Kerry warms Seattle supporters with swipes at Bush

By Jim Brunner, Beth Kaiman and David Postman
Seattle Times staff reporters

GREG GILBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES John Kerry shakes hands with people after his speech yesterday at Pier 62 on the Seattle waterfront. About 2,000 people braved the rain to hear the candidate.

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As the Bush administration warned of possible new terrorist attacks, John Kerry yesterday accused the president of conducting "the most arrogant, inept, reckless, ideological foreign policy in the modern history of our nation."

Kerry's criticisms came in a speech to a soaked but enthusiastic crowd of about 2,000 at the Seattle waterfront. The presumptive Democratic nominee blamed President Bush for rising oil prices and for alienating allies and not giving communities the money they need to defend themselves against terrorism.

"We deserve a president of the United States who doesn't make homeland security a photo opportunity and the rhetoric of a campaign," Kerry told supporters, who braved driving rain, long lines and security restrictions that required them to leave their umbrellas at the entrance to Pier 62. "We deserve a president who makes America safer."

In a city where anti-war activism has been strong, Kerry drew cheers when he promised to consult with international allies, be patient and go to war only as a last resort. "I will be a president who understands that working with other countries is a sign of strength, not weakness," he said.

Last night, Kerry headlined a fund-raiser that brought in $2.2 million, believed to be a state record for a single event, with $1.3 million raised for the Kerry campaign and $900,000 for the Democratic Party. There, he drew applause when he said it was time to "get this war out of the pockets of American taxpayers."

"Staying on course is one thing," he said. "If it's the wrong course, it's not a sign of strength, it's a sign of reckless stubbornness."

Kerry's strongly worded criticism paralleled a denunciation of Bush's Iraq policy yesterday by former Vice President Al Gore.

Bush campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt responded to Kerry's remarks by saying, "Kerry's angry, baseless attacks are an effort to hide his own dismal record on national defense, and our country deserves more from someone seeking the presidency."

Kerry also celebrated a wedding-anniversary lunch at Wild Ginger restaurant with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and prepared for a speech today at McCaw Hall that the Kerry campaign says will begin an 11-day focus on foreign-policy issues.

He said he asked his wife what she would like for their ninth anniversary and she replied: "How about 27 electoral votes in Florida?"

They left last night's $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser at the Westin Hotel and had dinner at Canlis, overlooking Lake Union.

On the subject of energy, Kerry touted his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil, saying the U.S. should become a leader in the development of hybrid cars and other clean-energy technologies.

"There is no possible way for the United States of America to drill its way out of this predicament," said Kerry, who has opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We have to invent our way out of it."

Kerry said his energy plan would include $10 billion in incentives over 10 years for the American automobile industry to convert old manufacturing plants to produce new energy-efficient vehicles, such as gas-electric hybrids. Kerry said he would give a tax credit of up to $4,000 to consumers who buy new energy-efficient cars.

Kerry was joined on stage yesterday by local political leaders, including Sen. Maria Cantwell; Reps. Jim McDermott, Jay Inslee and Adam Smith; and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. He was also flanked by Jim Rassmann, a fellow Vietnam veteran who credits Kerry with saving his life, and Sean Astin, the actor who played Samwise Gamgee in the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

Against a backdrop of Elliott Bay's ferries and red Port of Seattle cargo cranes, the presumptive Democratic nominee seized on the latest terrorism alert, questioning why all shipping containers are not inspected and saying that trains, chemical plants and nuclear facilities are not adequately protected.

"I'm not going to stand in front of you as a potential president and say to you that you can protect every single place and harden every single target in the country," Kerry said. "... What we can do is protect those places that are most logical places for the largest potential damage and danger."

The Kerry campaign said about 4,000 free tickets were handed out for the Pier 62 event, but the crowd was about half that — perhaps because of the wet weather.

The waterfront crowd was friendly, applause was hearty, and there were a couple of interruptions of "KER-RY, KER-RY," and a shout of "We need you now, Senator, we need you before November!"

Supporters expressed varying degrees of enthusiasm about Kerry, but all were united in their desire to oust Bush.

"No, he (Kerry) isn't terribly exciting, but he's just fine," said Midge Laurenti of Tacoma. "He will take the country where we need to go. That in and of itself is inspiring."

Jennifer Newman, 20, a student at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma ready to vote in her first presidential election, said she was "pleasantly surprised" and thought Kerry was forceful.

Her father, Roger Newman of Redmond, said the wet wait in line was worth it to see his candidate. He rejected criticism of Kerry as too liberal to win the election or to govern.

"I don't like the way the neo-conservatives have brought the country to the right," he said. "Kerry will bring it to the center."

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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