September 19, 2004
Statement by John Edwards on Republican Fear Mongering
For Immediate Release
Phoenixville, PA - Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards today made the following statement in response to Dennis
Hastert’s comments last night that Al Qaeda wants John Kerry to be elected:
“One clear sign of weakness and failed leadership is when a politician stoops to the politics of fear. In the last
twenty-four hours Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House, has joined the fear mongering choir. Last night, he said
something to the effect that Al Qaeda wants John Kerry to be President of the United States. Let me say this in the
simplest possible terms: when John Kerry is President of the United States, we will find Al Qaeda where they are and
crush them before they can do damage to the American people.
“Over and over, this president and his cronies have taken one of our nation’s greatest tragedies and used it as part of
a cheap political ploy. With their words, they seek to divide us and they dishonor the fallen. They want to scare the
American people but they will pay a price in November.
“None of us should be surprised by this, because just two or three weeks ago we heard what Dick Cheney said about this.
He said that if you don't vote for him and George Bush come November and there is another terrorist attack, then it's
your fault.
“The truth is that this statement by Dick Cheney was not an accident. It was calculated and it was calculated to divide
us on one of the most critical issues to our country, keeping the American people safe and secure. It was un-American.
The President of the United States should say it was un-American.”
ENDS