Kerry Aims at Bush Strengths: Military and Values; In Accepting Nomination, Democrat Attacks President On War and the Economy
John Kerry, seizing the chance to define his candidacy before a national television audience with his presidential nomination acceptance speech, took the fight straight to the two areas where President Bush has enjoyed his greatest political strengths: national security and social values.</br></br>Rather than shying away from ground that has sometimes been shaky for Democrats, Mr. Kerry planted his own flag in a forceful and at times combative speech. "Let there be no mistake: I will never hesitate to use force when it is required," the Massachusetts senator told 4,000 cheering delegates on the final night of the Democratic convention in Boston.</br></br>"Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response," he continued, attempting to meet widespread and persistent voter questions about whether a Democrat, even a war veteran, is tough enough to lead the country in fighting terrorism.</br></br>At one point, Mr. Kerry appeared to belittle Mr. Bush's record as commander in chief, especially his justification for the war in Iraq. "Now I know there are those who criticize me for seeing complexities -- and I do -- because some issues just aren't all that simple," he said. "Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so." It was one of several oblique shots Mr. Kerry took at the president and his advisers, even as he also called directly on President Bush to run a positive campaign.</br></br>Confronting another of his party's vulnerabilities -- a perception that Democrats are out of the cultural mainstream -- Mr. Kerry's 45- minute speech tackled President Bush on social issues. "It's time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families," he said.