Cheney bashes ‘indecisive’ Kerry
US Vice-President Dick Cheney has launched a stinging assault on John Kerry, depicting the Democratic presidential challenger as weak and indecisive.
Hours after the Republicans officially nominated him on Wednesday as President George Bush’s running mate for the November-elections, Cheney said Kerry had a “habit of indecision” and should not be entrusted with the White House.
“On Iraq, Senator Kerry has disagreed with many of his fellow Democrats, but Senator Kerry’s liveliest disagreement is with himself,” Cheney said in a speech at the Republican Convention under way in New York.
“Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual – America sees two John Kerrys”.
“In this time of challenge, America needs – and America has – a president we can count on to get it right,” Cheney said.
Protests galore
While the vice president’s speech drew lusty cheers from party faithfuls inside the convention hall, anti-Bush protests continued outside.
About 5000 people formed a symbolic unemployment line from Wall Street to the Madison Square Garden to highlight the lost jobs under Bush.
Security inside the convention hall was breached when AIDS activists briefly interrupted a speech by White House chief of staff Andrew Card to young Republicans, including President Bush’s twin daughters.