Kerry Angry at Bush for Making Vietnam an Issue

NewsMax.com ^ | Feb. 4, 2004 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

Sen. John Kerry and his media boosters are hoping bogus allegations that President Bush went AWOL from the National Guard will catapult him into the White House - but during the 1992 presidential campaign, Kerry angrily denounced Bush's father for raising Bill Clinton's Vietnam draft record.

In fact, back then, Kerry called those who wanted to make Vietnam service an issue "cowardly."

"I'm here personally to express my anger, as a veteran," Kerry told National Public Radio two months before the 1992 election, "that a president who would stand before this nation in his inaugural address and promise to put Vietnam behind us is now breaking yet another promise and trying to use Vietnam and service in order to get himself re-elected."

"That is not an act of leadership, that is an act of shame and cowardice," the Massachusetts Democrat railed.

In words that could now apply to his own presidential campaign, Kerry complained to reporters a month later that White House charges suggesting Clinton had gone AWOL from the draft were an ugly smear.

"It is a sad day when the President of the United States is willing to sully another man's reputation and challenge his patriotism merely to get elected," the current Democratic front-runner groused.

Tuesday night, Kerry pulled a 180 degree about face on the issue of using a candidate's Vietnam-era military record, telling Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," "There is an issue about what [Bush's] service was - and I don't know the answers."

Saying he would defend Bush's decision to enlist in the Guard, Kerry rattled off a long list of Vietnam-era options that lumped Guard service in with draft dodging.

"I've never made any judgments about any choice somebody made about avoiding the draft, about going to Canada, going to jail, being a conscientious objector [or] going into the National Guard," he told Sean Hannity. "Those are choices people make."

[SerpentDove]

>>
Kerry served in Vietnam?
<<

I picked up on that, too. I'll be darned.

[Dan from Michigan]

You earned my respect for your service.

My dad was over there from 69-71 in a recon unit(Army). He won't talk much about it. All he's said about Kerry is that he's definitely not going to vote for him.

[Reagan Man]

We know John Kerry is not only a liar and a phony, he's a first class opportunist too. This issue was resolved in the 2000 campaign. PresBush was honorably discharged. End of story. This is another desperate effort by Kerry, Clark and the Demlibrat establishment to discredit Bush. And as usual, the liberal media is tagging along as the lefts willful accomplice.

[fella]

Are there any vidios of him saying these things that could be used in sound-bite ads?

[BushisTheMan]

RNC are you listening?

Side by sides...what Kerry said then, what Kerry says now.

Glen Beck today had a hilarious show on this subject (flip flopping) just this morning.

[finnman69]

Some good ies on kerry and his opposition to balanced budget ammendments from 1995:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1071326/posts
Flashback! John Kerry was adamantly AGAINST the Balanced Budget Amendment (in his own words)
Congressional Record - Public Domain Documents | various | Kerry

[Neenah]

Glen Beck today had a hilarious show on this subject (flip flopping) just this morning.

But he also had a very good interview with a Viet Nam vet who read letters from vets against Kerry.

The letters talked about the fact of when Kerry and Jane were doing their thing, boys held in prison camps,were being beaten, because of the words of John F. Kerry. And they SUFFERED because of his words.

His testemony before Congress accusing our fighting men of maiming babies , children and women.(Among many other things)

I hope Glenn would put those up on his site. It made me SICK !

[cav68]

It appears to be a crutch, metal type from the angle I have from here.

[claudiustg]

So, is Jane Fonda going to campaign for Kerry?

[cav68]

In the Kingdom reserved for Vietnam Vets there is no place for John Kerry, not today, not last week, or tomorrow nor any time in the future. Lets all remember he opted out of Vietnam after just 6 months, he sought to end free fire zones along his rivers and went to Saigon to meet with the top brass to make his point. I now wonder if per say the Opt out was a Nice Shinny Boot applied with the Proper Force to the applicable area.

[shhrubbery!]

Side by sides...what Kerry said then, what Kerry says now.

Heh. Also side by sides of video clips (no audio necessary) of Kerry talking -- pre-botox, and post-botox.

Everyone will notice that in the latter, his eyebrows no longer move.

Note that exit polls find many voters saying they preferred a different candidate, but voted for Kerry because they think he's 'most likely to beat Bush.'

So no one's in love with Kerry. And those with high hopes for him are being set up for a huge disappointment when they learn more about their...blind date.

[jveritas]

The guys in the picture look like communist revolutionaries from Central or South America. Also notice flag is upside down, which is a sign of rebellion against America. If I am the RNC or the Bush campaign I will make the cover of this book and ad to show the American people who is John Kerry.

[Uncle Hal]

Folks, this is just the beginning. We have not seen anything yet. The 04 campaign is going to be very ugly and mean spirited on both sides. I have never seen the country so polarized and I have been following politics for 50 plus years. I do not know where this is all going to end but I fear for my country. I will probably be gone before this all shakes out, but I fear for my children and grand children.

[mystery-ak]

I predict in the near future we will see Kerry wearing his old uniform with medals attached...I can't understand why he is getting all this support from Vets.

[bushfamfan]

That needs to be made into a poster and shown everywhere. When they call it 'negative campaigning', how are they going to get around the fact all it is doing is showing the cover of John Kerry's book. No changes, just what Kerry had on the book. What a patriot.

[Coop]

What polarization? Almost all the hate and venom and is spewing from the left.

[.cnI redruM]

It's immediately after Vietnam that's issue, Poodle_Boy.

[Clemenza]

And its 1-2-3 what are we fighting for?

Don't ask me I don't give a damn

The next stop is Viet-nam.

[weegee]

Rule 2: Reporters believe liberal "Facts", illogic, and inconsistency are irrelevant.

[weegee]

The only copy of that book I can find on the network of used book dealers at bookfinder.com is priced at $750.00.

I wonder if John Efn' Kerry had an aide employed who's only task was to buy up copies of that book.

There are 2 copies currently on ebay ($150 and $25)

The person selling the signed copy would have had something special if he had Mr. Kerry date it as well:

Written by presidential hopeful, Senator John Kerry, this book chronicals an anti-war protest held in 1971 by the Vietnam Veterans Against The War. Due to the controversial nature of the book, most copies were pulled off the shelves when Kerry decided to run for office making this book a rare find. This was recently signed by John Kerry during the Iowa Caucuses in Iowa City at the Old Capital Mall, January 16, 2004. Broadcast being signed on Fox News.

I have to wonder if Kerry even realized what he was signing. Does he still embrace this book? Did Fox News air the clip of him signing this much?

Closed auctions on ebay were priced at:

$355.00 (27 bids, sold), $113.50 (9 bids, sold), $300.00 (1 bid, sold), $355.01 (36 bids, reserve not met, this is the same signed copy now at $25), $132.50 (39 bids, sold), $282.00 (24 bids, sold), $1,000.00 (no bids, not sold), $176.05 (30 bids, sold), $167.79 (12 bids, sold), $152.50 (17 bids, sold), $355.00 (22 bids, reserve not met, the same signed copy again)