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Kerry Speaks of "Our Generation" at Morgan State

By Shyra Peyton
Black College Wire

Photo credit: www.johnkerry.com Sen. John Kerry

Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., was asked what he wanted young voters at Morgan State University in Baltimore to know about him. "I want them to know that I'm a fighter and when I say something, I fight for it, and we're going to get these things done. And we're going to make this one of the big fights of our generation," he replied.

Kerry, who turned 60 on Dec. 11, answered the question on March 1, the day before the "Super Tuesday" primary day in Maryland. His response came despite his accompaniment by four Secret Service agents who blocked him from the public and ordered, "no questions."

It was at Morgan where the all-but-certain Democratic presidential nominee began his day's activities, firing up the crowd with an aggressive attack on the policies of the Bush administration, particularly its decision to go to war in Iraq, and its handling of security issues and the economy.

"George Bush thought he could play dress-up on an aircraft carrier, standing up there in front of that big sign saying, 'Mission Accomplished,'" Kerry said from the stage at Hurt Gymnasium. "He thought you wouldn't notice all of those jobs being lost [and] a million-dollar a-day deficit.

"There is a better way to make America safe than this president has chosen. This president, has in fact, created terrorists where they did not exist."

He continued, "The real deficit of this nation is the problems that mayors like [Baltimore Mayor] Martin O'Malley are having to face as they are struggling with the school system and can't find the money. The real problem of this country are people all across this nation who are out of work and out of health [care]."

Despite the crowd of supporters and news reporters and the Morgan State University Band, missing were masses of students, the Morgan staff, President Earl S. Richardson, the Student Government Association, the major organizations on campus. It seemed as if there had been no announcement that the man who more than likely was to be the Democratic candidate for president was coming to Morgan State.

One student who did attend was senior Gerald Simmons. "He hit some key points," Simmons said. "He talked about important issues to me like the job market and the war. But I can't say with 100 percent that he has my vote."

Kerry, who had won 18 of the first 20 contests before Super Tuesday, was victorious in nine of the 10 primaries that day.

His blitz resulted in the quick withdrawal of his closest opponent, Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

Shyra Peyton, a student at Morgan State University, is Campus Life editor of The Spokesman. Background information from news services was included in this report.

Posted March 22, 2004