Kerry stumps for Senate hopeful Giannoulias
Sen. John Kerry became the latest big-name Democrat to stump for Illinois candidates on Tuesday, calling U.S. Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias the candidate for green issues and taking jabs at his Republican opponent Mark Kirk.
The 2004 presidential candidate said the U.S. lags behind other countries on clean energy issues like solar panel technology, and he praised Giannoulias for his energy proposal that includes reducing the demand for foreign oil.
The Massachusetts Democrat criticized Kirk for flip-flopping on cap-and-trade legislation curbing carbon emissions. The five-term Congressman first voted for it in the U.S House and is now campaigning against it in the race for Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
"Alexi understands that America's national security is at risk and our future economy is at risk if we don't get into this fight in a better way and begin to move to these new technologies," Kerry said. "His opponent represents more of the same. He's flipped and moved from one position to another."
Kerry said Giannoulias also worked to promote green record keeping during his tenure as Illinois treasurer.
His visit to Chicago follows fundraisers and rallies featuring Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Last weekend, Sen. John McCain, attended a fundraiser for Kirk.
Kerry also criticized ads targeting Giannoulias by Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies and its affiliate, American Crossroads, a group launched under the direction of former Bush administration political adviser Karl Rove.
Kerry called the ads a distortion and disgraceful. He likened what the group was doing to what Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did with attack ads against him during his presidential run.
He also blasted the landmark Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which earlier this year, opened the way for corporations and unions to spend money in elections and has led to many new groups being formed.
Kerry said the "secret funding" of those groups is anti-Democratic.
"The Supreme Court decision is one of the worst decisions I've seen in all my public years," he said.