Drudge: Dean Dodged Draft?

Drudge Report ^ | 11-21-03 | Drudge

[Flux Capacitor]

Dean used obscure back condition to get out of military draft in 1970; now admits that he was not eager to serve, although he says in interview, 'he probably could have'... Developing...

[MJY1288]

Not a big deal of a story, lots of people avoided the draft, some honestly for medical raesons, some because of school ect. , ect. Some like George W. Bush chose to serve in the Air National Guard and would most likely not be called. I have absolutely no problem with that.

But Clinton's letter to his ROTC officer speaks volumes of his efforts to play the system. I read a few months back that Howard Dean was excused from serving because of a bad back, but Dean admits he spent the following year skiing in Colorado. This story is a tad different from those who had real excuses and might just grow some legs, but I doubt it.

[HIDEK6]

I can see how they would preclude somebody from military service though, they can come back even after surgery.

What???

I was operated on for polinidal cysts. Then I served with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in RVN.

Honorable discharge. Decorations.

[GWfan]

The reporter who wrote that article is wrong is writing that spondylolisthesis is caused by an unfused vertebra. It can also be caused by a fracture to the pars.

This condition can cause alot of back pain and can involve the discs and create radiating pain down the legs. It was probably standard to give anyone who had this a medical exemption. What it means is that one vertebra slid forward on another. There are varying degrees to the condition.

I may not like Dean, but he got a medical exemption. Rush got his for a pilonidal cyst. Some people make fun of that, too, but it also was a medical exemption. An infected cyst could have led to serious complications if untreated.

[HIDEK6]

Pyonidal (sp?)

Polinidal

[NYC GOP Chick]

I thot he was rejected because of all the pink ties, and that deeply saddened the little turdburger.

[MJY1288]

ROFLMAO

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Last week, he was giving a press conference with another Senator in front of a podium.

A FReeper posted a pic from behind the podium... he was standing on a six inch stool! The photo was not doctored.

[OldFriend]

Have a friend who served six years in the Navy with this cyst.

Operated on years later and darned near died.

Had to have it done a second time too.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Another pic of him on a stool? There's an older one that's been floating around for at least a couple of years...I think it's from Strange Cosmos.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Rats think that there is no terrorism problem that cannot be easily dismissed by appeasement

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I too dodged the draft ...... by joining the Army.

[Pedantic_Lady]

I'm just glad I'm a woman so I can't be drafted (if they brought back the draft). :-)

[Gritty]

deferral because of a back condition

Dean had spinal problems that kept him from serving his country?

That's odd. Our last President had spinal problems that kept him from serving his country also. Isn't it wonderfully strange how history tends to repeat itself!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Not a big deal of a story, lots of people avoided the draft"

Yeah. You're right. Who cares? No big deal. Doesn't mean anything.

[ChadGore]

"The only one I "serve" is Marx"

[billorites]

"cysts are very painful. (and gross)"

Painful cysts are one thing, but gross shit is too much to take.

[M. Peach]

oooh - good one.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I'll have to check the pic. It appeared on a post about a press conference last week. Maybe it was from SC and I thought it was real.

If it's fake, I'll be disappointed.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I never expect reporters to get facts straight anyway. And I havn't started poking fun at Dean... yet... ;0)