during the presidency of Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, and a 23-point improvement under Clinton.
Bush’s campaign said the figure was a political stunt. Other Republicans dismissed Kerry.
“The challenges facing our nation, from national security and job creation, to education and health care, require steady leadership, the type we see President Bush display every day,” said James Baehr, chair of New Hampshire Students for Bush.
After Kerry’s speech was briefly interrupted by a small group banging noisemakers and chanting, Kerry said: “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll send people to George Bush rallies and they can bang their unemployment checks together.”
———
On the Net:
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com.