Kerry in Medals Meltdown, Slams Bush National Guard Record

NewsMax ^ | 4-26-04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[jmstein7]

An angry-sounding John Kerry denied Monday morning that he ever claimed to have thrown away his three Purple Hearts and two medals for combat valor during an April 1971 anti-war demonstration, blaming Republicans for the new controversy and blasting President Bush's National Guard record.

"This comes from a president and a Republican Party that can't even answer whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard," a seething Kerry told "Good Morning America's" Charlie Gibson.

Kerry was responding to a 1971 interview unearthed by ABC News in which he told WRC-TV that he "gave back" somewhere between six and nine of his medals during a Washington, D.C., demonstration days earlier. News coverage of the episode shows Kerry and other Vietnam veterans throwing medals onto the steps of the Capitol building.

When pressed by WRC on whether the medals he "gave back" included his Purple Hearts and his other medals for valor, he replied, "Well, above that, I gave back my others."

But Kerry insisted to GMA that there was nothing to the story, and again tried to shift the focus to President Bush.

"This is being pushed yesterday by Karen Hughes in the White House on Fox. It shows up on several different stations at the same time," he complained. "This comes from a president who can't even show or prove that he showed up for duty in the National Guard. And I'm not going to stand for it."

As Gibson continued to press Kerry for answers, the Democratic presidential candidate raised Bush's service record for a third time.

"George Bush has yet to explain to America whether or not - and tell the truth about whether he showed up for duty. I'm not going to get attacked on something that I did that is a matter of record."

Challenged on the discrepancy between what he told WRC and what he says now, Kerry told Gibson, "Back then, ribbons, medals were absolutely interchangeable," insisting that he never said he had returned his combat medals.

[ChevyZ28]

Blood is in the water and the Sharks are circling!!!! Don't you just love it when the left turns on each other.

[John Jamieson]

Me thinks that JFK still has time now that his medals have been located on the wall of his modest 12 mill squat: He should call the press in to watch him throw them away again. Said he was proud of what he did, why not do it again? He just forgot them the first time.

[commish]

Can a YEEEAAARRRGGHHHHHHH be far away?

[Momaw Nadon]

Kerry is delusional.

What does President Bush's National Guard record have to do with Kerry throwing his/his family's medals/ribbons over a wall?

Oh, and what about the Dingell-Norwood bill?

:^)

[MonroeDNA]

Boy is he hosed. It was ABC, in a well researched peice, which asked him.

He ducked, and lied again.

Peter Jennings is not the guy you want to lie to; but Kerry did.

[johniegrad]

What does President Bush's National Guard record have to do with Kerry throwing his/his family's medals/ribbons

Why don't these idiot reporters ever ask questions like that? Kerry's statement makes as much sense as asking "Would like to walk to school today or take your lunch?"

[The_Media_never_lie]

Thank goodness the left selected Kerry!

[johniegrad]

What does President Bush's National Guard record have to do with Kerry throwing his/his family's medals/ribbons

Why don't these idiot reporters ever ask questions like that? Kerry's statement makes as much sense as asking one of your kids, "Would you like to walk to school today or take your lunch?"

[SerpentDove]

LOL

Now THAT was funny!

[Joee]

I am convinced Kerry has found a way to smoke catsup! He has "sauced out."

[armymarinemom]

Kerry is so thin skinned. I have never heard our President bring up Kerry's service record but Kerry slams the Guard once again. I have to go to the Funeral of a National Guard member this weekend who died in Iraq. I'm sure his family will find Kerry's statements comforting.

[spokeshave]

Throwing medals I can relate too.....its metal, relatively heavy, easy to grip .

However RIBBONS......sounds like something a girlyman would do.

And what about the bar and pin....if attached to the ribbon I guess would have sufficient mass to be effectively hurled.....?

[ChadGore]

The cold reality is at the very moment carrie was throwing his metals back, Bush was serving with pride, conviction, honor, and dignity and wearing the uniform with pride.

(Note: I spell is "carrie" because he reminds of a suck, twisted school girl)

[Smartass]

Hey, I screwed up Vietnam, now I can muck up Iraq.

[claudiustg]

I'm seriously thinking Kerry may not make it past the convention. The Dems surely must see the folly of the Kerry candidacy by now. I almost feel sorry for them.

[ride the whirlwind]

I have to go to the Funeral of a National Guard member this weekend who died in Iraq.

A fallen hero. May God be with his loved ones.

[Redcoat LI]

Couldn't happen to a nicer "guy".

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Watch out belooooowwww!

Here comes Hillary!
Here comes Hillary!

Here comes Hillary! whow!

The press loves Hillary! whow!

I hope the American public realizes how screwed up the Democratic Party is.