Kerry, ready to serve his nation “out of duty”

David Benaym · July 30, 2004

Translated from the French. Original: La Libre Belgique, July 30, 2004 · French version

United States

Kerry, ready to serve his nation “out of duty”

Posted online on 30/07/2004 - Published on 31/07/04

John Kerry, fired up but still lacking panache, gave a left-leaning speech.

The Democratic convention will be followed by the Republican one.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM BOSTON

“Help is on the way,” John Kerry hammered home on Thursday evening in his acceptance speech in the race for the White House.

“Help is on the way,” the Democratic candidate assured, as a promise to America and a challenge to his rival George W. Bush.

Before an audience of 5,000 people entirely won over to his cause in the sports dome of Boston’s Fleet Center, John Kerry delivered the most important words of his political career. More than 30 million viewers were in front of their screens when the Massachusetts senator made his entrance to the cheers of the delegates. After greeting them warmly, he turned to the crowd and, sketching a military salute, declared: “I’m John Kerry and I’m reporting for duty.” Under the moved gaze of his wife Teresa and his children, he gained confidence as his speech went on.

The staging was perfect to give, in the eyes of America and the world, credibility to this brilliant candidate, whose delivery is often monotonous.

The emphasis was on his leadership skills, his courage and his sense of duty during the Vietnam War. Between war and peace, John Kerry positioned himself clearly, promising to restore the prestige of the United States and to commit it to a conflict

“only in the event of a real and imminent threat”.

And Kerry also asserted his firmness in the face of the failings highlighted by the 9/11 Commission. “As President, I will ask hard questions and demand hard evidence. I will immediately reform the intelligence system, so policy is guided by facts, and facts are never distorted by politics.”

A plan for America

As the delegates chant at the top of their lungs

“Kerry, Kerry, Kerry!”, the banners handed out by the campaign organisers rise like a Mexican wave in the colours of the American flag. The giant screen behind relays the speech of the candidate, who moves on to his plan for the future of the United States. “Here is our economic plan: build a stronger America, revitalise industry with new initiatives, invest in technology and innovation to create good-paying jobs, end the tax breaks that reward companies that move jobs overseas. Instead we will reward those who create good-paying jobs. I will cut taxes for the middle class.” It is the most left-leaning speech ever given by a nominee in the American presidential election. Between realism and demagoguery, Kerry concluded the social part of his speech by promising that “health care is not a privilege for the wealthy, it is a right for all”.

Under tens of thousands of red, white and blue balloons, the couple, now presidential contenders, greeted a delirious crowd. Yet the Democratic convention held no surprises. We expected Kerry to come alive in presence and charisma; in the end we found a very fired-up candidate, but without the panache we had hoped for. Having kicked off with fanfare at the start of the week with the Clintons and President Carter, these four days will have shown a Democratic Party that is nonetheless eager for revenge against George Bush. The President, running for re-election, will have his own celebration from August 30 in New York with the Republican version of this over-orchestrated circus of political showbusiness.