Speaking of Hannity & Colmes

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Speaking of Hannity & Colmes
6
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 12:04pm
Has anyone watched or read the interview with Kerry? I was really hoping for an exciting, informative interview. Boy, was I sorely disappionted. There was no debate. NO difficult questions asked. Blah ..Blah.. Blah.Kerry did not gain any points in my book. He did not give any specifics on how he would handle things in the whitehouse. He basically defended himself from "attacks" by republicans(in the recent news not by Hannity..he was not even there.) lashed out at the current administration and that was it. No substance at all. How can a voter make a decision when the nominees do not give any details about their plans? Even a candidates voting record is not always enough. Every bill, referendum, etc. ends up with so much extra bull tagged on that unless you personally read the whole thing, you really do not know what the objections or approvals were all about. I really want to make the best choice with my vote but there is so much darn name calling and attacking that I really do not have any information about the candidates. I do not care what the guys did when they were 20 years old or so. They were both just kids caught up in the emotions of the times. They are both supposedly more mature adults now. The average voter does not have hours and hours to spend sifting through hundreds of news sources and websites etc. etc. I really wish someone would interview these guys and ask difficult questions and get real answers. What I have seen so far just makes me disgusted with the childish behavior of both parties. Give me easily accessible details. Let me hear specifics about social security, immigration, the war on terror, taxes, world trade etc. I want to hear the candidates ideas straight from their mouths without all the B.S. I hope there will be some really good debates scheduled when the election draws near. Kerry had an amazing opportunity to reach out to undecided voters and he blew it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 2:37pm

Is this the interview you're refering to?


A full transcript of John Kerry's

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 3:10pm
Yes that's the one. Notice how much Kerry's dialog is focused on what this administration has done wrong and how little focus is given to what Kerry would do to "fix" things. He tends to use smokescreens so he doesn't have to give specifics. For example HOW does the new prescription plan hurt seniors specifically and if it really does, WHAT does Kerry propose to do to fix the problem?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 3:31pm
Kerry states;

"that we should allow patients to reimport more affordable safe prescriptions that will save Americans 33 to 80 percent on prescription drugs."

"John Kerry will fight to allow Medicare to negotiate better prescription prices for seniors and will fight to pass reimportation so seniors can get safe quality affordable prescriptions. Kerry will strengthen drug coverage for those who have it – not make it worse. He will also make sure seniors can choose their doctors and aren’t forced to join an HMO."

"Direct HHS Secretary to Assure Medicare Gets Real Discounts in Every Part of the Country. Medicaid gets a set discount of about 20 percent and the Veterans program negotiates discounts of about 40 percent discounts on prescription drugs. Kerry will direct his Secretary of Health and Human Services to make sure that seniors across the country are getting at least the 20 percent discount and Medicare is not paying more for prescriptions than the private sector in any region of the country."

"HELP STATES NEGOTIATE REAL DISCOUNTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: Americans without drug coverage pay at least 50 percent more for the exact same medication as their insured neighbors because they do not get the benefits of bulk purchasing."

"John Kerry’s plan would require pharmacy middlemen that do business with the Federal government to clearly show what extra dollars that are receiving from the industry."

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/seniors/prescription.html

He has to focus on what the bush administration has done wrong in order to explain what he will do differently. whether we agree with it or not, kerry has given specifics on what he would do differently. that some don't bother to hear it or go to his website to get the facts but depend on sound bites on a news show is not kerry's fault.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 3:43pm

Yes he did bash

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-28-2003
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 3:59pm
It is great that he has a website that gives more specifics about things he would do to fix social security, create jobs etc. etc.etc. However T.V. is a main source of information for many voters. Kerry would fair much better if he would actually spend more time getting his ideas out and less time bashing Bush. Most of the time when I see Kerry on T.V. he is criticizing others and basically being mean and spiteful or defending himself against "attacks" on his character. When he does talk about his plans, he is too vague. If he has such great ideas why doesn't he campaign on them? Have you read the interview?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Sat, 05-22-2004 - 3:22pm
>>>Kerry would fair much better if he would actually spend more time getting his ideas out and less time bashing Bush. Most of the time when I see Kerry on T.V. he is criticizing others and basically being mean and spiteful or defending himself against "attacks" on his character<<

The same argument could be used against Bush who has spent billions maligning Kerry's character. Also whichever person is running is not able to define what he or she will do differently unless the outline what the other person is doing wrong.

>>When he does talk about his plans, he is too vague<<

And bush isn't?

>>>Have you read the interview?<<

I don't depend on sound bite interviews. It is impossible for any politician to give indepth answers on such a format. Even Bush in his state of the union speeches gives vague information about such and such plan. Do we see anything further about his plans to fund billions of dollars in Aids programs, or mars, or the arts? did he carry those out or was he just saying it?