Dean admits using deferment to skirt draft (Dean the draft dodger)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Nov. 24, 2003 | David Rennie

[respectful]

WASHINGTON -- Howard Dean, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has admitted dodging the Vietnam draft, obtaining a medical deferment for a back condition and then spending 10 months skiing.

Asked if he could have served 33 years ago despite his back condition, Dean told the New York Times: "I guess that's probably true. I mean, I was in no hurry to get into the military."

Dean's candor may not have been wholly voluntary.

With his campaign under intense scrutiny from Democratic rivals, it was only a matter of time before attacks focused on his remarkable recovery from spondylolesthesis, a painful condition caused by a misalignment of the spine.

The condition was diagnosed while Dean was a teenager, and the candidate says he still suffers from occasional back pain.

He insisted that skiing did not bring on the condition, but that running did.

The "draft dodger" label may have little impact on Dean's hard-core supporters.

But it will raise fresh fears among members of the Democratic Party's national establishment, who fear that the former governor of Vermont would be ballot box poison in a national election.

Daily Telegraph

[respectful]

Dean's record as a draft-dodging skier should shut up Democratic charges about GW being AWOL from the National Guard.

[Admin Moderator]

Please include original titles when posting articles.
Thanks.

[PhiKapMom]

It won't shut up the RATs -- Republicans are held to a different standard.

Must admit that Dean and Clinton have a lot in common -- what elso do they have in common is what I would like to know.

[BenLurkin]

Maybe ?

[TheBigB]

Has Monica been vacationing in Vermont? ;)

[prairiebreeze]

ping!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Monica been vacationing in Vermont? ;)

If she has she best be careful, lest she get hooked up to a milking machine.

[steplock]

I still like the way his brother's body was found ... "lost during the Vietnam War" as IF his brother was military!

I never saw exactly what he was doing over there, but it was probably ANTI-American - like his brother, the draft-dodger.

[TankerKC]

Am I the only one here that is uncomfortable with this angle? Dean has enough to criticize without this anyway.

[South40]

Good article. Loved the title.

[hotpotato]

Won't shut them up at all. They lack the common sense to do so.

I watched president Bush give a speech to the Ft. Carson, CO, troops today. Their reception of their commander in chief was akin to the reception a huge rock star would receive. Really impressive. It's obvious they love Bush. I'm sure the democrats really HATE these occasions. Troops could even be heard shouting "WE LOVE YOU BUSH!"

[twntaipan]

Being a draft dodger ought to sow up the liberal support for Dean, and destroy any chance of the general public supporting him.

[plain talk]

I'm not sure what you mean by being uncomfortable. He's a draft dodger. Fair game.

[kellynla]

Draft-dodging Dean is D.O.A. for '04ever!

[isthisnickcool]

Must admit that Dean and Clinton have a lot in common -- what elso do they have in common is what I would like to know.

I know one thing they have in common. FAKE HAIR COLOR!

I have a theory that both Clinton and Dean use the same kind of hair dyes. And that it has some kind of chemical in it that make them crazy. Insane.

[vpintheak]

I agree, and know from experience that back problems are no joke. Besides, there were plenty of healthy bodies to send over there they didn't need anyopne with a known back condition that they would have to pay for later. Everyone else can flame away, but I don't think this makes him a draft dodger. That isn't saying that he's not a turd Rat, simply not a draft dodger.

[Mo1]

With his campaign under intense scrutiny from Democratic rivals, it was only a matter of time before attacks focused on his remarkable recovery from spondylolesthesis, a painful condition caused by a misalignment of the spine.

Well it explains why Dean always looks like his has a pole stuck up his ... well you know what

Looks like they are starting to pile on Dean

It won't work .. the far left crowd love Dean

[CyberAnt]

Geeeee .. didn't we already do one of these draft dodgers about 10 years ago .. and what did we get .. we GOT 9/11!!

[joesnuffy]

Last week ..just before this came out...he was trying to intimate that his brother was an MIA CIA agent in Cambodia
Of course he left himself a back door by saying that his family thought that he "might be" a CIA agent...
another dem candidate with "character issues" imo

[prairiebreeze]

It's obvious they love Bush.

Yup! BUMP