Kerry in Vietnam?

[savagesoprano]

I was wondering, does anyone know what is going on with this whole thing with Kerry during the Vietnam War? There's so many different views going around that it's hard to know what to believe. I just don't know why they are trying to silence the veterens. After all, there are plenty of ppl who have called Bush every name in the book, but if two-hundred honorably discharged war veterens want to counteract what Kerry has been saying about the war, that's wrong because it makes him look bad. What?!

[Marigold]

I think it's a smear campaign.

This is from today's (August twenty-second) Nytimes:

"Jennifer Millerwise, the deputy communications director for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said on CNN's "Inside Politics Sunday" that the president has condemned all of the group's twenty seven ads.

"The president's position is very clear on John Kerry's service," she said. "He said it's honorable. We've never questioned his service and we never will."

But Debra DeShong, a spokeswoman for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, said: "President Bush twice now was asked directly, will you condemn this Swift boat ad. And you know what his answer was? He looked into the camera, shrugged, smirked and walked away."

As I understand it, Kerry showed great valor in combat on these swift boats (which were extremely dangerous to operate) in Vietnam.

As the article states - he has a bronze star, a silver star and three purple hearts. This is reason to admire him (and any other veteran who has distinguished him or herself - whatever party they belong to).

This swift boat group who is questioning Kerry's service has ties to George W. and his Dad - though they deny it.

It's very politically motivated - and scummy, I think.

If this group can can at least some people to question Kerry's exemplary service in Vietnam - they will have done their nasty job.

I think their tactics are going to backfire, though. I think alot of people will think it's sleazy of them to do this.

After all - even if you don't like Kerry's politics - it's just slimy to question his combat record - esp. when he has distinguished himself w/such bravery.

And esp. when you compare it to Bushe's record during Vietnam.

I suspect that is the reason this is happening though - because Kerry has a very proud record of combat and experience during wartime - and Bush does not.

Bush knows this can only beneft him - so of course he's going to smirk and walk away - all the while "publically" pretending to be outraged - just outraged over this.

I'm sure Bush will let those bogus smear tactics run as long as possible.

That swift boat group should really be ashamed of themselves - to run down a fellow vietnam veteran - in the interests of keeping Bush in the White House.
-Marigold:sun

[savagesoprano]

There's all this other stuff about war crimes too, I just don't understand it. I heard something on the radio that had Kerry talking about war crimes in the seventy's. I think it's difficult to find a good source about stuff like this because every place is slanted. I mean, the NY times is not exactly an objective paper, and the people writing it aren't neutral towards Bush or Kerry. I do think it's strange that Kerry is trying to shut all of the veterens up. I think that thing in the NY times that you posted doesn't have much weight because the reporter was obviously assuming he knew what Bush was thinking. I think that's one of those things you have to see to believe. I do wonder though, how no one gets outraged when Bush is insulted and lies are made up about him because it's "freedom of speech," but if anything is said about the left, that's not ok because it's slander. hey, let's call spade a spade here.

[MegaVictory]

Don't believe everything you hear on tv, or read in the NY Times. It is between God and Kerry what he did in the VietNam war. And Bush would never sling mud against him.

[savagesoprano]

Yeah, I think that's the best approach.

[Marigold]

I just wanted to add to that - according to an article I read in the NYtimes yesterday (:supergrin - sorry, but I think All newspapers and news sources - such as fox tv, for instance - have their slant) - that Pres. Bush has called for a stop to those ads that question Kerry's wartime service.

Bush hasn't come out and denouced the ads - but he has conceded that Kerry did serve honorably in Vietnam - and that the ads are wrong.

-Marigold:sun

[gone]

Even if Pres. Bush wants the Swiftboat vets to pull their ads about Kerry and Vietnam, I doubt it would make much difference. Because of new campaign finance laws, independent organizations such as the swiftboat vets do their own fundrainsing, and make their own commercials, and have no connection to parties whatsoever. I think that the Swiftboat Veterans' commercials are their way of defending THEIR reputations. Those men served their country honorably, and when they hear someone like Kerry saying they were responsible for atrocious war crimes, and they know that's not true, they have the right to defend themselves.

Coming from a military family, I know how hard it is for people to serve, both in the National Guard and overseas. These people give up a LOT to serve their country. And they are often repaid with low salaries and disrespect from the public. I think it's appalling that Kerry would have stood in front of Congress and made over four hundred accusations of war crimes in Vietnam, when he couldn't provide evidence to substantiate even one of those accusations. His reports in Congress and close ties with Communism in Vietnam not only smeared the reputations of those who were serving in Vietnam, but also made the Communists incensed, so more people were taken prisoner and POWs were tortured.

I think the swift boat vets have the right to set the record straight. They shouldn't have to deal with a presidential candidate trashing their reputations.

And for the record, I think that Bush serving in the National Guard is just as honorable as Kerry in Vietnam. The military has many different jobs to do, and while going overseas might seem glamorous, it's just as important to help your country here at home. And it's not a pre-requisite to being a good President that you have to serve in the military. Clinton and other presidents did quite well without that.

Frankly I wish I could hear a little more about Kerry's experiences in senate. I heard he served over twenty-eight years in the Senate- he must have done a lot over the years- why can't I hear about that?

[savagesoprano]

Wait a minute, weren't those honorably discharged vets telling ppl that all of Kerry's purple hearts are fakes? I didn't think they were defending Kerry.

[gone]

Hmm, yes, that is part of it, good point.

I know that for a lot of vets, though, it's about the false charges that were brought against them.

I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link, I hope it's OK, here's the swiftboat website: http://www.swiftvets.com/