Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis spoke about issues of foreign and domestic policy, problems with the current presidential administration and his support for presidential candidate John Kerry before a crowd of approximately 100 students on Monday at the Boston University College Democrats’ first meeting of the year.
‘This is the worst national administration I’ve ever lived under,’ Dukakis said. ‘And that includes a lot of people who I don’t think were great presidents.’
Throughout his speech, the 69-year-old who lost the 1988 presidential election to George H.W. Bush relentlessly attacked the current Bush administration while offering his own opinions about how to run the country.
‘We need to build a world in which we set the standards of foreign relations,’ Dukakis said. ‘But we must do so in concert with the international community we must build a world community collaboratively.’
Dukakis said he supports France as an ally that has historically supported the United States, and occasional disagreement is not cause for the administration to lambaste the French people.
‘They were a hell of a lot more sensible than we were,’ Dukakis said.
Dukakis also brought up the $8.5 million loan the United States government offered to Turkey in return for assistance in the war with Iraq, saying offering a loan to a country in which 94 percent of its residents opposed the war was preposterous.
Dukakis also outlined his views on the economy, health care, public transportation and environmental issues.
‘We should have a genuine economic opportunity for every American,’ he said. ‘A minimum wage of $5.25 an hour doesn’t cut it.
‘In order to get out of a recession, you do not give tax cuts to the super rich,’ Dukakis continued. ‘You get out by investing in creating jobs and job infrastructure.’
Dukakis said the United States should have a universal health care system because health care costs are too much for the average American. He also discussed Medicare and its lack of coverage for prescription drugs, which he attributed to pharmaceutical companies being unregulated in the United States.
‘Drug companies don’t want to be regulated,’ Dukakis said. ‘They poured $40 million into the Republican campaign and now it’s payback time.’
Dukakis also criticized public transportation, noting the high-speed rail in France connects Paris with Marseille a distance equivalent that between Boston and Richmond in three hours.
Dukakis also mentioned major environmental problems that he said need attention.
‘I want a country that understands how precious this environment is,’ Dukakis said. ‘Living in Los Angeles is like living in a toxic stew.’
After discussing his opinions on foreign and political policies, Dukakis voiced his support for Kerry, his former lieutenant governor.
‘Kerry is absolutely solid in foreign policy and national security,’ Dukakis said.
He also noted Kerry’s military experience as instrumental to his success and compared it with President Bush’s experience.
‘Our current president’s military record, to put it mildly, is suspect,’ Dukakis said. ‘The coast is clear and the stage is set for a new president.’
Dukakis blamed himself for his own loss in the 1988 election and cautioned if Kerry ‘clinches the nomination in March, he can expect the Republican attack campaign the moment he’s nominated.’
He concluded his talk by telling students to get involved in politics and political campaigns.
‘This is a great opportunity for you guys to get involved,’ Dukakis said. ‘I’m looking at a group of folks who are going to run for public office someday. Do as many internships as you can and get involved in this political campaign.’
BU College Democrats President Shawn White, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, was pleased to have such a well-rounded speaker talk to the group, since Dukakis also chaired the Amtrak board of directors and teaches at Northeastern University.
‘He was the governor for a long time,’ White said. ‘When Dukakis ran for the presidential election in 1988, liberals were seen as evil. But we feel that liberal is a good term.’
However, White declined to say whether or not his organization agreed with Dukakis’ support of Kerry the BU College Democrats cannot endorse any particular candidate until the democratic nominee is named.