Number One: Kerry Ranked 'most Liberal' In Senate Roll Call Votes, Tops Kennedy, Clin

[Sarge]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI FEB 27, 2004 09:39:45 ET XXXXX

NUMBER ONE: KERRY RANKED 'MOST LIBERAL' IN SENATE ROLL CALL VOTES, TOPS KENNEDY, CLINTON

NATIONAL JOURNAL on Friday claimed Democrat frontrunner John Kerry has the "most liberal" voting record in the Senate.

The results of Senate vote ratings show that Kerry was the most liberal senator in 2003, with a composite liberal score of 96.5 -- far ahead of such Democrat stalwarts as Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton.

NATIONAL JOURNAL's scores, which have been compiled each year since 1981, are based on lawmakers' votes in three areas: economic policy, social policy, and foreign policy.

"To be sure, Kerry's ranking as the No. 1 Senate liberal in 2003 -- and his earning of similar honors three times during his first term, from 1985 to 1990 -- will probably have opposition researchers licking their chops," NATIONAL JOURNAL reports.

Developing...

[The ratings system was first devised in 1981 under the direction of William Schneider, a political analyst and commentator at CNN, and a contributing editor to National Journal, who continues to guide the calculation process. Data processing and statistical analysis were performed by Information Technology Services of the Brookings Institution. A panel of National Journal editors and reporters initially compiled a list of 140 key congressional roll-call votes for 2003 -- 63 votes for the Senate and 77 for the House -- and classified them as relating to economic, social, or foreign policy. Roll-call data was drawn from the Congressional Record.]

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[FORD]

Obviously they haven't looked at his Bush enabling record of the last three years.

[lucky wilbury]

i like the headline from the post better:

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/19213.htm

SURVEY: KERRY A FLAMING LIBERAL

By BRIAN BLOMQUIST

February 28, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - Democratic front-runner John Kerry was rated the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate in an independent survey yesterday - a distinction the Bush campaign will spread in coming months.

The rating for Kerry comes at a bad time - just as he has nearly clinched the Democratic primary contest - largely a battle for liberal votes - and is beginning to look ahead to the general-election campaign against President Bush, where moderate and independent voters could make the difference.

Kerry was rated most liberal senator on the basis of his voting record in Congress last year for abortion, against tax cuts, in favor of spending and other issues, as scored by National Journal, a distinguished independent policy journal.

"This proves the point that John Kerry's record matters, and John Kerry has a lot of explaining to do about his voting record," said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Christine Iverson.

Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said, "The rating speaks for itself."

The National Journal put Kerry well to the left of the other Democratic senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, a liberal stalwart for decades. Kennedy came in 11th place in the "most liberal" category.

Kerry will be hard-pressed to make the claim that last year's rating was a complete aberration.

Elected to the Senate in 1984, Kerry scored among the most liberal senators in 1986, 1988 and 1990, but in his second term, he cast a more moderate voting record.

In 2002, he was rated the ninth most liberal senator, and the year before, he was ranked the 12th most liberal senator.

On social issues, Kerry did not vote with conservatives once out of 138 votes scored by the National Journal.

"Anyone who knows John Kerry knows that this label doesn't fit," Kerry campaign spokesman Chad Clanton said.

"He's a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, a former prosecutor and a deficit hawk that's opposed his party and voted to shrink the deficit."

In rating senators' votes in 2003, the National Journal looked at 62 votes in the Senate and 73 votes in the House. Kerry, who campaigned much of last year, was absent for 37 of those votes.

But he was there for some of the key votes, including to fight against money for Iraq, the budget and tax cuts, and the prescription-drug benefit. He voted against all three.

[steve]

i knew there was a reason why I like him.

[FORD]

Geezus, the guy voted to enable the Fascist Act, the senseless Iraq war, helped Junior destroy the public schools, and just yesterday he said he favored Ariel Sharon's tribute to the Berlin wall.

If this is a "liberal", I'm Joseph fucking McCarthy!

[lucky wilbury]

still not a kerry fan ford? they must need to up your dose of kool aid at du. here's a new user name you can use over there: fuckerry. have fun with it!

[lucky wilbury]

look i've even got you an avatar to use:

[lucky wilbury]

now somone tell me he didn't have a facelift or botox

[FORD]

Of course he had botox. He lied about it, like he does about everytyhing else. Hell, he changes his mind about gay marriage at least 6 times a day. I'm not a huge fan of Edwards either, but I hope he kicks the shit out of Judas on Tuesday.

[ELVIS]

I kinda like Edwards...

[lucky wilbury]

bump

[Lqskdiver]

Originally posted by FORD
Of course he had botox. He lied about it, like he does about everytyhing else. Hell, he changes his mind about gay marriage at least 6 times a day. I'm not a huge fan of Edwards either, but I hope he kicks the shit out of Judas on Tuesday.

Hey FORD!

Made you Look!

Make sense that you'd like KKKerry, you switch nominees like he switches positions.

[tobinentinc]

John Kerry is a few views shy of Karl Marx.

[Lqskdiver]

Originally posted by FORD
Of course he had botox. He lied about it, like he does about everytyhing else. Hell, he changes his mind about gay marriage at least 6 times a day. I'm not a huge fan of Edwards either, but I hope he kicks the shit out of Judas on Tuesday.

Remember who to vote for, FORD.

[FORD]

Yep... I'm voting for Edwards, just like I said.