Clinton, Carter at Democrats' convention, fault Bush's style
TWO former United States (U.S.) Presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter yesterday boosted the Democrat Party members' spirit as they rolled out the "uncommon heroism" of the party's presidential candidate, Mr. John Kerry.
They used the occasion to review the administration of the incumbent Republican President, Mr. George W. Bush, who they accused of making America the foe of its allies.
The blistering attack on Bush came a day after the President, for the second time in two months tumbled on his mountain bike while riding in his Texas ranch.
Clinton who was the keynote speaker at the Democrats' convention in Boston called Kerry a "serious man for a serious job". The party later this week will endorse Kerry as its presidential candidate.
He, however, accused Bush and the Republicans of throwing away the goodwill towards the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks while portraying Kerry as a Vietnam hero, ready to be a wartime leader.
Voters faced a stark choice in the November 2, election, Clinton said, "between two strong men who love their country but who have very different world views."
Kerry favours shared responsibility, shared opportunity and more global co-operation, Clinton said.
The Republicans and Bush favour concentrated wealth and power, more unilateral action, pursuing a vision that is "far to the right of most Americans."
On the eve of the gathering, polls suggested that Kerry and Bush are still in close contest.
In keeping with the U.S. political tradition, Bush kept a low profile as the Democrats began their convention. But the Republican Party machinery continued working flat out to try to counter their opponents' message.
Clinton on the opening night - was introduced by his wife, New York Senator Hillary Rodman-Clinton.
Keen to draw attention to Kerry's record of military service, Clinton said many young men, including himself, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney avoided fighting in the Vietnam War. "John Kerry could have avoided going too, but instead he said 'send me'".
The U.S. leader fondly called a friend of Africa also launched into a detailed list of Republican failures, accusing them and Bush of squandering the goodwill towards America in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
"They chose that moment of unity to try to push the country too far to the right, and to walk away from our allies."`
They had attacked Iraq before the weapons inspectors had finished their work, withdrawn U.S. support for the Climate Change Treaty, for the International Court on War Criminals, for the Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty, and from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Clinton said.
"Now, at a time when we are trying to get other people to give up biological and chemical weapons, they are trying to develop two nuclear weapons which they say we might use first. "
Earlier, Carter said: "Unilateral acts... have isolated the U.S. from the very nations we need to join us in combating terrorism.
"You can't be a war president one day and claim to be a peace president the next," he said.
Al Gore, who narrowly lost the 2000 election to Bush called for "new leadership that will make us stronger at home and respected in the world".
He paid tribute to Kerry's "deep patriotism that goes far beyond words.
"He showed uncommon heroism on the battlefield in Vietnam," said Gore.
Security is tight at the event, which brings together 5,000 delegates, 15,000 guests and 15,000 journalists, amid concern that al-Qaeda may be planning another massive attack inside the U.S. to disrupt the elections.
There are extra air, land and sea patrols and about 40 miles (65km) of roads have been closed.
More than 100 figures are expected to speak at the convention, which runs until tomorrow when Kerry will address the delegates and accept the party's nomination.
A White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said on Monday that Bush did not require medical attention after the spill.
Buchan said: "During an 18-mile ride, as bikers often do, the President took a minor spill and scraped his knee," which did not require medical attention.
Bush had a similar mountain bike mishap at his ranch in late May, when he toppled over while riding downhill on soil loosened by rainfall, and suffered minor cuts and abrasions.
Last year, he toppled off a high-tech Segway scooter at the Bush family estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The president is spending this week at his ranch.`
