John Kerry's extreme liberal stance unknown

While President George W. Bush is leading the charge against the terrorists that continue to strike in other parts of the world, John Forbes Kerry is campaigning to be the next president of the United States. Opinion polls reveal that he is "an unknown quantity to many voters who have little sense of where he would take the country as president" and that he needs to be more consistent. Therein lays John Kerry's most substantial problem.

Being president of the United States requires strong principled leadership. Courage and resolve are not only essential, they are critical. Kerry's election in November would make him Chief Executive Officer of the country giving him power to appoint federal judges which has long-term consequences for the direction of America.

He would also become the chief legislator, giving him significant control regarding tax, health care, education, and employment issues. He would also become the commander in chief of all military branches, thus being charged with the duty of defending our country, our freedom and our sovereignty.

So what has this multi-millionaire attorney presented as evidence of his trustworthiness to lead the most powerful nation on earth? After months of traveling the country, he took full advantage of all opportunities to capitalize on his four months in Vietnam, making it the central credential that would qualify him to be president.

It is interesting how conveniently proud John Kerry is now of his wartime service considering that upon returning from Vietnam in 1971, he helped found the organization called Vietnam Veterans Against the War, testified against his fellow servicemen and threw away his medals of honor (although years later he claimed he never really threw them away).

He is relying on his "reporting for duty" shtick at the Democratic National Convention to carry him into the Oval Office and while he continually berates President George W. Bush's every action and decision, he fails to provide voters with any substantive solutions.

He is renowned for taking every side of every issue depending upon the audience to whom he is speaking, earning him the distinct reputation as an opportunist and a "flip-flopper." He is asking the electorate to trust him and vote him into the highest office in the land.

Is there is a way to see into the future of a Kerry presidency? Closely investigate his voting record in the Senate for the past 20 years and it becomes crystal clear who John Kerry really is and how he would govern if elected President.

Do yourself a favor and visit Project Vote Smart at www.vote-smart.org. It is a non-partisan, non-profit, independent and reputable organization founded in 1992 that is "dedicated to upholding democracy and serving the American people with unbiased and accurate information."

You will discover that John Kerry has been rated the most liberal senator of 2003 in spite of his recent professions of being conservative and religious, a friend of business and a man of the people. Never mind that he consistently votes in favor of animal rights and protections but votes against rights of the unborn.

Never mind that he votes against legislation for tax reform and limitation; that he is not a friend of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or organizations that value marriage and family as the foundation of civilization. Never mind that he votes against the interests of the American Legion, an association of veterans committed to uphold and defend the Constitution, law and order and perpetuate American greatness. In fact, John Kerry has applauded some Hollywood celebrities who are blatantly Anti-American.

John Kerry has refused to take the National Political Awareness Test which provides voters with his positions on issues he would most likely face on the citizen's behalf. He has also refused to provide this information on 23 separate occasions. Why would he refuse the opportunity to tell us where he really stands? Being the consummate politician, he knows that consistently liberal positions will not get him elected.

Michele Gomez is a third year political science major at CSULB.