The Orbis

Photo courtesy of www.krtcampus.com [Click to enlarge]

John Kerry addresses an adoring crowd at the National Urban League Conference in Detroit, Mich. on July 22, 2004. Photo courtesy of www.krtcampus.com [Click to enlarge]

John Kerry is the right choice for America at a time when we need him more than ever.

With the deficit increases, job losses and the threat of terrorism looming, there is no one better prepared to lead our country to brighter days than Senator John Kerry.

His resumé boasts courage and conviction, and his endorsements come from multitudinous sources. Ranging from former heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to newspapers across the country, they all refer to Kerry as someone who will restore dignity and respect to America. With 20 years of experience in the U.S. Senate, he is prepared to work with our nation’s leaders to fight for real reforms that will help the middle class and not just pay into the bank accounts of large corporations.

His history of leadership is long and accomplished, ranging from his command of two swift boats in Vietnam, which earned him a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, to his role as a prosecutor putting criminals behind bars and fighting for victims’ rights.

 Kerry’s policies are smart and sensible and provide realistic solutions to the problems that plague America. In Iraq, he plans to bring U.S. troops home and replace them with NATO troops led by the U.S., a move that would allow us to share the burden of a war that was questionably waged and which diverted attention from the War on Terror.

He wants to recruit more troops, increase soldier’s pay and invest in better equipment. Kerry wants to reform intelligence and institute all of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. It is unclear how a President can fully and effectively protect this country if the president is not willing to address the concerns of this commission. John Kerry will defend the United States and do everything in his power to capture or kill terrorists. He will protect a woman’s right to choose and would not appoint a Supreme Court Justice that would attempt to interpret the constitution to strip women of this right. While he opposes gay marriage, he does not believe in constitutional amendments that would take away people’s rights. Kerry understands that the U.S. government’s role is not to dictate how others should live their lives but to ensure and protect their constitutional and human rights at all costs. While Kerry is an outspoken Catholic, he has made it clear that he will not legislate his beliefs on others. This principle is based on the separation of church and state in this country, which has been and continues to be essential to our nation’s success.

With rising budget deficits and a war costing billions being fought, Kerry will be a fiscal conservative, which is what this country really needs. Mirroring many of the effective policies of the Clinton administration, Kerry intends to create 10 million jobs by 2009 and close the tax loopholes which make it advantageous for countries to ship jobs abroad. He will repeal the tax cut on the top 2 percent, individuals making over $200,000/year, and provide tax cuts for the middle class. He will re-institute the pay-as-you-go plan and will demonstrate how he will pay for every new reform that is introduced. This responsible approach to fiscal matters, the willingness to cap spending, is something that our country sorely needs.

Kerry’s vision for America is optimistic but, most of all, his vision is both pragmatic and accountable. That is why ORBIS endorses John Kerry and urges you to vote for him on November 2.

Article Tools