NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, Jan. 30, 2004

Speaking after a forum on low-income and minority issues, Dean said Kerry had only passed nine bills that he introduced and none that improved health care. Dean said there were 102,000 children in South Carolina with no health insurance, compared to about 5,000 in Vermont, where he served as governor for nearly 12 years.

"If Senator Kerry had accomplished anything in health care, he ought to be able to explain to the people of South Carolina how come there are so many uninsured kids here and there aren't in my state," Dean said. "Like I said, we need somebody who's the nominee of this party who delivers, not just talks."

Dean, who lost critical contests in Iowa and New Hampshire to Kerry, is stepping up his criticism of the front-runner before a string of primaries and caucuses next week.

Dean also criticized the U.S. senator's congressional record in a debate Thursday night. Kerry responded by saying that he'd helped pass several benefits that didn't have his name on them and suggesting that Dean didn't understand the congressional process.

'Blather'

Dean bristled at the suggestion on Friday.

"I think that is Washington blather," he snapped. "Of course I understand the congressional process."

Dean, the target of his rivals in more fiery debates when he led in polls before Iowa and New Hampshire, was left alone at Thursday's debate. Instead, the former Vermont governor turned the tables and noted pointedly that "Senator Kerry is the front-runner."

While saying, "I mean him no insult," Dean challenged Kerry's effectiveness in the Senate, where he has served for nearly two decades, claiming that of 11 bills Kerry introduced on health care, "not one" had passed.

"If you want a president who is going to get results, I suggest that you look at somebody who did get results in my state," Dean said.

Kerry retorted, "One of the things you need to know as a president is how things work in Congress, if you want to get things done." He said he'd helped pass many measures: family medical leave, mental health benefits and a new program of children's health care that helped youngsters in Dean's state.

Legislation written by one lawmaker often passes on a bill carrying another legislator's name, Kerry said.

© 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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