Yes, John Kerry is up for re-election in 2008. Senator Kerry, who is still hard at work in Congress, has been campaigning throughout his state at every opportunity, visiting more than 30 communities in the past six months:
"I'm all over the state," Kerry said. "Republicans are very good at misleading, making things up. ... I think the people know how hard I am fighting for the state."
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More on John Kerry’s re-election bid below the fold.
Before he moves on to a head-to-head campaign with the Republican candidate, Senator Kerry has to put down a challenge in the Democratic primary from Gloucester attorney Edward O'Reilly, who appears to be campaigning against Kerry’s progressive credentials with his opinion. O'Reilly is a little known candidate, but his fundraising approach and ideas about building grassroots support are bizarre. For example, in this article he brags about using an outside agency to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.
If this recent straw poll is any indication (Kerry received 76 of 91 votes cast), Kerry will be returned to the Senate to continue to do great work on behalf of his constituents.
O’Reilly wasn’t able to explain his loss in the straw poll so he went back to his campaign credentials, his opinion: "I'm in this thing for the long haul...John Kerry is out of touch."
Sorry Ed, but that’s a clueless comment. John Kerry has had our backs since 2005, and now we’ve got his.
Instead of focusing on O’Reilly’s vanity campaign, it would be great if Senator Kerry could concentrate his efforts on helping in other Senate races like New Hampshire and Maine. Those are races that could help get us a more Democratic Senate. In 2006, Kerry proved that he is one of the Democratic Party’s best assets on the campaign trail, contributing more that $14 million to more than 260 candidates in 43 states.
In 2007, Senator Kerry launched a grassroots effort to target Roadblock Republicans, a term he coined.
Like I said earlier, Kerry continues to be one of the hardest working members of the Senate.
These two diaries by beachmom focus on Senator Kerry’s recent efforts to weed out government corruption:
Obama & Kerry call for investigation of KBR Tax Shelter scheme (Updated)
Kerry & Levin call for investigation of Pentagon propaganda program
Also, Public Law 110-81: Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 includes Kerry’s "The Duke Cunningham Act."
There isn’t another Senator who best represents the anti-corruption wing of American politics than John Kerry. Kerry has also been at the forefront on issues ranging from access to technology to ending war.
As Chairman of the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, Kerry is committed to improving access to information and technology, introducing legislation such as the Wireless Innovation Act (PDF).
He fought hard for the to pass legislation that became Public Law 110-69: America COMPETES Act'' or the ``America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (Letting America Compete)
In requesting additional funds for the America COMPETES initiative, Kerry emphasizes the importance of the legislation:
In enacting the America COMPETES Act last year, Congress and the President recognized that investing in basic scientific research and education – especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) – is critical to preserving American’s brainpower advantage so we can compete in the global economy and keep our good jobs from going overseas. Full implementation of the Act’s provisions in FY09 will require substantial increases in the major functional categories for science and education.
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That’s progressive, and reverses Bush’s seven-year war on science.
As a progressive leader, John Kerry has taken his fight for representative democracy and pragmatic policies to the next level. He has engaged the netroots in an ongoing discussion on net neutrality and in online activism, such as his call to action on filibustering the Alito nomination. This was a proud moment for progressives, as Kerry took to the Senate floor to present his case against Alito in three gripping speeches.
Really, it's better to give and receive.
Senator Kerry gets a lot of awards and accolades. I'm guessing other Senators get some, too, but he really seems to get an awful lot of good ones, and recently, there's been a deluge. Certainly, it's important to recognize a job well done, like the Senator's 100% ratings from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, the American Association of University Women, the Human Rights Campaign and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, all four organizations having recently recognized Senator Kerry's work.
The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has given Senator John Kerry its highest possible 100% rating, citing his work to help end poverty in America, raise the minimum wage, reduce the cost of college, provide access to affordable housing, his support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Head Start, as well as his staunch support of the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on strengthening hate crimes laws, making college more affordable, addressing the pay gap between men and women, and raising the minimum wage.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has given Senator John Kerry their highest possible100% rating, citing his work on the minimum wage, immigration reform and his opposition to judicial nominees who disregard basic civil rights.
Along with an endorsement of Senator Kerry's senate reelection, the HRC also gave him a 100% rating.
"Senator Kerry has been an outspoken leader for GLBT equality in the United States Senate. Most recently, Senator Kerry’s leadership was crucial to the advancement of legislation to lift the discriminatory HIV travel ban. We are pleased to endorse Senator Kerry for re-election and look forward to working with him on achieving equality for our community," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.
Pretty impressive stuff. Here's one, though, that has to really hit home. On Friday, the Senator was honored with the First Annual Father Drinan Award, which celebrates those who have maintained "a lifelong history of working for the goals of the Democratic Party, especially with a focus on social justice."
Being the first recipient is quite an honor. But the fact that Sen. Kerry and Fr. Drinan were long time friends had to have made that one especially significant. Sounds like the two had a lot in common.
Kerry focused on Drinan's social activism in Congress, especially his opposition to the war in Vietnam. "He brought to Congress a moral opposition to the war and his testimony against the war became that much more powerful," he said. Drinan was also the first congressman to call for President Richard Nixon's impeachment. However, these early protests were in response to the secret bombings in Cambodia, not the more popularly maligned Watergate scandal, Kerry said. This action showcased the "boldness and uniqueness of this priest in a critical moment in American history." All of this social activism stemmed from his two loves: the Catholic Church and politics, and despite the forced exodus from Congress, Drinan never really left public life. "There was no separation between his political life and his life," Kerry said.
It's got to feel pretty great to receive that kind of recognition, but maybe even more so to have an award bestowed in your honor. In this video, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone describes the contributions Sen. Kerry has made that lead to the creation of the Senator John F. Kerry Leadership Award, and introduces Senator Kerry in advance of the recognition of three outstanding recipients.
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KERRY ENDORSED BY HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON GLBT RIGHTS
BOSTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced it is endorsing John Kerry for re-election to the U.S. Senate.
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"Senator Kerry has been an outspoken leader for GLBT equality in the United States Senate. Most recently, Senator Kerry’s leadership was crucial to the advancement of legislation to lift the discriminatory HIV travel ban. We are pleased to endorse Senator Kerry for re-election and look forward to working with him on achieving equality for our community," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.
Kerry has a long record of fighting for equal rights for all gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered (GLBT) Americans.
Twenty-four years ago, one of Kerry’s first acts as Senator was to introduce a bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He supports passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and has adopted a nondiscrimination policy for his Congressional offices based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
He is an original co-sponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention bill, which would extend federal jurisdiction over serious, violent hate crimes. It would also finally include crimes motivated by sexual orientation and sexual identity to be considered hate crimes.
Kerry also introduced the HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act that would repeal the outdated, misguided provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars HIV positive individuals from entering the United States, including HIV positive family members, doctors and experts, as well as refugees seeking asylum. This long standing ban against those with HIV only serves to stigmatize the disease and discriminate against those infected.
In 1990, Kerry cosponsored the first Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (CARE)—which represents the largest discretionary federal investment in treating individuals with HIV and AIDS. Kerry also sponsored the Vaccines for the New Millennium Act, aimed at boosting contributions to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a non-profit group working to promote development of an HIV vaccine in 2000. Kerry also introduced the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act, which would increase the federal funding of international HIV/AIDS efforts from approximately $1.7 billion in 2003 to $1.9 billion in 2004. This effort led to the Act’s unanimous passage in May 2003. AIDS activists have characterized Kerry as one of Congress’s top leaders on HIV/AIDS policy.
During the Clinton Administration, Kerry opposed the White House’s "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy." He was one of a few senators to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee and call on the President to rescind the ban on gay and lesbian service members.
Kerry has repeatedly said that same-sex couples should be granted rights, including access to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections, that all families and children need. He has supported legislation to provide domestic partners of federal employees the benefits available to spouses of federal employees including the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. He was one of 14 Senators -- and the only one up for reelection in 1996 -- to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Here in Massachusetts, just last spring, Kerry worked with Governor Deval Patrick and progressive legislators to help defeat a narrow and discriminatory constitutional amendment that would have banned same sex marriage in Massachusetts.
On Iraq, Kerry spoke out against Bush several times before Bush invaded, including this speech at Georgetown University on Thursday, January 23, 2003:
As our government conducts one war and prepares for another, I come here today to make clear that we can do a better job of making our country safer and stronger. We need a new approach to national security - a bold, progressive internationalism that stands in stark contrast to the too often belligerent and myopic unilateralism of the Bush Administration. I offer this new course at a critical moment for the country that we love, and the world in which we live and lead. Thanks to the work and sacrifice of generations who opposed aggression and defended freedom, for others as well as ourselves, America now stands as the world's foremost power. We should be proud: Not since the age of the Romans have one people achieved such preeminence. But we are not Romans; we do not seek an empire. We are Americans, trustees of a vision and a heritage that commit us to the values of democracy and the universal cause of human rights. So while we can be proud, we must be purposeful and mindful of our principles: And we must be patient - aware that there is no such thing as the end of history. With great power, comes grave responsibility.
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I have no doubt of the outcome of war itself should it be necessary. We will win. But what matters is not just what we win but what we lose. We need to make certain that we have not unnecessarily twisted so many arms, created so many reluctant partners, abused the trust of Congress, or strained so many relations, that the longer term and more immediate vital war on terror is made more difficult. And we should be particularly concerned that we do not go alone or essentially alone if we can avoid it, because the complications and costs of post-war Iraq would be far better managed and shared with United Nation's participation. And, while American security must never be ceded to any institution or to another institution's decision, I say to the President, show respect for the process of international diplomacy because it is not only right, it can make America stronger - and show the world some appropriate patience in building a genuine coalition. Mr. President, do not rush to war.
Kerry in 2003:
The way Powell, Eagleberger, Scowcroft, and the others were talking at the time, continued Kerry, I felt confident that Bush would work with the international community. I took the President at his word. We were told that any course would lead through the United Nations, and that war would be an absolute last resort. Many people I am close with, both Democrats and Republicans, who are also close to Bush told me unequivocally that no decisions had been made about the course of action. Bush hadn't yet been hijacked by Wolfowitz, Perle, Cheney and that whole crew. Did I think Bush was going to charge unilaterally into war? No. Did I think he would make such an incredible mess of the situation? No. Am I angry about it? You're God damned right I am. I chose to believe the President of the United States. That was a terrible mistake.
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Kerry has never wavered in calling out Bush on his immoral war, and he led the effort to set a deadline for withdrawal.
For his constituents and all Americans affected by the current foreclosure crisis, Kerry introduced legislation Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008:
04/10/2008
Senate Passes Kerry Housing Legislation to Protect Veterans from Foreclosure
Victory on Kerry-Smith Mortgage Revenue Bonds Will Also Help 87,000 Families
Washington, DC – The Senate today voted 84 to 12 to pass the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, which included Senator John Kerry’s provisions to protect active duty service members and their families from foreclosure, and Kerry’s Mortgage Revenue Bonds proposal to give localities new tools to help keep thousands more American families in their homes.
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For progressives, John Kerry is a tremendous asset and ally in the Senate.