Posted on 07/19/2004 9:51:24 AM PDT by USMCVIETVET
Reality Check for Dems: Examining The Myths of the Vietnam War By Geoff Metcalf | July 19, 2004 "I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty and trust -- all absolute tenets of command." Send this page to a friend Format this page for printing
Notwithstanding the John Kerry posturing about how his veteran status somehow ingratiates him to the veteran community (he served in Vietnam you know?)…the cold reality is, MOST veterans revile Kerry. There is a deep-seated, unbridled antipathy that veterans (and especially Vietnam veterans) hold for the 'man who would be commander in chief'.
If the mainstream media tries to ignore what will be happening during the week of the DNC, they will have a real hard time denying the liberal/Democrat label facts in evidence suggest.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth www.swiftvets.com were the first to come out noting their mission "is to provide solid factual information relating to Mr. Kerry's abbreviated tour of duty as a member of Coastal Division 14 and Coast Division 11." They added, "Since many who are involved with Swiftvets.com themselves had swift boat duty and knew John Kerry personally, they are in a unique position to provide such information."
There is a long list of veterans who have signed their name to the organizational mission www.swiftvets.com
And they are not the Lone Ranger. For at least the past three months Stephen Sherman (the de-facto historian for VN-era Special Forces) has been putting together a conference including a significant list of Vietnam era luminaries.
From July 26th-29th (coincidentally concurrent with the Democratic National Convention in Boston), an unprecedented conference featuring Vietnam veterans who have authored books about the war and other scholars and educators will gather at Boston's Simmons College, just down the road from the DNC Convention.
Sherman notes, "As Senator John Kerry is about to be nominated for President, in great part based on his Vietnam service, it is important for the American people to understand what 'Vietnam' was really about and to dispel some of the common misconceptions about why we went to war, what we did, and what went wrong, and why it mattered."
Sherman has set up a website with most of the particulars: www.viet-myths.net and he can be reached by e-mail: sherman1@flash.net
Reportedly, on the last night of the DNC convention, an undisclosed number of Vietnam Veterans intend to endorse Kerry. A longer significant list of others will not.
Rear Admiral Roy Hoffman, USN (retired), says, "I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgment, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty and trust -- all absolute tenets of command. His biography, 'Tour of Duty,' by Douglas Brinkley, is replete with gross exaggerations, distortions of fact, contradictions and slanderous lies. His contempt for the military and authority is evident by even a most casual review of this biography. He arrived in-country with a strong anti-Vietnam War bias and a self-serving determination to build a foundation for his political future. He was aggressive, but vain and prone to impulsive judgment, often with disregard for specific tactical assignments. He was a 'loose cannon.' In an abbreviated tour of four months and 12 days, and with his specious medals secure, Lt.(jg) Kerry bugged out and began his infamous betrayal of all United States forces in the Vietnam War. That included our soldiers, our marines, our sailors, our coastguardsmen, our airmen, and our POWs. His leadership within the so-called Vietnam Veterans Against the War and testimony before Congress in 1971 charging us with unspeakable atrocities remain an undocumented but nevertheless meticulous stain on the men and women who honorably stayed the course. Senator Kerry is not fit for command." OUCH!
Kerry's former commander, Captain Charles Plumly, USN (retired), said, "During Lt.(jg) Kerry's tour, he was under my command for two or three specific operations, before his rapid exit. Trust, loyalty and judgment are the key, operative words. His turncoat performance in 1971 in his grubby shirt and his medal-tossing escapade, coupled with his slanderous lines in the recent book portraying us that served, including all POWs and MIAs, as murderous war criminals, I believe, will have a lasting effect on all military veterans and their families. Kerry would be described as devious, self-absorbing, manipulative, disdain for authority, disruptive, but the most common phrase that you'd hear is 'requires constant supervision.'" HOOAH!
John O'Neill, spokesman for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, said, "We resent very deeply the false war crimes charges he made coming back from Vietnam in 1971 and repeated in the book "Tour of Duty." We think those cast an aspersion on all those living and dead, from our unit and other units in Vietnam. We think that he knew he was lying when he made the charges, and we think that they're unsupportable. We intend to bring the truth about that to the American people. We believe, based on our experience with him, that he is totally unfit to be the Commander-in-Chief." Roger that!
During the four days of the DNC Convention, Sherman and his group will be at Simmons College delineating a compendium of facts that contradict the preconceived opinions and prejudices of John Kerry and his gang.
This is NOT a partisan attack. It is in no way connected with the GOP. These are distinguished, committed patriots (like Jon R. Cavaiani, Medal of Honor Recipient) who have a REAL problem with Kerry.
Will the mainstream report on 'Examining The Myths of the Vietnam War', or will they embrace the revisionist history and fictions of the Kerry cabal?
Geoff Metcalf is a veteran media performer, including radio, television, magazine, newspapers, and is a published novelist. A former Green Beret and retired Army officer he has hosted a radio talk show on the ABC/Disney station KSFO and in worldwide syndication. geoffmetcalf.com. Email comments to: geoff@geoffmetcalf.com.
Kerry is invited. Don't hold your breath expecting him to expose his Botoxed face.
Bump!
Instead of "guessing", contact your local newspapers and radio and TV, and ask them to cover the Viet vet conference.
Bump
Thank you.
Contact your local media and ask them to cover the Viet vet conference.
I have heard that John O'Neill is a fraud...he never served with Kerry.
Is this incorrect?
God Bless you Nam Vets, exposing Kerry, the snob who sat before Congress and defamed all US soldiers as rapists and war criminals. Now he wants Vietnam war hero status. Keep serving up the info, Freepers will help get it out, and talk radio will do its part.
Define Kerry the soldier for us, only you can do so. Us non-vets are powerless to criticize Kerry's anti-war antics.
We are behind you.
That is not correct. John O'Neill took over command of the swift boat after Kerry bugged out. John O'Neill is one of the finest human beings, patriots, and truth-tellers one could ever hope to meet. You should do your research.
Indeed, why don't you go to the Viet Vet conference in Boston and meet him for yourself.
You, who are not Vietnam vets, are NOT powerless.
You can speak out, contact your local media, and follow-up to see that all vote for Bush.
I have read about him on the Swift Vets site, and then read liberals saying he was a proven fraud.
I didn't think he was, but even a liberal can be right sometimes.
Thanks for the correction though.
The mainstream media has been informed of the Viet vet conference.
YOU can help, by contacting your local media to cover it.
O'Neill was a swift boat officer who served right after Kerry went back to the states...Where did you hear he was a fraud?..Have you read the Winter Soldier site? John O'Neill debated Kerry on TV after Kerry's anti war testimony...
A liberal can be right sometimes. Indeed, O'Neill voted for Humphrey in 1968. O'Neill, and Vietnam veterans generally, know better than Kerry's lies and smears against them and the USA.
ALL should go to www.wintersoldier.com for truths about Kerry.
"I have heard that John O'Neill is a fraud...he never served with Kerry. Is this incorrect?"
That is most definately NOT correct! Check out www.WinterSoldier.com for more details on sKerry.
marker bump
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