Kerry Plays Dumb on Truth About Bush's Guard Service

NewsMax.com ^ | 2/03/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry lent credence on Monday to the Democratic Party urban legend that President Bush went AWOL from the National Guard in the early 1970s - despite several prominently published reports showing the charge to be completely baseless.

Speaking to the Boston Globe, Kerry pretended to be completely ignorant of investigations by the New York Times and George Magazine, probes that removed all doubts that Bush's Guard service was full and complete - saying instead that the issue was "a question that I think remains open."

Though his campaign has been focusing on the bogus Bush AWOL charges since last Thursday, Kerry insisted five days later that he still hadn't been able to learn "the facts."

"I don't even know what the facts are," the top Democrat told the Globe. But in the next breath he added, "I think it's up to the president and the military to answer those questions.''

In fact, the president and the military have already answered "those questions" - as Kerry, his fellow Democrats and "journalists" currently spreading this falsehood undoubtedly know.

The New York Times, for instance, ran several reports clearing up the so-called "mystery" just before the 2000 presidential election - in each case exposing the AWOL allegation as false.

In a July 2000 report, the Times said that documents obtained from the National Guard corroborated claims by the Bush campaign that the then-candidate had taken a leave of absence in late 1972 to work on a Republican Senate campaign in Alabama - but later made up the time, as permitted under Guard regulations.

"Guard records," the Times concluded, "show [Bush} received credit for having performed all the required service."

The paper also noted that a key Bush accuser had begun to waiver on his allegation that Bush had missed service:

"Questions about Mr. Bush's military service arose in May," the paper reported, "when The Boston Globe quoted Mr. Turnipseed, who retired as a general, as saying Mr. Bush never appeared for duty (with his Alabama Guard unit, where Bush had transferred temporarily).

However, the Times said, "in a recent interview, the general took a tiny step back, saying, 'I don't think he did, but I wouldn't stake my life on it. I think I would have remembered him.'"

For those not persuaded by the Times' unequivocal exoneration, George Magazine examined the Bush Guard record in excruciating detail for an October 2000 report.

The highlights:

"Two documents obtained by Georgemag.com indicate that Bush did make up the time he missed during the summer and autumn of 1972. One is an April 23, 1973 order for Bush to report to annual active duty training the following month; the other is an Air National Guard statement of days served by Bush that is torn and undated but contains entries that correspond to the first.

"Taken together, they appear to establish that Bush reported for duty on nine occasions between November 29, 1972 - when he could have been in Alabama - and May 24, 1973."

George concluded that Bush had actually performed more Guard service during the year in question than required, reporting, "When added to the 15 so-called 'gratuitous' points that every member of the Guard got per year, Bush accumulated 56 points, more than the 50 that he needed by the end of May 1973 to maintain his standing as a Guardsman."

If John Kerry is truly unaware that the questions he so disingenuously raised yesterday have long ago been asked and answered, it's time he brought himself up to speed.

And then he can deliver a public apology to President Bush for continuing to spread this blatant falsehood.

[kattracks]

Kerry Plays Dumb...

I don't think Kerry is playing.

[MEG33]

ROFL....I love your comment.I despise the guy!

[international american]

Rush is talking about this right now.

[2banana]

All these liberal democrats putting the Guard down -

IDEA for republican commercials - with background of dems talking down the guard, show them on patrol in Baghdad, over the skies of Afghanistan, first on the beaches on D-Day, patrolling the jungles of Vietnam, etc.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He won't come right out and make the charge because he knows it'll be kicked back into his big horse face. Innuendo is right out of the Clinton playbook.

[hershey]

Rush said today that Kerry is a dullard. Fits Botox Boy to a 'T'.

[redhead]

"Bush accuser had begun to waiver"

He signed a waiver? OH! He WAVERED. ah. There is a difference...

[KQQL]

Monsieur Jean Kerry

Measure Number: H.R. 3396 (Defense of Marriage Act) Kerry (D-MA), Nay

"I think there has been an exaggeration," Mr. Kerry said when asked whether President Bush has overstated the threat of terrorism.
SC Dem Debate 01/29/04

Kerry opposed the death penalty until 2002 , voted against military action in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, and voted to freeze defense spending.

Bank records would later show that Kerry's Chinese campaign cash came from $300,000 in overseas wire transfers sent to Chung on orders from the chief of Chinese military intelligence, Newsweek reports.
NewsMax 02/02/04

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday said Pope John Paul II ``crossed the line'' by instructing pols to block legalization of gay marriage.
Boston Herald 08/02/03

During the height of the Cold War, Kerry opposed the entire strategic modernization effort proposed by President Reagan — the Peacekeeper, B-1 and B-2 bombers, the Trident submarine and D-5 missile, opposed the non-strategic modernization of the defense budget as well, and the deployment of the INF missiles in Europe.
Washington Times 01/04

[G.Mason]

Can you see the [possible] debates between GWB & JF*ng Kerry?

JFK : Mr. Bush isn't it a fact that you were absent from your National Guard unit, while you campaigned for one of your daddies buddies?

GWB: Yes Mr. Kerry, I was given a pass for time off by my commanding officer and I did, in fact, attend a political campaign. However Mr. Kerry, I did not promote anti-government ferment, nor speak ill of my fellow Americans in arms.

[GailA]

The George3 mag article is posted, book mark it.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1070518/posts?page=3

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.org/


he quit the Navy early and

On February 28, 1969:

When Kerry's Patrol Craft Fast 94 received a B-40 rocket shot from shore, he hot dogged his craft beaching it in the center of the enemy position. To his surprise, an enemy soldier sprang up from a hole not ten feet from Patrol Craft 94 and fled.
The boat's machine gunner hit and wounded the fleeing Viet Cong as he darted behind a hootch. The twin .50s gunner fired at the Viet Cong. He said he "laid 50 rounds" into the hootch before Kerry leaped from the boat and dashed in to administer a "coup de grace" to the wounded Viet Cong. Kerry returned with the B-40 rocket and launcher.
Kerry was given a Silver Star for his actions.

Kerry commanded his first swift boat, No. 44, from December 1968 through January 1969. He received no medals while serving on this craft.
While in command of Swift Boat 44, Kerry and crew operated without prudence in a Free Fire Zone, carelessly firing at targets of opportunity racking up a number of enemy kills and some civilians. His body count included-- a woman, her baby, a 12 year-old boy, an elderly man and several South Vietnamese soldiers.

"It is one of those terrible things, and I'll never forget, ever, the sight of that child," Kerry later said about the dead baby. "But there was nothing that anybody could have done about it. It was the only instance of that happening."

Kerry said he was appalled that the Navy's ''free fire zone'' policy in Vietnam put civilians at such high risk.

looks like hanoi john is a baby killer, he committed the same atrocities he said our troops did!

[FlipWilson]

Just think, this is only the start. By the end of the year, they will have Bush in league with aliens trying to take over our planet (for the oil, of course). It is funny how the NY Slimes debunked this story years ago and now has amnesia as it runs the story anew.

The Demowit strategy is now plain. Knowing they are weak on foreign policy and national security issues, they think they can make up for that by pointing out that Kerry is a Vietnam Vet contrasted to Bush, the deserter. What they don't get, but they will, is that while John Kerry's service was admirable, every second since he left military service he has done anything and everything he can to undermine our military and national security. The Demofools think that they can blunt this criticism by shouting "Vietnam Vet" everytime Kerry is criticized.

[irish4]

It might be an interesting for someone familiar with the dates to check to see if JW was still flying the fighter at the time that ketsup boy was an antiwar activist. That could sure shut him up.....

[uncbob]

Somebody ought to ask Kerry what he thought of Clinton's service

[lilylangtree]

That's because Ketchup Carry's military past, like Owl Bore and Bubba Clintoon, are so spotted that no military person can stand them.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. he's saying he doesn't know .. and I SENT THEM THE INFORMATION .. AND THEY DO KNOW!!

It just suits their purpose to smear the President.

My theory is that McAwful is using this smear to taint the "carrier landing" video. The public loved it. And .. I recall at the time that McAwful screamed that the repubs should not be allowed to use that video in campaign ads.

[Ancesthntr]

Bush and the Republicans need to go on the offensive and fight Kerry with the truth...which, in Kerry's case, hurts a LOT. Here are the FACTS:

On Kerry's war record:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com/

On Kerry's record on defense matters (REALLY lousy):

http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20040127-084854-4468r

[q_an_a]

if the guy can't find the info in the NY Times what are his chances fo knowing what is in a intel report?

[Arrowhead1952]

Kerry Plays Dumb on Truth

There. Title fixed.

[trebb]

"I don't even know what the facts are," the top Democrat told the Globe. But in the next breath he added, "I think it's up to the president and the military to answer those questions.''

I just had a stray thought that maybe Kerry teamed up with Michael Jackson to molest little boys. I don't know what the facts are, and it's probably not true, but somebody ought to tell him that he and Jacko have some explaining to do.

[Britton J Wingfield]

show them this:

http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_young.html

The Guard at it's finest.