Posted on 08/24/2004 10:12:24 AM PDT by kattracks
Vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who avoided service in Vietnam, had wisely stayed out of the debate over John Kerry's Vietnam war record - until this past weekend, when he started depicting Swiftboat veterans who have criticized Kerry as "liars."
"They are saying that John Kerry's service in Vietnam was not honorable. That's a lie," Edwards told a town hall meeting in West Virginia on Saturday. On Sunday he repeated the allegation, saying in a conference call to reporters, "First, the claim that John Kerry didn't serve his country honorably is a lie. Second, those attacks are being financed by friends of George Bush."At a Monday campaign stop in Virginia, Edwards picked up the theme again, charging, "The argument and the claim that John Kerry did not serve this country honorably and proudly and courageously is a lie."
Not a difference of opinion from men who also served honorably in Vietnam. Not a conflicting account. Not a disputed version. But a lie.
Of course, Edwards himself hasn't always been forthright about his own military record - or rather, lack thereof.
In April, NBC "Today Show" host Katie Couric asked him where he was during Vietnam. The exchange went like this:
COURIC: Your military service, before we go?
EDWARDS: I - I did not serve in the military.
COURIC: You had a high lottery number, is that right?
EDWARDS: I did, and I came after - after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery, Katie. I'm 50 years old. And because at the time I came along and graduated from high school and then - and then went to college, I was not drafted. [END OF EXCERPT]
A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards' number was lower than more than half of those picked.
And what about the claim that he "came after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery."
That's not strictly true either. The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95. The draft was abolished in July 1973.
But even that year, 646 young men born the same year as Edwards were inducted into the military.
His draft availability aside, Edwards could have enlisted in the military, following the example of the men he now calls liars. Or sign up for the National Guard, the way George Bush did.
John Edwards, however, did neither, enlisting instead in Clemson University, where, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri, "He had a little fun . . . drinking beer with buddies . . . smoking marijuana a few times."
"His campaign would not provide more specifics other than to say Edwards' occasional marijuana use continued through law school but stopped after that," the Charlotte Observer reported in July.
To at least one Democratic consultant, the failure to serve in Vietnam constitutes a betrayal of America.
"He betrayed them when he didn't fight in Vietnam," Democratic strategist Maryanne Marsh said Monday night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." "When he had a chance to serve his country, he didn't."
Of course, Marsh was talking about George Bush, not John Edwards.
Joh-John: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
Feels like: "Trust me. I'm a lawyer."
20,000 of his closest friends, at an average donation rate of $ 59 per.
Due to my poor study habits and outstanding beer drinking habits I lost my deferment in 1968. But I showed 'em they weren't going draft me, so I enlisted to fly helicopters in RVN. I showed 'em good.
. . .
The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95.
I'm having a hard time parsing this... Isn't the article's author contradicting himself by claiming that in 1972, people with lottery numbers within the range of 1 to 95 were drafted, and Edwards had a number of 178, but more than half of the people drafted had numbers higher than that? Something doesn't compute...
Edwards is just another yellow coward who didn't have the balls to enlist and now he wants to try and pull himself up out of the gutter by putting those of us who did serve in Nam down...
Close but no cigar, Edwards...
Ya didn't have the stones to serve then and ya don't have the stones now...
Semper Fi,
Kelly
For crying out loud. SIX YEARS flying military jets is a BETRAYAL of one's country? Does that mean anyone who isn't currently fighting in Iraq is a TRAITOR?
A class I taught to some young men in prison came to mind as I read this.
"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating......................And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions." Mark 12:28-34
Even if you aren't a person of faith it wouldn't hurt you to look up the middle of quote.
Our discussion revolved around what is the purpose of debate. One said it is to win, I countered that the purpose of debate is to seek the truth.
I then asked why no one dared ask him any more questions? The guys answered right in that the TRUTH had been reached and there was nothing more to say.
WHEN WE REACH THE TRUTH REGARDING JOHN KERRY, THE DEBATE WILL STOP, UNTIL THEN............
Flush the Johns!
This guy is a Goober, where do they find these people?
As Edwards said, if you want to know about John Kerry's character, ask the men who served with him in Vietnam.
His kung-fu is weak.
"Second, those attacks are being financed by friends of George Bush."
They just lost the Vet vote. Ever vet in the country and every serviceman and woman feels deeply offended. What the hell is wrong with their campaign??? <snicker
Maybe he acted on the same boat as Kerry in a "Cambodian Christmas."
He played Tiny Tim.
I don't think that we'll be hearing much from Edwards about his legal career. There is a new 527, made up of business men who are determined to nail Edwards as the main cause of rising medical insurance costs.
paging Edwards, Mr Edwards, I have a dead cat I want to talk to, can you channel for me?
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