# John Kerry was Lt. Governor? Why don't we know this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491 "2004-09-28T15:12:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/1 "2004-09-28T15:12:14Z")
(Normally I’d put this in GD, but it’s really more of a lament than a debate.) So, my mom and dad stop at my house last night on their way back from visiting friends in Boston. While there, her friend told her that Kerry served as Lt. Gov. What? Really? Why aren’t they saying anything about this? For God’s sake, half the reason that swing voters like my mom (I find it hard to believe that any are left, but there she is) are reluctant to vote for Kerry–regardless of how they feel about Bush–is that the Kerry campaign has told them nothing about his background (other than in Vietnam). She has heard little about his past legislative experience, and had no idea he had ANY executive experience whatsoever. SIGH. Dear Kerry camp, please tell us more about Kerry’s fine experience. Then he might win like we hope. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/2 "2004-09-28T16:44:04Z")
Perhaps they want to avoid the association with Dukakis (the Governor at the time) and Massachusetts (perhaps viewed as an overly liberal state). Although that doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense, but that’s all I can come up with. At this point, Kerry’s election resume looks like College -\> Vietnam -\>… -\>Running for President which would seem to leave a lot of people hanging for more info. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/3 "2004-09-28T16:47:23Z")
In addition to what **Mullinator** said, it also doesn’t help matters that Lt. Gov. is (for the most part) not the sort of job one brags about whilst running for President. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/4 "2004-09-28T16:52:54Z")
This is the first time I’ve heard that. What state was it? Massachusetts? How long ago? Kerry needs to fire his entire campaign force. Every last person. Then replace them with random people off the street. It could only help. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/5 "2004-09-28T16:53:47Z")
Forget the Lt. Governor. I’ve heard very little about his Senate record, except for bits and pieces from conservative sources that after the first WTC attack he proposed legislation to cut intelligence spending, something even Ted Kennedy couldn’t get on board with. He spent 4 months in Vietnam. Wouldn’t his 19 year Senate record be more important? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/6 "2004-09-28T16:53:50Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > This is the first time I’ve heard that. What state was it? Massachusetts? How long ago? Massachusetts. Elected in 1982, left office to enter US Senate in January 1985. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/7 "2004-09-28T16:59:10Z")
Thanks, Gov. > [@Mullinator](#): > > Perhaps they want to avoid the association with Dukakis (the Governor at the time) and Massachusetts (perhaps viewed as an overly liberal state). Could be. Massachusetts does have a reputation as an overly liberal state. As well as one that likes to tax the bejeezus out of its citizens. > [@](#): > > Although that doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense, but that’s all I can come up with. At this point, Kerry’s election resume looks like College → Vietnam -\>… -\>Running for President which would seem to leave a lot of people hanging for more info. This is _exactly_ why a lot of people are leery of Kerry. Myself included. The way he’s presenting himself, it’s as if he went into cryogenic suspension at the end of the Vietnam War, and only re-emerged last summer. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/8 "2004-09-28T17:02:50Z")
…well _that_ explains the freezer burn, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/9 "2004-09-28T17:09:02Z")
> [@Mullinator](#): > > Although that doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense, but that’s all I can come up with. At this point, Kerry’s election resume looks like College → Vietnam -\>… -\>Running for President which would seem to leave a lot of people hanging for more info. I see it more as 1. Vietnam 2. ??? 3. President! But that’s just me. And Trey Park and Matt Stone. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/10 "2004-09-28T17:17:57Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Forget the Lt. Governor. I’ve heard very little about his Senate record, except for bits and pieces from conservative sources that after the first WTC attack he proposed legislation to cut intelligence spending, something even Ted Kennedy couldn’t get on board with. Proposed cutting intel spending? What does that even mean? Rumsfeld cut spending on the Army, after all he cut the Crusader and the Commanche programs. It’s all about context. Too bad this stuff gets thrown out the window in this black and white political world we’ve allowed to form. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/11 "2004-09-28T17:23:18Z")
Btw **Ivylass** , I wasn’t attacking you personally, I was more throwing my hands up in exasperation. Both sides do it, and it drives me coo coo for coco puffs. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/12 "2004-09-28T17:31:04Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Btw **Ivylass** , I wasn’t attacking you personally, I was more throwing my hands up in exasperation. Both sides do it, and it drives me coo coo for coco puffs. No problem. I think everyone’s a bit touchy this election season. But why would Kerry try to cut intelligence spending? Do you have the context? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/13 "2004-09-28T17:39:07Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > No problem. I think everyone’s a bit touchy this election season. > > But why would Kerry try to cut intelligence spending? Do you have the context? Let me see what I can dig up. The worst that can happen is I learn something new. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/14 "2004-09-28T17:40:16Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > But why would Kerry try to cut intelligence spending? Do you have the context? Why indeed? The intelligence community has done such a superlative job with the funds they’ve received in the past (most recently: FBI fails to translate Al Quaeda tapes), that more money is surely the answer, rather than restructuring and intelligent recruiting. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/15 "2004-09-28T17:46:32Z")
The CIA had been allocated money for a series of new spy satellites, but they decided not to build them. Kerry’s unsuccessfull bill would have rescinded that money. The bill was killed by the Republican majority, but the Republicans quickly followed up with a bill that cut more than twice that much. So, who’s irresponsible? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/16 "2004-09-28T18:56:14Z")
**Mullinator** has it; he only had the job for 2 years, it was under Dukakis, he didn’t accomplish anything with it (the MA LG has no duties other than to leave a phone number just in case), and as I remember he spent most of his term in office running for Senate anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/17 "2004-09-28T19:29:52Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > He spent 4 months in Vietnam. 1/3rd of a tour. Most of us spent 12 months, Marines spent 13 months. 3 purple hearts for all minor injuries got him an early out. Roughly equivalent to joining the National Guard. I had two buddies who rotated out after 3 purple hearts, then requested reassignment and went back for a second tour. One of them made it back, even. Kerry was smart to collect all the purple hearts he could for minor, questionable injuries in order to get home ASAP, before he got killed. He was scared, and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/18 "2004-09-28T20:54:54Z")
Kerry is too left and has too much baggage to be elected. This realization sank in after the primary season and before the convention. That is why nearly the entire convention was about VIetnam and him “reporting for duty”. It’s also why his entire Senate career is MIA from the campaign. Edwards would have been a much tougher opponent for GWB and maybe could have won. Kerry will not. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/19 "2004-09-28T21:06:48Z")
From FactCheck: [Bush Strains Facts Re: Kerry’s Plan To Cut Intelligence Funding in '90’s](http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=153) > [@](#): > > The Bush campaign accused Kerry of “a pattern” of trying to cut intelligence funding. Bush personally accused Kerry of attempting to “gut the intelligence services” with a “deeply irresponsible” 1995 proposal. > > It’s true that Kerry proposed cuts in 1994 and 1995, and the his 1994 proposal was criticized on the Senate floor by some members of his own party. But the proposal Bush criticized would have amounted to a reduction of roughly 1%. And senior congressional Republicans supported a cut two-thirds as large at the time. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491/20 "2004-09-28T21:35:37Z")
I found a recent (9/1/04)[article](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/09/01/massachusetts_republican_lieutenant_governor_links_kerry_to_dukakis/) about Kerry’s stint as Lt. Gov. > [@](#): > > Kerry’s decision to keep Dukakis at arm’s length may be an effort to avoid a repeat of Dukakis’ defeat. In the 1988 presidential race, Bush’s campaign successfully painted Dukakis as a Massachusetts liberal out of touch with most of America. > (snip) > Dukakis has praised Kerry’s time as lieutenant governor, saying he championed the state’s response to rising crime rates and environmental problems such as acid rain. Dukakis has also said he doesn’t fault Kerry for downplaying his two years as lieutenant governor. It’s a pretty good article, but I think the last paragraph kinda sums it all up best: > [@](#): > > ‘‘It’s fair to link him to Dukakis. From there the Republicans are going to make one set of assertions and the Democrats are going to say for a long time it was the Massachusetts miracle,’’ Berkovitz said. ‘‘For most Americans they’re going to think of Mike Dukakis as a goofy guy in a tank.’’ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-was-lt-governor-why-dont-we-know-this/266491.md?page=2)