Kerry: "In 1997, We Fixed Medicare" "We Balanced the Budget" Really? Check the Voting Record, John.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_member.php?vote_id=1328

[zencycler]

Here's what Kerry said in the 2nd debate:

KERRY: Actually, Mr. President, in 1997 we fixed Medicare, and I was one of the people involved in it.

We not only fixed Medicare and took it way out into the future, we did something that you don't know how to do: We balanced the budget. And we paid down the debt of our nation for two years in a row, and we created 23 million new jobs at the same time.

No, maybe I'm missing something, but I think he's referring to the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which included provisions for protecting the viability of medicare. The link above shows that Kerry voted "NO". Also, as everyone should remember, this was a Republcan led effort. Is anyone in the media talking about this?

[conservative cat]

They should be...but won't.

[blackeagle]

hmm, another lie from kerry

[Henchman]

I hink it preaches to the choir. We need to get the message out. I changed one of my Web Sites to a BUSH 2004 site. The local Rep Org OK'd it, as did my wife. Unfortunately, I couldn't do it the way I wanted.

I would really like to put one up that linked "All You Want To Know About KERRY." to the Communist Party Site.

[zencycler]

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_member.php?vote_id=1328

Sorry, here's a clickable link for voting record.

[TomGuy]

If you can provide links this topic would be fun for the Monday newstalk programs.

It would seem to be another example of Kerry saying he was apart of history when he actually wasn't.

[Early in the campaign, his team had an ad that applauded Kerry as casting the deciding vote for Clinton's 1993 Jobs Bill. But it was Bob KerrEy who cast that vote, not John Kerry. Then, a few months ago, Team Kerry advocated John's involvement in Intel, including his being Vice-Chair of the Senate Intel Committee. Again, that was Bob KerrEy who was Vice-Chair, not John Kerry. John needs to wear a nametag so he will know who he is.]

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Is anyone in the media talking about this?

Of course not!

It's not in the Democrat list of talking points.

The media is lazy and biased.

Everyone knows that now.

The media takes its marching orders from the Democrat Party.

If a conservative had introduced fake documents to back up an anti Kerry story on national TV,do you think that it would be shunned like the MSM has shelved it so far?

[patriciamary]

Fox talked about Bush's lies this morning and showed a clip from Saturday night live that I thought was not funny and very negative toward Bush. Nothing on Kerry .I am so sick of all the media after that I turned the television off.

[TomGuy]

Excellent reference of Kerry's voting record at:

Senator John Forbes Kerry (MA)

Current Office: U.S. Senator
Current District: Junior Seat
Office Seeking: President
First Elected: 11/06/1984
Last Elected: 11/05/2002
Next Election: 2008
Party: Democrat

Biographical
Issue Positions(NPAT)
Campaign Finances
Interest Group Ratings
Voting Record
Additional Biographical Information
Speeches and Public Statements
Endorsements
Fun Facts
Campaign Schedule

Category	Year
Abortion Issues	2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Agriculture Issues	2002 2001 1999 1998 1997 1996 1994 1993 1991
Appropriations	2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1988
Arts and Humanities	1999 1998 1997 1994 1991
Budget, Spending and Taxes	2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Business and Consumers	2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1988
Campaign Finance and Election Issues	2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1988
Civil Liberties	2000 1999
Civil Rights	2000 1998 1996 1992 1991 1988
Congressional Affairs	2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989 1988
Crime Issues	2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1988
Defense	2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1988
Drug Issues	2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1988
Education	2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
Employment and Affirmative Action	2004 1998 1995 1993
Energy Issues	2003 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1992 1991 1988
Environmental Issues	2003 2002 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Executive Branch	2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Family and Children Issues	2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1993 1992 1991
Foreign Aid and Policy Issues	2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Government Reform	2002 2001 2000 1999 1996 1994 1993
Gun Issues	2004 2000 1999 1998 1996 1993 1991
Health Issues	2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1993 1991 1988
Housing and Property Issues	1999 1998 1996 1988
Immigration	2000 1998 1997 1996 1994
Labor	2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1991 1988
Legal Issues	2004 2003 1999 1998 1996 1995 1994 1992 1991
Military Issues	2004 2002 2000 1999 1998 1993 1988
National Security Issues	2002 2001
Regulatory Issues	2003 2002 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Science and Medical Research	1998 1993
Senior and Social Security Issues	2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 1995 1993 1992 1991
Social Issues	2002 1999
Technology and Communication	2003 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1993 1992 1991
Trade Issues	2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1988
Transportation Issues	2004 2003 2001 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1992 1991
Veterans Issues	2001 1999 1998 1996 1992
Welfare and Poverty	1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1992 1988

[jimtorr]

Actually, Mr. President, in 1997 we fixed Medicare, and I was one of the people involved in it.

Yes, John, you were involved in it. You were against it. You were also involved in 'fixing' the welfare system. President Clinton vetoed that bill twice before he claimed it as his own idea, and I'm sure you voted against that each time, as well.

[NittanyLion]

Any day now I expect John Kerry to claim he played on the US National Ping Pong Team and was a shrimp boat captain.

[TomGuy]

The Vote Smart chart does NOT show a 1997 legislative action on Medicare/Social Security in their 'Kerry list'.

Is the Senator confused? Did he support a bill that really didn't exist? Is this like his Christmas in Cambodia? The Senator seems to have signficant memory gaps and altered realities.

[TomGuy]

The Kerry Voting Record
	Posted by yoe On 10/10/2004 7:51:58 AM CDT · 8+ views Free Republic ^ | re-published 10-10-2994 | unkown On Key Votes, Kerry Voted 100% Of The Time With Senator Kennedy In 2001, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, and 1985. Over the course of his Senate career, Kerry has sided with Senator Kennedy 94% of the time for key votes. As Michael Dukakis’ Lt. Governor From 1983-1985, Kerry Supported Granting Prison Furloughs To Hundreds Of Massachusetts Inmates. Later as a U.S. Senator in 1988, he defended the program: “The furlough program in Massachusetts is tougher than the federal program.” (John King, “Bush Surrogate Gets Ambushed In Dukakis Territory,” The Associated Press, July 6, 1988) KERRY CLAIMS...

[Quilla]

Ha. You mean that F. really stands for Forrest. LOL!

[NonValueAdded]

To John F'n Kerry: If medicare was "fixed" in 1997, then what's all the hubbub, bub?

[NittanyLion]

He's already got the Vietnam and Dick Cavett thing down...and the way he walks reminds me of Forrest (before he broke those braces off his legs).

And of course, stupid is as stupid does. I still don't know what that means, but I know that stupid is synonymous for Kerry...

[The Toad]

KERRY: Actually, Mr. President, in 1997 we fixed Medicare, and I was one of the people involved in it.

We have to parse this stuff. Being "involved in it" simply means that he was there. It doesn't say whether he voted for or against it....

[yoe]

Have ya'll seen the John Kerry commercial in which George Bush pledges to help Seniors on Medicare and "the very next day imposes a 17% premium increase - the biggest in history"? That ad is a stroke of genius on Kerry's part and will surely gain him many votes among the UNINFORMED.

However, a Bush increase seemed so inconceivable that someone did some homework on the issue. As it turns out, the 17% increase was not imposed by President Bush but was mandated by the "balanced budget agreement” signed by President Clinton, voted into law by Senator John Kerry, and was scheduled to come into effect during the Bush administration. President Bush had no authority to reverse what had been voted into law by Senator Kerry during the Clinton administration.

Once again Kerry is counting on the IGNORANCE of the American people.

[zencycler]

I'll concede the ambiguity of "involved", but not the ambiguity of "we".

[Capriole]

They fixed Medicare? That will come as a huge surprise to all the doctors who are getting ten cents on the dollar for the care they provide Medicare patients, to the hospitals that are going under because they can't get enough back from Medicare to cover their own costs to care for elderly patients, and to the patients who are having trouble getting physicians who accept Medicare alone.

[reformedliberal]

Silly! That WAS the fix!

On the road to National Healthcare, first you have to make doctors unwilling to accept Medicare. Then you can pass laws to control the practice of medicine and call it *providing* for the seniors. Then you extend it to everyone.

Incrementalism at work.

[Capriole]

Silly! That WAS the fix! On the road to National Healthcare, first you have to make doctors unwilling to accept Medicare. Then you can pass laws to control the practice of medicine and call it *providing* for the seniors. Then you extend it to everyone. Incrementalism at work.

(hitting self in forehead) Of course. How stupid of me. You're absolutely right. WHEN am I going to grow up and learn to recognize this stuff? Thank you for pointing it out.

[gooleyman]

Excellent Link. Thank you very much!!!

[rotundusmaximus]

However, a Bush increase seemed so inconceivable that someone did some homework on the issue. As it turns out, the 17% increase was not imposed by President Bush but was mandated by the "balanced budget agreement” signed by President Clinton, voted into law by Senator John Kerry, and was scheduled to come into effect during the Bush administration. President Bush had no authority to reverse what had been voted into law by Senator Kerry during the Clinton administration. Once again Kerry is counting on the IGNORANCE of the American people.

Great information,do you have the year that this was passed, the number or anything that will make it easy to look up on Project Vote Smart. I have several people I would like to send the info. to. Thanks

[show me state]

---

KERRY: ... we paid down the debt of our nation for two years in a row, ...

I don't see any two years where the debt was "paid down."

The Debt To the Penny

	  09/30/2004        $7,379,052,696,330.32
	  09/30/2003        $6,783,231,062,743.62
	  09/30/2002        $6,228,235,965,597.16
	  09/28/2001        $5,807,463,412,200.06
	  09/29/2000        $5,674,178,209,886.86
	  09/30/1999        $5,656,270,901,615.43
	  09/30/1998        $5,526,193,008,897.62
	  09/30/1997        $5,413,146,011,397.34
	  09/30/1996        $5,224,810,939,135.73
	  09/29/1995        $4,973,982,900,709.39
	  09/30/1994        $4,692,749,910,013.32
	  09/30/1993        $4,411,488,883,139.38
	  09/30/1992        $4,064,620,655,521.66
	  09/30/1991        $3,665,303,351,697.03
	  09/28/1990        $3,233,313,451,777.25
	  09/29/1989        $2,857,430,960,187.32
	  09/30/1988        $2,602,337,712,041.16
	  09/30/1987        $2,350,276,890,953.00
	
	
	SOURCE:  BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
	

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, and that "17%" sounds so horrible til you plug in the numbers. Since seniors pay about $67.00 for this benefit now, in the future it will cost them a whopping $78.00. How ever will they afford it? /sarcasm

[kcvl]

bttt

[IrishRainy]

The Senator seems to have signficant memory gaps and altered realities.

Apparently, so does his staff. Last Friday on Hardball before the debate, I heard Stephanie Cutter, his media hack, say that Sen. Kerry cast the deciding vote in the Clinton administration's budget package that went on "to produce 22 million jobs," etc.

Only trouble was, that was Sen. Bob KERREY! I can't believe they're still peddling that story, especially since this "error" was brought to their attention a few months ago when it was spotted on his website.

Of course, nobody in the media says anything when Kerry does it, but when Cheney can't remember meeting little Johnny Ray, he's "lying."