Challenger criticizes Kerry's Iraq war vote

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)

Senator John F. Kerry listened as challenger Ed O'Reilly made a point.

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

US Senator John Kerry faced off this morning against Gloucester lawyer Edward O’Reilly in their first – and likely only – debate before the Democratic primary on Sept. 16.

O’Reilly attacked Kerry on multiple fronts, criticizing his vote to authorize the war in Iraq, saying that a senator of 24 years should hold better chairmanships, and challenging Kerry’s commitment to Massachusetts.

“Will John Kerry give a commitment to stay the six years if he’s elected?” O’Reilly said toward the end of the debate. “And, if he won’t give that commitment …will he put up the millions of dollars it will cost the taxpayers of Massachusetts to hold a special election?”

Kerry appeared miffed at the question, pleading to moderator Jon Keller that he thought the debate format didn’t allow the candidates to ask each other questions.

“I am only running for one job, I’m not asking for any other job, I’m not looking for any other job,” Kerry said. “I intend to serve my term. If I’m elected, that’s what I’m doing.”

Nearly half the debate centered on Kerry’s vote to authorize the Iraq war in 2002. O’Reilly twice took out a book written by former Kerry adviser Robert Shrum, which recounts a phone call the night before his vote where Kerry asked him about the political ramifications of authorizing war.

O’Reilly also criticized Kerry for not reading the National Intelligence Estimate, a classified compendium of intelligence reports.

“I did something better than read it, and it really shows Ed’s lack of understanding of what due diligence is in Washington,” Kerry said. “I actually met with the CIA teams. I actually went to the Pentagon and sat down with the Secretary of Defense.”

Kerry has not faced a Democratic challenger since he won the seat in 1984 and the only serious race of any kind he has faced was his 1996 campaign, when he was challenged by Republican governor William F. Weld.

O’Reilly faces an uphill battle going up against a 24-year incumbent and 2004 presidential nominee. But O’Reilly’s relentless campaigning has forced Kerry to get out on the local campaign trail more than usual, taking out televised ads and attending “Kerry on your Corner” events throughout Massachusetts.

For weeks, O’Reilly has been hammering Kerry for not agreeing to a debate. In July, he proposed having 23 debates and had been hammering away at Kerry for not quickly agreeing to the proposal.

Kerry agreed two weeks ago to a televised debate on WBZ-TV, but it will air on Sunday morning at 8:30, a time when few are tuned in.

Kerry arrived at the TV studios about 10 minutes before the debate was scheduled to begin, shaking hands with dozens of sign-holding supporters standing outside.

O’Reilly, who had never participated in a debate before, arrived about an hour early. He told his supporters not to come to the debate, saying they should not take it seriously because it was so short and they would not be able to view it.

After the debate, O’Reilly challenged Kerry to continue with more.

“I would debate every day right now through the primary,” O’Reilly said. “I think it’s really important. ... Democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a participatory sport. And I think John Kerry needs to participate in the sport of politics.”

Kerry, though, didn’t seem too keen on the notion of more debates.

“I gotta go to Washington and be a senator,” he said. “I vote Monday afternoon, and we’re voting during the week. We have a lot of business going. And next weekend I have a full campaign schedule to talk to the people of Massachusetts.”

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