2004 Presidential Campaign Blog

2004 Republican National Convention Web Site

NEW YORK -The 2004 Republican National Convention today unveiled a newly designed web site at www.GOPconvention.com where the American public can watch gavel-to-gavel live webcasts, access exclusive web cam angles of the floor, participate in video chats with program participants, and access a "W" blog page that will follow President Bush in the days leading up to his arrival in New York City.

Americans can take part in the new interactive site by voting on their favorite photo of the day, or grab a "backstage" pass to see web exclusive video of convention events, party leaders and delegates. The site will also launch "Win an NBA Game Ball" contest to enter any individual who signs up for e-mail updates during convention week in a raffle to win a NBA Game Ball signed by program participants.

"We want to make the 2004 Republican National Convention a truly national event and there is no better way to give Americans full access to the experience and excitement of the convention than through www.GOPconvention.com," said Bill Harris, CEO of the 2004 Republican National Convention. "The more that Americans feel a part of the convention, the more they will know about the president's vision to build a safer world and a more hopeful America. A greater sense of ownership will encourage them take part in the nation's political process."

Americans can stay on top of important developments and convention news throughout the day. At GOP Rewind, Americans can access 60-second video news clips recapping the previous night's speakers. Fifty-five individualized state pages will feature daily delegate diaries and radio actualities for local news outlets, while the Spanish page will feature Spanish webchats and an audio feed that will simultaneously translate the program into Spanish.

The Republican National Convention will be held for the first time ever in New York City at Madison Square Garden from August 30 through September 2, 2004. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to visit the city for the event.

John Kerry Town Hall Meeting on Health Care

John Kerry to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Health Care at Anoka Hennepin Technical College Thursday

SAINT PAUL, MN – John Kerry will hold a town hall meeting Thursday, August 26, at Anoka Hennepin Technical College, where he will discuss skyrocketing health care costs, the squeeze on middle-class families and the Kerry-Edwards plan to expand access to affordable health care for families and businesses.

What: John Kerry to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Health Care at Anoka Hennepin Technical College

When: Thursday, August 26, 2004

Where:

Anoka Technical College Auditorium A
1355 West Highway 10
Anoka, Minnesota 55303

THE KERRY-EDWARDS PLAN: A STRONGER AMERICA THROUGH MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Significant Increase in Uninsured Underscores Need for Leadership that Puts Middle-class First

Today’s release of the new Census numbers paints a grim picture of George Bush’s failure to address rising health care costs. Since Bush took office, the number of uninsured has skyrocketed, with 1.4 million Americans having lost their health insurance in the last year alone:

5.2 million more Americans without health insurance under President Bush – 1.4 million in the last year alone. In 2003, an additional 1.4 million people joined the ranks of the uninsured. There are 5.2 million more people without health insurance than in 2000. In total, 45 million people are uninsured. Since 2000 there are:

• 397,000 more African Americans without health insurance
• 1.4 million more Hispanics without health insurance
• 2.2 million more women without health insurance

The number of uninsured has risen in every income group. The number of uninsured rose for every income group:

• 556,000 people with incomes under $25,000 lost health insurance
• 185,000 people with incomes from $25,000 - $50,000 lost health insurance
• 323,000 people with incomes from $50,000 - $75,000 lost health insurance
• 324,000 people with incomes over $75,000 lost health insurance

Kerry-Edwards Health Care Plan

John Kerry and John Edwards have a real plan to ensure reliable, high-quality care, as well as alleviate health care costs for America’s families and businesses. Their plan will:

Save workers up to $1,000 with premium relief. The Kerry-Edwards plan will provide relief for employers who do the right thing by offering their employees quality health care coverage with choices. Their plan will help make health care more affordable for all employers and employees by having the federal government pick up 75 percent of catastrophic costs – providing approximately 10 percent, or up to $1,000, in annual savings for America’s families.

Provide tax credits to make health insurance more affordable. The Kerry-Edwards plan will provide tax credits to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses, Americans between the ages of 55 to 64, and low to middle-income workers buying into the new Congressional Health Plan. These tax credits total $177 billion over ten years – more than twice as generous as the health care tax credits proposed by Bush.

Cut administrative costs by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. Approximately $350 billion is spent on non-medical costs – principally the costs of the paper work burden, including those costs associated with the preparation, submission, calculation and payment of bills. Kerry and Edwards will cut administrative costs by ensuring electronic paperless claims. They’ll also encourage greater use of technology to simplify and streamline paperwork so doctors can spend more time with patients and less time filling out forms. While cutting costs, Kerry and Edwards will improve the quality of care delivered by helping reduce medical errors and encourage greater disease management and prevention efforts.

Expand quality, reliable health care coverage. John Kerry and John Edwards’s plan will allow Americans to access the same range of affordable health care plans that members of Congress get today. Also, their health care plan will expand state-based programs to insure all children and millions of adults by picking up the full cost of more than 20 million children enrolled in Medicaid. In exchange, states would have to expand eligibility for children’s coverage, as well as expand coverage for families and adults.

Make prescription drugs more affordable. Prescription drug costs have increased by 17 percent in the last year alone. Kerry and Edwards will cut prescription drugs costs by allowing the federal government to negotiate better prices through the Medicare program; permitting the reimportation of safe, FDA-approved drugs; supporting incentives to allow generic drugs to get to market faster.

Push Congress to finally pass a real Patients’ Bill of Rights – one that allows Americans to hold HMOs accountable for decisions that harm patients by denying necessary medical care. Other critical patient protections Kerry and Edwards will support include (1) a right to see the specialists they need; (2) a right to real emergency protections; (3) a real external appeals process that allows patients to appeal a HMO decision; and (4) whistleblower protections that allow health care workers to report quality problems without fear of retaliation.

Reduce medical malpractice premiums. John Kerry and John Edwards oppose punitive damages – unless intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless indifference to life can be established. Kerry and Edwards also support a series of reforms to get rid of the frivolous lawsuits clogging the health care system by (1) requiring a qualified specialist to certify that a case has merit before it can move forward; (2) working with states to ensure the availability of non-binding mediation in all malpractice claims before cases proceed trial; and (3) preventing and punishing frivolous lawsuits by putting in place tough, mandatory sanctions, including a “three strikes and you’re out” provision that forbids lawyers who file three frivolous cases from bringing another suit for the next 10 years.

Anoka, MN - Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry Thursday held a town hall meeting with voters from the Twin-cities area where he emphasized the Kerry-Edwards plan to expand access to affordable health care and bring down costs for families and businesses.

"Taxing Our Economy" New Bush-Cheney '04 TV Ad

Bush-Cheney '04 Announces New Television Advertisement

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Taxing Our Economy."  The new advertisement highlights John Kerry’s record of voting for higher taxes on the middle class throughout his career in the U.S. Senate. “Taxing Our Economy” will run on national cable and in select local markets. A radio version of the advertisement will also run in select local markets.

Script for "Taxing Our Economy"

President Bush: 

I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message.

Voice Over:

Now Kerry promises …

John Kerry: 

We won’t raise taxes on the middle class.

Voice Over: 

Really??? John Kerry’s voted to raise gas taxes on the middle class …10 times… He supported a 50 cent a gallon gas tax increase. Higher taxes on middle class parents… 18 times. He voted to raise taxes on social security benefits. 98 votes for tax increases. There’s what Kerry says and then there’s what Kerry does.

"Issues" New Kerry-Edwards 2004 TV Ad

NEW AD: “George Bush. Denounce the smear. Get back to the issues.”

Washington, DC – With the Bush-Cheney campaign more intent on using its tired, old smear tactics than addressing the concerns of the American people, the Kerry-Edwards campaign Sunday unveiled a new television ad exposing the recycled Bush-Cheney attack campaign and urging the president to give the American people what they deserve – a discussion about the issues they face every day.

After four years of failed Bush policies, middle-class Americans are struggling. Good paying jobs have disappeared in record numbers. Health care costs have skyrocketed. American soldiers are fighting in Iraq, and America has failed to become as safe as we can be.

Yet even with so much work to do, the president is not talking about solutions. Instead, he and Karl Rove have flipped back to the well-worn smear page of their campaign playbook, last used against John McCain in 2000, and stood silent while their backers attack the service and honor of John Kerry and America’s veterans.

“This Bush backed smear is a case of Déjà vu for those who follow Rove and the president, but it is not what the American people deserve,” said Kerry-Edwards campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill. “John Kerry knows America can do better than lies and smear. That is why he and John Edwards have released a detailed plan to make America stronger at home and respected in the word. Their plan will strengthen the economy for middle-class families, create and keep good paying jobs in America, cut health care costs and make America stronger and more secure. That is what voters want to hear, not lies and smears, and it’s time the president realized that.”

In the 2000 Republican primary, then candidate Bush refused to disavow or condemn hateful and vicious attacks on McCain’s military record. The president is now doing the exact same thing – sitting silent while “Swift Boat Veterans for Bush” smear Kerry’s military service with proven lies.

Despite McCain calling the attacks on Kerry “dishonest and dishonorable,” Bush has yet to denounce them, just like he has yet to articulate his plan and vision for a second term.

The new Kerry-Edwards ad is titled “Issues” and can be downloaded at www.johnkerry.com/

THE FACTS:

Title: “Issues”
Type:  30 sec TV
Date:  8/23/04
Paid for By: Kerry for President

“Issues”

TEXT OF AD:

John Kerry:  “I’m John Kerry and I approve this message.”

Narrator: “American soldiers are fighting in Iraq.”

Narrator: “Families struggle to afford health care.”

Narrator: “Jobs heading overseas.”

Narrator: “Instead of solutions, George Bush’s campaign supports a front group attacking John Kerry’s military record.  Attacks called smears, lies.  Sen. McCain calls them dishonest.”

Narrator: “Bush smeared John McCain four years ago.  Now, he’s doing it to John Kerry.”

Narrator: “George Bush:  Denounce the smear.  Get back to the issues.  America deserves better.”

George W. Bush "Heart and Soul of America" Bus Tour

President Bush made a stop at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 18, 2004.

The huge crowd of over 15,000 supporters cheered as the jumbotron showed the President's campaign bus entering the arena tunnel and then driving onto the floor where the President stepped out and waved to the crowd.

He was introduced by St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, a Democrat who endorsed the President for re-election. President Bush received one of many standing ovations when he stated "I believe the heart and soul of America is found in places like St. Paul, Minnesota."

John Edwards Olympic Opening Ceremonies Watch Party

"I got to tell you something, you guys are worth coming here for," said John Edwards when he traveled to the Rosemount High School Gymnasium to open the two-week "A Stronger America Begins at Home: The Path to Prosperity" Tour. Former Governor Wendell Anderson (1956 Olymplic silver medalist in hockey) introduced John Edwards, who returned to Minnesota for the first time as the Vice Presidential nominee.

“Victory" New Bush-Cheney '04 TV Ad

Bush-Cheney '04 Launches New Television Advertisement

ARLINGTON, VA - Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Victory."  The advertisement will run on national cable during Olympic and sports programming and on a health club TV network in more than 250 fitness centers nationwide during the last two weeks of August.  This marks the first time that a presidential candidate has advertised in health clubs and is part of a continuing effort to reach voters in new ways.  The health club TV network, operated by ClubCom, Inc., runs on full size TVs and personal view screens in ClubCom's fitness club partners.

Script for “Victory"

President Bush:

I’m George W. Bush and I approve this message.

Voice Over:

In 1972...there were 40 democracies in the world. Today...120. Freedom is spreading throughout the world like a sunrise. And this Olympics... there will be two more free nations… And two fewer terrorist regimes. With strength, resolve and courage, democracy will triumph over terror. And, hope will defeat hatred.

Graphic:

President Bush.  Moving America Forward.

“Solemn Duty" New Bush-Cheney '04 TV Ad

Bush-Cheney '04 Launches New Television Advertisement

ARLINGTON, VA - Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Solemn Duty."  The new advertisement emphasizes President George W. Bush's most solemn duty - to keep America safe and bring terrorists to justice. The ad will run on national cable and in select local markets.

Script for “Solemn Duty"

President Bush:

I’m George W.  Bush and I approve this message.

Voice Over:

My most solemn duty is to lead our nation to protect ourselves.  I can’t imagine the great agony of a mom or a dad having to make the decision about which child to pick up first on September the 11th.  We cannot hesitate, we cannot yield, we must do everything in our power to bring an enemy to justice before they hurt us again.

Graphic:

President Bush

Moving America Forward

"Ownership" New Bush-Cheney '04 TV Ad

Bush-Cheney '04 Announces New Television Advertisement

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest television advertisement, "Ownership."  The new ad highlights President George W. Bush's vision for ushering in an era of ownership.  President Bush will discuss his policies to encourage Americans to own their own home, health care plan, business or a piece of their retirement at an “Ask President Bush” event at Northern Virginia Community College at 10:00 AM this morning in Annandale, Virginia.  The ad will run on national cable and select local markets.

The ad will be available at www.georgewbush.com.

Script for "Ownership"

:30 seconds

President Bush:

I’m George W Bush and I approve this message.

One of the most important parts of a reform agenda is to encourage people to own something.  Own their own home, own their own business, own their own health care plan, or own a piece of their retirement.  Reforms that trust the people, reforms that say government must stand on the side of people.   Because I understand if you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of America.

George W. Bush "Heart and Soul of America" Bus Tour

Looking a bit like a mountainous desert terrain, the piles of gravel that make up the Southern Minnesota Construction Company Quarry served as the setting for the President's "Heart and Soul of America" bus tour stop in Mankato.

The President asked for the vote and emphasized how important the grassroots efforts were to help him win this election.. He said that he wanted to be President for four more years "To make our country safer, to make our economy stronger, and to make the future brighter and better for every single citizen."