THE RAW DEAL: John Kerry's Hypocritical Banking Attacks

George W. Bush ^ | August 27, 2004

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"John Kerry is the number one Senate recipient of banker donations over the past 15 years, and his attacks today are completely hypocritical. This is another example of Kerry’s willingness to say one thing and do another. If John Kerry really cared about bank customers, he wouldn’t have skipped the vote on the fair credit legislation that the President signed to ensure fair treatment of credit applicants and to prevent identity theft."

-Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry On The FACT Act:

Kerry Skipped The Vote On The Fair And Accurate Credit Transactions Act Of 2003. (H.R. 2622, Roll Call Vote #437: Passed 95-2, 11/5/03, Edwards And Kerry Did Not Vote; The Two Dissenting Votes Were Feinstein And Boxer; The Conference Report Vote Was By Voice Vote)

• Kerry Was Busy Campaigning For President At A Planned Parenthood Event In NH. “The Massachusetts Democrat, speaking first among the six candidates at a Planned Parenthood forum on women's issues, said: ‘It is a late-term abortion. They have done a very effective job of giving people a sense of fear about it. It's part of their assault on the rights of women in America. . . . There's nothing partial about their effort to undo Roe v. Wade.’” (Glen Johnson, "Kerry Hits Ban On Abortion Procedure," The Boston Globe, 11/6/03)

On December 4, 2003, President Bush Signed Into Law The Fair And Accurate Credit Transactions Act Of 2003. “The legislation will provide consumers, companies, consumer reporting agencies, and regulators with important new tools that expand access to credit and other financial services for all Americans, enhance the accuracy of consumers' financial information, and help fight identity theft. These reforms make permanent the uniform national standards of our credit markets, and institute new, strong consumer protections.” (White House Fact Sheet: “President Bush Signs The Fair And Accurate Credit Transactions Act Of 2003,” 12/4/03)

• The FACT Act Is Designed To Help Fight Identity Theft And Is Ensure That All Citizens Are Treated Fairly When They Apply For A Mortgage Or Other Form Of Credit. (White House Fact Sheet: “President Bush Signs The Fair And Accurate Credit Transactions Act Of 2003,” 12/4/03)

Kerry And The Banking Industry:

Since 1989, Kerry Has Raised $1,108,428 From Commercial Banking Employees, More Than Any Senator In That Time Period. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/26/04)

• Kerry’s Presidential Campaign Has Raised $758,623 From Commercial Banking Employees, More Than Any Senator This Cycle. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/26/04)

Kerry And Lawyers:

Since 1989, Kerry Has Received $15,217,154 From Lawyers, Most Of Any Senator In That Time Period. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/16/04)

• Kerry's Presidential Campaign Has Received $12,335,930 From Lawyers. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 8/16/04)

Charles Lewis, Center For Public Integrity, On John Kerry: “This is a candidate who’s raised tens of millions from these people and he’s had them over to his estate. You know, don’t tell me you’re against special interests – they are you…This is a guy who has helped a number of people over the years who have given him money, in very explicit, precise ways.” (Charles Lewis On NBC’s “Nightly News,” 2/16/04)