7/14: On Democracy Now this morning, Democratic candidate for president Dennis Kucinich, whose platform has been about ending the occupation, defended the fact that his delegates to this past weekend's democractic platform convention caved in on the issue of ending the occupation. Notably absent on the Democratic Party's website is any reference to the results of the Platform Convention, but info can be found on the Convention's Website if one looks hard enough.
Progressive and anti-war activists are backing Massachusetts Senator John Kerry as part of an "anyone but Bush" movement during this election year. Kerry's support of liberal social policies is lacking. According to Kerry's statements, he is not actually an anti-war candidate, yet he has the support of much of the anti-war movement.

John Kerry fought in the conflict in Vietnam and was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. On his return to the US, he participated in protests against the war on Vietnam and was a spokesperson for Vietnam Veterans Against the War, which included public rejection of his medals. He seems to have changed his perspective on military conflicts as time has gone on. As political commentator Thomas Harrison has written, "On Iraq, as on many other critical matters, the gap between Kerry and Bush is...narrow... Kerry voted in favor of the Iraq invasion... in other words, he was prepared to endorse a massively destructive assault on Iraq... Since then, Kerry has had his criticisms, but he firmly supports the U.S. occupation of Iraq. For a while he was able to differentiate himself from the White House by calling for a greater United Nations role, but it didn't take long for even Bush to recognize the cosmetic value of bringing in the international organization: nothing like a coat of multilateral makeup to soften the brute visage of U.S. imperial domination." Although Kerry wants to lift the ban on gays in the military, this might be a way of making it possible for more people to enlist in the military during a time when the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are under fire and needing respite. As the fall election grows closer, increasing numbers of voters are calling Kerry "wishy-washy."

Kerry is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, who is one of the wealthiest people in the world. Her late ex-husband, Henry John Heinz III, was a member of the family that founded the Heinz Company. If Kerry is elected President, he will be comparatively the third richest US President in history (following George Washington and JFK). Teresa Heinz Kerry is active in stumping for her husband. He announced on Tuesday, July 6th that Senator John Edwards will be his running mate.

Indybay Story about John Kerry and LGBTI Communities | Voter Punch, a Voting Record Search | On the Matter of Voting in a Swing State | NY Times Candidate Profile | Mainstream Moms Oppose Bush | Chomsky on "Voting 2004" | Members of US House of Representatives Call for UN Election Observers