The Kerry File

This info comes from the Christian Science Monitor.
I can't find similar files for other candidates
(other than the brief bio's at vote-smart.com).

Please post files for other candidates if you've got them.



The Kerry file

Born: December 11, 1943

Parents: Rosemary Forbes Kerry, of the Forbes family that launched the Boston-China trade, and the Winthrop family, descendants of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; and Richard Kerry, Army test pilot. lawyer, and diplomat.

Religion: Roman Catholic.

Family: Wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry (widow of Sen. John Heinz (R), ketchup-fortune heir); daughters Alexandra and Vanessa; stepsons John, Andre, and Christopher.

Diversions: Owns a Harley Davidson, plays ice hockey, windsurfs; plays acoustic guitar.

Education: Swiss boarding school (his father was stationed in Berlin); enrolled in St. Paul's School in New Hampshire at age 13; BA in political science, Yale, 1966; JD, Boston College Law School, 1976.

Teenage band: "The Electras" (Kerry played bass guitar).

Favorite books: James Bradley's "Flags of Our Fathers" and Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage." On the trail, he's read Clyde Prestowitz's "Rogue Nation," and Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed."

Favorite films: "Giant" and "Casablanca."

Early adventures in politics: He worked on Edward M. Kennedy's 1962 Senate campaign and gave a graduation speech at Yale in 1966: On his way to Vietnam, he spoke on "an excess of interventionism."

Work rêsumê: Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County, Mass.; private lawyer; lieutenant governor to Michael Dukakis; Massachusetts senator.

Net worth: At $600 million (est.), he's the richest member of Congress. (Most of the money is from his wife's fortune.)

Military service: Lieutenant, US Navy; was awarded the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam; Naval Reserves.

Political highlights:

• National coordinator of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, 1969-'71.

• Introduced one of the Senate's first bills forbidding job discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1985.

• Worked with Sen. John McCain (R) in 1992 on finding out whether there were still American POWS in Vietnam.

• Worked on a Russian nuclear-arms reduction policy.

• Headed investigations into Iran-Contra affair and the BCCI banking scandal.

Campaign touchstones: • Wants to allow all Americans to buy into the healthcare plan used by members of Congress.

• Would repeal some Bush tax cuts, but keep those for the working poor and middle class.

• Proposes "Service for College" program, granting the equivalent of four years' tuition in exchange for two years of community service.

• Vows to block the nomination of any Supreme Court justice who would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

• Wants to make the US independent from foreign oil within 10 years.

Key legislative positions:

• Voted to give President Bush the authority to go to war in Iraq, but voted against Mr. Bush's request for $87 billion to help fund reconstruction, and has criticized the administration for a lack of "diplomacy" and called for a gradual withdrawal of US troops.

• Supports affirmative action.

• Supports civil unions but opposes gay marriage.

Source: Compiled from wire services, MSNBC, ABC, Hotline, Roll Call, The Providence Journal, and other published accounts.

Thanks for pointing to it.

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His favorite film? Casablanca. Then why is he telling people it is Animal House and Blues Brothers?


Okay, I don't really think that is an issue. I just couldn't help note the discrepancy. I know my 'favorites' change almost daily depending on my mood.

because they were his favorites at different times of his life. Matthews considers that waffling and indecisive.

i saw him play guitar with moby on the intrepid! it was awesome seeing kerry rock out ;-)

time to practice.

Dean '04...

too bad for kerry he won't have time, what with being POTUS 'n' all...

I don't think I've ever seen you make an actual point. Don't you get bored of flippancy?

combining his hard-core environmentalist history with his expertise in terrorism... brilliant. kerry has a solid grasp on the global effects of environmental initiatives and international diplomacy.

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As a Vietnam Naval Veteran, Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart (three times), the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations for Extraordinary Heroism, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

A shining record of military service has enabled Kerry to better understand the importance and need for foreign policy and of veterans' affairs. He has sponsored the Arms Transfer Code of Conduct to enforce stricter regulations on American arms sales, and to cease the transferring of arms to nations that harbor oppressive and fascist policies and human rights violations.

He continues to be active in U.S./Vietnamese affairs, encouraging trade and economic relations between the United States and Vietnam and restoration of the uncovered remains of soldiers stationed in Vietnam.

Kerry has spoken out for fair election processes in Cambodia, peace treaties between North and South Korea, and strives to heal and streamline relations between the U.S. and China in the matters of human rights and proliferation of nuclear arms & other weapons of mass destruction.

http://www.votewithavengeance.com/kerry.html

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what does he eat for breakfast? i need to get me some of those.

;)