Kerry Criticizes Bush on U.S. Security

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) on Monday criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s record on homeland security, saying his Republican rival is "big on bluster and short on action" in protecting the nation.


Speaking to the International Association of Firefighters, a 263,000-member union that has endorsed his candidacy, the four-term Massachusetts senator argued that Bush talks tough on terrorism but has failed to back it up with the financial resources firefighters and other first responders need.


"I do not fault George Bush for doing too much in the war on terror, I believe he's done too little," Kerry said. "I think this administration has it backward. President Bush says we can't afford to fund homeland security. I say we can't afford not to."


At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan sought to raise credibility questions about Kerry, suggesting that the Democrat had lied when he said some foreign leaders privately back his candidacy.

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