SEN. KERRY’S OTHER RECORD

As a means for introducing Sen. John F. Kerry to America, the final night Thursday of the Democratic National Convention was a solid success. His speech conveyed the hoped-for strength, his message on war and the U.S. role in the world were unmistakable, his delivery, if not eloquent, was more than good enough. Likewise, his daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa Kerry, were impressive and poised speakers who presented their father as a caring, thoughtful man with high hopes for his children. The kind of dad who would jump off a dock to save a hamster.

Former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, sitting in front of Sen. Kerry’s Swift boat crew, was very – to use an expression of the night – strong in his presentation, weaving his own experience in Vietnam with the record and life of Lt. Kerry. The senator’s biographical film effectively showed a human side to a man with a reputation for being aloof. Overall, a good night for the Kerry campaign.

But Friday morning, President George Bush raised the question that must have occurred to many watchers of the convention. What about John Kerry’s Senate career? He was there, after all, for 19 years, some of it with his party in the majority. Yet the speech barely touched on his time there, except for a war-related mention of his time on the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs. Even taking the senator’s advice for more information by turning to johnkerry.com doesn’t produce more than a couple of thin paragraphs about a fairly long career in Washington.

Some of this is understandable. The Democrats figure they must demonstrate they are just as tough militarily as Republicans to attract undecided voters, so the focus was on his war record. Then there were the impressions about Democratic attitudes toward God and the flag to address and the charges to make, veiled or otherwise, about President Bush. Still, for voters interested in how Sen. Kerry would deal with national issues day-to-day as president, his service in the Senate could provide a rough guide.

President Bush’s critique yesterday was partly fair – that Sen. Kerry should be more willing to run on his other record, the one in the Senate. But the president was also being coy. “My opponent has good intentions, but intentions do not always translate to results.” He knows, of course that in Congress a lot of good intentions do not become actions because, unlike the White House, two parties share the institution.

Explaining intentions, in bills supported, investigations made, committee work accomplished and, certainly, laws passed and results seen, is not nearly as easy as discussing patriotism and values, and that level of detail may not have been essential for a convention speech. But it belongs in the campaign, and voters should expect to hear Sen. Kerry this summer and fall explain why his Senate record makes him a worthy president.