Posted on 08/16/2004 6:55:54 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON - The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said yesterday that John Kerry "deserved" his combat medals for heroism in Vietnam, which some vets have disputed. Sen. John Warner, an ex-Navy secretary under President Richard Nixon, particularly defended the process by which Kerry won his highest honor, the Silver Star. "I'd stand by the process that awarded that medal, and I think we best acknowledge that his heroism did gain that recognition," Warner (R-Va.) told CNN's "Late Edition." Kerry was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Hearts as a Navy Swift boat commander in the Mekong Delta in February and March 1969. "We did extraordinary, careful checking on that type of medal [the Silver Star], a very high one, when it goes through the secretary," Warner said. "I feel that he deserved it." Like Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Nixon - both Navy vets of World War II whose war service was later questioned - Kerry has had to face recent allegations in TV ads from others serving near him in Vietnam claiming that he lied about his combat heroism. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a Vietnam prisoner of war, has condemned the ads - but President Bush has not. Last week, Bush told CNN'S Larry King that Kerry served nobly in America's longest war, adding only that his Democrat opponent "is justifiably proud of his record in Vietnam and he should be." Bush's strategy has been to portray himself as a "Sept. 12th" President who better understands the post-9/11 world than Kerry, who he implies would lead America with a Cold War, or "Sept. 10th," mentality. Yesterday, Bush-Cheney counselor Mary Matalin became one of the highest-ranking campaign advisers to lend credence to the claims by Kerry's unhappy shipmates who believe he served dishonorably. "Kerry ought to stop this. He's running his campaign predicated on four months of service 35 years ago in the middle of the Cold War," Matalin told "Fox News Sunday."
Originally published on August 16, 2004
"Kerry ought to stop this. He's running his campaign predicated on four months of service 35 years ago in the middle of the Cold War," Matalin told "Fox News Sunday."
Kerry can put a stop to this right now. Just release his military records. Easy.
Was Warner on Kerry's boat? If not shut up.
I think waht we are seeing is how much a "Club" the Seante is. Bunch of frauds.
Time to put limits on terms, at least in the Senate.
"I feel that he deserved it."
Wow, that's a real strong argument, Mister.
The swifties against Kerry, on the other hand, have reasons to believe Kerry is a phony.
I'd LOVE to see TERM LIMITS slapped on these bozos along with NO PAY or Pension! Put them in a DORM, eating in a CHOW HALL, like the troops do. They are on the Hill to WORK!
Plus, unless the work is DONE, they STAY there until it is. That will weed out the losers who only want to milk the system. The REAL leaders won't care and rise to the top.
We best acknowledge it? Or what? Are you talking to us "little people"?
Thanks but no thanks. I can make up my mind without your instruction Warner.
By the way, were you there? Is your opinion better than the Swift Boat Veterans? You seem to think so. We should listen to John Kerry and you, but not the Swift Boat Veterans? I don't think so.
At any rate, I don't think you've shown alot of great judgement. Would someone with good judgement marry Liz Taylor?
CYA moment methinks.
John Warner was not there. He doesn't know what happened.
If the Dems can say that sailors who were on adjacent boats & slept & ate with Kerry didn't serve with him & don't know, then John Warner REALLY doesn't know and should STFU!
My thoughts exactly.
Warner is definately a RINO! Be glad to see the turd take a hike.
Easy to tell when I am upset, my fingers are going slower than my brain :)
The pod people kidnapped Wraner's brain
SHEESH.............
This one really got me going also. I was thinking how thankful I am to have a chance to express my anger at this! Thank goodness again for FR.
"...four months of service 35 years ago in the middle of the Cold War..."
I never thought of Vietnam beig a 'cold war'. The over 50,000 names on the wall in DC would tend to make one think it was at least 'tepid', especially for those that were there. MM is an as@wipe for making such a comment and denegrates the service of all who went to Vietnam.
I don't know how she can stand him. They must have a rule against political discussions in each other's presence.
Warner is a serious Rino. Loves the Washington Establishment.
Boring starf*cker.
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