Per the text of the potential First Lady’s convention speech,
My name is Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Is it? Is it, really? Apparently, it’s still Teresa Heinz, but she’ll pretend and claim otherwise for political expediency.
To me, one of the best faces America has ever projected is the face of a Peace Corps volunteer. That face symbolizes this country: young, curious, brimming with idealism and hope, and a real, honest compassion. Those young people convey an idea of America that is all about heart and creativity, generosity and confidence, a practical, can-do sense and a big, big smile.
For many generations of people around the globe, that is what America has represented. A symbol of hope, a beacon brightly lit by the optimism of its people — people coming from all over the world.
I would counter that, for many generations in Europe, northern Africa, southeast Asia and a great many islands in the Pacific, a better face of America would be a soldier, bravely struggling to bring freedom while generously handing out a chocolate bar.
John believes in a bright future. He believes we can, and we will, invent the technologies, new materials, and conservation methods of the future. He believes that alternative fuels will guarantee that not only will no American boy or girl go to war because of our dependence on foreign oil, but also that our economy will forever become independent of this need.
Translation: no blood for oil.
Also, it seems rather naive to say that reducing America’s need for foreign oil will automatically reduce oil’s importance on the geopolitical stage to the extent that our military can be guaranteed it will never be embroiled in the conflicts of oil-producing states.
John is a fighter. He earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line for his country.
Did you know Kerry was in Viet Nam?
But he also knows the importance of getting it right. For him, the names of too many friends inscribed in the cold stone of the Vietnam Memorial testify to the awful toll exacted by leaders who mistake stubbornness for strength.
Did you know Kerry was in Viet Nam?
No one will defend this nation more vigorously than he will — and he will always be first in the line of fire.
For four months.