Kerry's Pitch to Veterans Meets G.O.P. Counterattack

ust days after the Democrats turned their national convention into a tribute to Senator John Kerry's military service, the Republicans are fighting back to retain the allegiance of the country's veterans, a large and highly symbolic constituency their party had considered a reliable part of its base.

To outdo the Democrats' roster of a dozen retired generals and admirals who endorsed Mr. Kerry, the Republicans now plan a list of more than a hundred who will pledge support to the president, Bush campaign aides say.

A group of Republican members of Congress led by Representative Jeff Miller of Florida was so worried about the Democratic appeals that in late July they began circulating a draft letter to the Republican national chairman, Ed Gillespie, urging the party to give veterans a prominent place at the convention. The draft was abandoned, a spokesman for Mr. Miller said, after Republican planners assured the lawmakers that veterans would play a prominent role, including a prime-time speech by Senator John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

With Mr. Bush's return to campaigning after the Democratic convention, his staff has also made "Veterans for Bush" signs conspicuous at many of his stops. And on Saturday, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was secretary of defense during the Persian Gulf war of 1991, detoured off his schedule of rallies and fund-raisers to attend the convention of the Disabled American Veterans, in Reno. Mr. Cheney tossed aside his usual stump speech to deliver a solemn and impassioned plea for veterans' support, telling those in attendance that "America's veterans are a priority for President Bush."

And on Saturday, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was secretary of defense during the Persian Gulf war of 1991, detoured off his schedule of rallies and fund-raisers to attend the convention of the Disabled American Veterans, in Reno. Mr. Cheney tossed aside his usual stump speech to deliver a solemn and impassioned plea for veterans' support, telling those in attendance that "America's veterans are a priority for President Bush."
Talk is cheap, Mr. Cheney. You support our veterans when you treat our active duty personnel with dignity and respect and provide the military the human and material support it requires. Oh, wait. You already do that. Carry on.

Leaving the speech for an adjacent casino, Jack D. Cooper, a veteran of the Korean War now living in the Dallas area, said Mr. Bush still had his vote. "I think he is a good man,'' Mr. Cooper said, "and I can't go to the other party."
But his friend Al R. D'Agostino, another Korean War veteran, was not so sure. After voting for Mr. Bush in the last election, he said, he is leaning toward Mr. Kerry this year, especially since the Democratic convention.

"There were a lot of things that were wrong about the lead-up to Sept. 11," Mr. D'Agostino said. "I think there should have been some apologies."

Hey Al, listen to your friend Jack, he apparently is thinking clearly. And as to 'some apologies' you are damn straight! But they need to come from the lips of a jailed William Jefferson Clinton who put 'getting head' at a higher priority than protecting our country. How rediculous to expect 'apologies' from the new administration that came in after an 'absent' administration left us defenseless.

"My name is Steve Gardner. I served in 1966 and 1967 on my first tour of duty in Vietnam on Swift boats, and I did my second tour in '68 and '69, involved with John Kerry in the last 2 1/2 months of my tour. The John Kerry that I know is not the John Kerry that everybody else is portraying. I served alongside him and behind him, five feet away from him in a gun tub, and watched as he made indecisive moves with our boat, put our boats in jeopardy, put our crews in jeopardy... if a man like that can't handle that 6-man crew boat, how can you expect him to be our Commander-in-Chief?" -- Steven Gardner

In the years since I returned from my 12 month tour in Viet Nam in "The Summer of '69"...I have watched politicians use that war to make all kinds of points in their campaign(s). I find it interesting that Kerry wants us to consider him a War Hero and conveniently forget his treasonous acts following his return from an abbreviated 4.5 month tour, complete with action footage and homemade movies celebrating his courage.

Not only would I NEVER vote for Kerry for any office; especially President...I would explore the statute of limitations on (self-confessed) war crimes and explore the possibilities. I am saddened by the thought that any vet would consider voting for this weasel.

the Republicans are fighting back to retain the allegiance of the country's veterans,

First of all the Republicans never lost that base. If anything they have them locked at 70%
Secondly if they really want to get the entire base, all they have to do is run an ad:

Remember this guy?

He served in Vietnam for 4 1/2 months while you had to do years for your tour of duties! He got 3 purple hearts for scrapes and cuts when you or your buddys had lost arms and legs. Kerry murdered innocent, unarmed Vietnames women and children in free fire zones and blamed you and your brotheren for committing war atrocities! Kerry came back from the war and with Jane Fondas help, stabbed you and your brothers in arms in the back whiler you were fighting for your country.
His accomplishments are now engraved thousands of times on a black 'V' shaped wall; the names of your friends and buddys he betrayed for his political gain!
What he did to you, the brave American Soldier, he now wants to do to the next generation of soldier and then to the entire country.

Who are you going to vote for?

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