Oh Teresa!

I would never refuse to vote for a political candidate because of his or her spouse. That is, until now. She is entertaining, though.

Teresa Heinz Kerry blasted President Bush's conduct of the war on terror and touted her husband's plans for health care and education in a speech last night to Westmoreland County Democrats.

The war in Iraq has cost America the respect of her allies and the United States is losing the war in Afghanistan, Heinz Kerry said at a dinner at the Sheraton Four Points in Greensburg. "On 9/12 every single newspaper in the world said 'We are all Americans.' Today it is not the case," she said.

By sending American troops to Iraq instead of to Afghanistan, Bush permitted Osama bin Laden to escape, Heinz Kerry said.

"Osama bin Laden is Osama been lost," she said.

"The Taliban is back running Afghanistan," Heinz Kerry said.

Iraq under Saddam Hussein was not a hotbed on terrorism, but it is now, she said.

"No American boy or girl should lose their lives for oil," she said.

Americans need to think of security in broader terms than bombs and terror, Heinz Kerry said. "Seldom do we think of security in terms of one's job, one's health care benefits, education," she said.

"Every child in America will receive health care from day one if John is elected. Period," she said.