Today marks the Democratic primary vote here in Utah, and with it, one of the only opportunities for underrepresented liberals in the state to make an impact on executive politics.

While Utah’s Electoral College vote goes almost implicitly to Republican candidates-and therefore effectively negates liberal voices in this predominantly conservative state-the Democratic primary offers Utah Democrats an opportunity to make a difference.

That being said, The Daily Utah Chronicle supports John Kerry as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Kerry possesses several worthy characteristics that may lend themselves positively to the role of president.

Kerry is a legitimate and undisputed war veteran, and while the reality of President Bush’s service is still under national scrutiny, Kerry’s history does not seem suspect. His time in Vietnam is well-chronicled in federal documents and he received numerous awards for his tour of duty-including three Purple Hearts for being wounded in battle.

Kerry’s veteran status has several implications that need to be considered. Having participated, witnessed and protested against the war in Vietnam, Kerry maintains a firm grasp of what exactly it means to go to war. He also has a unique and positively proactive stance on international politics-a stance undoubtedly influenced by his time in Vietnam.

Whereas some presidents and/or presidential candidates have been criticized for sending American troops to war without a full understanding of the ramifications of such a decision, these criticisms do not seem to apply to a first hand witness such as Kerry.

Upon his return home from Vietnam, Kerry was outspoken in his stance against the war, citing atrocities and war crimes reportedly witnessed by himself and other veterans.

Kerry has come under fire recently in the press due to allegations made by Republicans that Kerry’s evidence in support of his claims is insufficient. Aside from the obvious irony of such claims, they are irrelevant because it is basic, common knowledge that atrocities were committed during the Vietnam war by American troops.

While partisan politics may have many inherent flaws, liberal leaning voters who wish to see a change in the office of president would be wise to support the Democratic candidate, whomever it turns out to be.