Coulter Attacks Cleland's War Record (ann coulter)

11Alive web site ^ | February 13, 2004 | John Shirek

[anncoulteriscool]

Coulter Attacks Cleland's War Record

Columnist and television commentator Ann Coulter, in a column published this week, said former Senator Max Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm in Vietnam, is no war hero.

Cleland, as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, is saying President Bush’s military record is inferior to Kerry’s service in Vietnam.

“The question should be: Where were you in the war of your generation? Did you take your place in the line? Or did you escape and avoid, by political means, and then cut short your tour of duty to go to Harvard Business School? I mean, John Kerry volunteered,” Cleland recently said on “Hardball With Chris Matthews.”

Coulter countered that Cleland is no Vietnam war hero, just a victim of a tragic, accidental grenade explosion who plays up his amputations for political gain.

“If Cleland had dropped a grenade on himself at Fort Dix rather than in Vietnam, he would never have been a U.S. Senator in the first place. Maybe he’d be the best pharmacist in Atlanta,” Coulter said in her column, published on February 11.

“He didn't ‘give his limbs for his country,’ or leave them ‘on the battlefield,’” Coulter said. “There was no bravery involved in dropping a grenade on himself with no enemy troops in sight.”

Cleland was wounded picking up a grenade that someone else had dropped.

Rusty Paul, a Georgia Republican Party strategist, said Coulter crossed the line with her comments.

“You can't take away from Max Cleland his record of service to this country and the sacrifice that he's made, regardless of the circumstances. To me, that's out of bounds to talk about that,” he said.

Paul, however, said attacking the politics of Cleland and Kerry was well within those bounds. “I think the voters would much prefer to talk about what George Bush’s view for the future is versus John Kerry’s rather than what happened 30 years ago,” he said.

Cleland was on his way back to Atlanta Friday night and was not available for comment. He is scheduled to spend Saturday in Georgia and then rejoin the Kerry campaign on Sunday.

[anncoulteriscool]

I think this column might get alotta play. I love her. And its about time someone really take on Cleland for the lying, shrill, obnoxious bridgeburner that he is. IMHO

[annyokie]

Max Clelland may be an obnoxious prick who lost his limbs in a foolish incident. For Ms. Coulter to mock him is just shallow and wrong.

[Reactionary]

Cleland, like Kerry, has used his military experience to attack others in the military and to attack America.

I don't give a flying crap about their medals. They've used their service as a means to legitimize attacks during a time of war. They're both worthless pigs.

[dts32041]

The upshot of the Max Cleland story is don't try to play catch with a live hand grenade, whether yours or someone else's.

Max cleland is a demo rat politician, which makes him a wannabe plantation owner.

[hole_n_one]

Coulter was way out of line on this one.

[Eva]

By the way, Bush did volunteer to go to Vietnam after qualifying as a pilot, but was turned down because the type of plane that he flew was being phased out. So, Cleeland is not only not a hero, he's a liar.

[annyokie]

Thank you.

The man was severly injured in the service of his country, no matter how it happened......and it can happen in to anyone.

We all make stupid mistakes, most of us not this serious.

[Kirkwood]

I never realized Cleland was wounded in an accident. I thought it was in the thick of battle. And I lived in Georgia for some time.

[Consort]

Yesterday on C-SPAN's live coverage of the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) verbally attacked Ann by name, reading from her book and from a Cleland book. Reed made a weak defense of Clelend.

[jocon307]

I agree, she's got to be Irish, no? With that mouth on her? I love her for it, but this one is a bridge too far.

[#3Fan]

All these Democrats using their service to bash other veterans need to be held accountable. If they're ging to go after other's records, then their records need to be looked at with a magnifying glass to see if they're as great as they say they are. It doesn't look like Kerry and Cleland are passing the test to me as far as holding up to their claims about themselves.

[Bogey78O]

True, the thing I don't like about Cleland is whenever anyone questioned his voting record he'd fall back on his injuries and rail against "attacks on his patriotism."

[Redleg Duke]

Whem you pull Mr. Hand Grenade's pin, he is no longer your friend!

[annyokie]

I guess so! She reminds me of my obnoxious former inlaws (lace curtain Irish) who faked service to get into the VFW for the parades.

She ought to sit down and STFU until she has to go read her brother's name on the Wall like I have.

[Paul Atreides]

That is much like Kerry, who wants to crow about Vietnam every five minutes, but then wants to "move on" about his post-Vietnam days with Hanoi Jane.

[LiteKeeper]

The man was severly injured in the service of his country, no matter how it happened......and it can happen in to anyone.

But when someone uses his injuries as a spring board into politics, never making it clear that it was an unfortunate accident, leaving the impression that it was enemy action...that is grounds for criticism. I served 19 months in Viet Nam...I was an artillery forward observer, an air observer, a fire support officer for a LRRP company during the Tet Offensive (had three helicopters shot out from under me), and received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. But, I have never used those experiences to promote myself unfairly...I have never faked my credentials for personal gain. Cleland, on the other hand, has left the impression that he is some kind of a war hero - and got elected on the strength of that deception. For that, he should be held accountable!

[mass55th]

I understand Cleland had taken campaign money from Fonda in the past.

[Alberta's Child]

I say good for Ann.

In fact, based on the past record of the Democratic Party (particularly with regard to the infamous NAACP ad in 2000), you could make a strong case that this kind of article was absolutely necessary.

You see, the Democrats were probably getting ready to drop some rumors hinting that George W. Bush did, in fact, fulfill his obligations to the National Guard -- but he spent most of his time there throwing hand grenades at Max Cleland.

I'm only half-kidding about that, too.

[stylin_geek]

You worked as Forward Observer? I commend you for your bravery in service of our country.

[Republican Wildcat]

Perhaps, but Cleland did open the door.