Many Democrats, fearing that angry, far-left former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would be unelectable in the fall, were relieved when Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won most of the early primaries to emerge as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Kerry's record, however, places him so far to the left (93% lifetime rating from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action) that he outflanks senior Massachusetts Sen. Teddy Kennedy (88% lifetime ADA rating). Here's where Kerry has stood on key issues.
Defense of Marriage Act
Position: NO
Background: Voted against defining marriage as between a man and a woman, 9/10/96. Vote was 85-14. Supports the November Massachusetts court decision legalizing homosexual marriage: "[T]oday's decision calls on the Massachusetts state legislature to take action to ensure equal protection for gay couples. These protections are long overdue." 11/18/03.
Right-to-Life
Position: NO
Background: Voted NO on Partial-Birth Abortion ban, 10/21/03. YES for federal funding of abortions, 9/28/93. NO on parental notification, 10/12/90. Lifetime NARAL voting score: 100%.
Death Penalty
Position: NO
Background: "I'm opposed to the death penalty in the criminal justice system because I think it's applied unfairly." NBC's Meet the Press, 12/1/02.
Filibuster Judicial Nominees
Position: YES
Background: Filibustered Bush's nomination of Miguel Estrada, 3/6/03. (Kerry missed cloture votes on four other nominees.)
Clinton Tax Hike
Position: YES
Background: Voted YES, 8/6/93. Final vote was 51-50.
Bush Tax Cuts
Position: NO
Background: Voted NO, 5/15/03, 6/12/02, 5/23/01. Voted to repeal some tax cuts, 10/2/03.
Balanced Budget Amendment
Position: NO
Background: Voted NO, 3/4/97, 6/6/96, 3/2/95, 3/1/94, 3/25/86.
Kyoto Climate Treaty
Position: YES
Background: Voted YES to impose Kyoto-style carbon dioxide caps, 10/30/03.
Gun Control
Position: YES
Background: Voted YES on Brady Gun Ban, 11/17/93.
National Missile Defense
Position: NO
Background: Voted against, 8/7/92, 9/9/93, 3/22/94, 8/3/95, 6/19/96, 9/9/98, 7/18/00.
Gays in the Military
Position: YES
Background: Wants "to rescind the ban on gay and lesbian service members." (www.johnkerry.com)
Central American Freedom Fighters
Position: NO
Background: Voted NO on aid to anticommunist Nicaraguan Contras, 8/13/86.
Bush I's Iraq War
Position: NO
Background: Voted NO, 1/12/91.
Clinton's Iraq War
Position: YES
Background: Said, "If Saddam Hussein is permitted to go about his effort to build weapons of mass destruction and to avoid the accountability of the United Nations, we will surely reap a confrontation of greater consequence in the future." 11/9/97.
Bush II's Iraq War
Position: YES/NO
Background: Voted YES on war resolution, 10/11/02. One of just 12 senators to vote NO on funding the troops in Iraq, 10/17/03.
