John Kerry unleased a new campaign theme today, which paints George W. Bush as the "Excuse President" by focusing both on lost jobs and on the mounting casualties (and apparent disarray) in Iraq.

"This president has created more excuses than jobs. His is the excuse presidency -- never wrong, never responsible, never to blame," Kerry told the Detroit Economic Club, according to a story posted at Salon.com. "President Bush's desk isn't where the buck stops, it's where the blame begins."

"At that convention in New York the other week, President Bush talked about his ownership society," Kerry said. "When it comes to your record, we agree. You own it."

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More from AP on "excuse presidency": AP reports: "Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Wednesday of presiding over an 'excuse presidency,' challenging Bush's credibility on jobs, the record national deficit and the war in Iraq. 'This president has created more excuses than jobs,' Kerry told the Detroit Economic Club. 'His is the excuse presidency - never wrong, never responsible, never to blame. President Bush's desk isn't where the buck stops - it's where the blame begins.' "Kerry said that of the last 11 presidents, Bush was the only one to oversee a national job loss, and he said Iraq and the war on terror were no excuse. 'Many of them faced more severe recessions, many of them faced bigger wars with bigger expenses,' Kerry said. "Bush's Democratic rival focused on one of the president's biggest potential weaknesses - a record of lost jobs and budget deficits. And in a broader effort to sharpen critiques and fight back against Republican criticism, Kerry also went after Bush's handling of Iraq." "We are punching back," Kerry said in an interview with radio host Don Imus. "I am absolutely taking the gloves off."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-09-15T21:31:20-06:00