Posted on 02/19/2004 10:20:52 PM PST by SAMWolf
Veterans for Kerry has a nice ring to it. It sounds like it shows solidarity amongst the veteran community. Yet, there is a huge divide developing and growing related to this issue. Voting for a fellow veteran simply because he is a veteran is not good enough.
I guess its time to remind people what the real John F. Kerry is really about. It is not the veterans. John F. Kerry is without a doubt, out for John F. Kerry. The evidence is very clear. He has betrayed his fellow veterans especially his fellow Vietnam veterans portraying them as basically war criminals. He stated that he was ashamed of his service in Vietnam where he received several awards including three Purple Hearts and Silver Star. Most of us understand that awards presented, in many cases, were more a matter of who were the witnesses, willing to file the documentation. This does not mean that all awards or even Sen. Kerry's, presented in Vietnam were not earned. That is hardly the case. Many acts of Valor and Gallantry under fire happened almost daily that went unrecognized because that individual was "doing his job".Why is the award issue important will be made more clear later in this commentary.
Yet J.F. Kerry, upon his return home, joined, formed and created various aspects of the antiwar movement in this country. During one "Event" he even made a big show of throwing his Medals over the fence at the White House to show his contempt for his service and our involvement in Vietnam. Later he admitted they were not his medals, but those of someone else who gave them to him to toss. His medals hang proudly in his office in DC. Do as I say not as I do! At many of his so called events he actively recruited antiwar types to pretend they were Vietnam veterans. Promoting the use of the phony veterans to make his case for him. Just as the anti war movement today uses phony veterans to pursue their agenda. Did those antiwar protesters of today take a lesson from the Kerry Book of Protest? It sure seems so on the surface.
J.F. Kerry ran in circles with the likes of Hanoi Jane Fonda, Ramesy Clark and others promoting and supporting the communist in Vietnam as their friends.
J.F. Kerry openly and defiantly, displayed his contempt for his fellow Vietnam Veterans, his country and the war. Not until it was "socially accepted, popular, and OK" to be a Vietnam veterans did he begin to show or display any pride in his service. Up to that point he made no bones about his disgust and contempt for the service of so many who served in Vietnam. Now he is all of a sudden "PROUD" of his Service in Vietnam, and calling on his "Fellow Veterans" to support him in his bid to become President of the United States. This man has the nerve to desire to be the president [in the] same country he vilified and held in total contempt 30 years ago. Not to mention he seeks support from the very veterans he attacked and held such contempt. Lets not forget that Kerry's antiwar activities as well as those of others were very destructive to the moral in particular those troops still serving in Vietnam. Not only did it impact moral but also contributed unnecessary casualties. Clearly like Clinton his personal goals, needs and desires out weigh his own values or those of America. I would like to know who those fellow veterans are that would rally behind someone like him. After all he might even complete his agenda by having his good friend Hanoi Jane as his Secretary Of State. Maybe he is referring to the phony's who marched and walked with him during the antiwar demonstrations and events taking place around the country during the 60’s and 70’s.
Kerry attended a February 1971, VVAW conference bankrolled by Jane Fonda, the group's most prominent promoter. Over 125 self-proclaimed Vietnam veterans testified at a Detroit Howard Johnson's about wholesale rape, torture, and murder they claimed U.S. soldiers committed in Vietnam. Kerry later said he found the accounts shocking and irrefutable.
As a national leader of VVAW, Kerry campaigned against the effort of the United States to contain the spread of Communism. He used the blood of servicemen still in the field for his own political advancement by claiming that their blood was being shed unnecessarily or in vain. Much of Kerry's speech before Congress painted his fellow GIs as so brutal that, today, they could easily be mistaken for Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen killers.
He told Congress that U.S. soldiers had "personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam." (Source: Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry)
This was not the war as I saw and experienced. Nor is it the war most Vietnam Veterans I know participated in. Most glaring of all is the omission of the obscene atrocities conducted by the communist. (I notice the liberal mentality never seems to recognize those facts) Not only were such atrocities conducted but they were encouraged by the communist to instill fear and retain control over a given populace. Although I admit sometimes things got out of control and people were held accountable for their actions and conduct. It happens in all wars. But contrary to what Kerry and others of that ilk would like one to believe it was not standard or normal for such things to occur. It certainly was not encouraged or condoned. Soldiers were held accountable for their actions and conduct.
Furthermore, "...under Kerry's leadership, VVAW members mocked the uniform of United States soldiers by wearing tattered fatigues marked with pro-Communist graffiti. They dishonored America by marching in demonstrations under the flag of the Viet Cong enemy." (Souce: Newsmax Chuck Noe, What You Don’t Know About John Kerry - Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004)
Remember the times my friends and fellow veterans. This conduct by Kerry and his playmates, offered a significant part and role in Vietnam Veterans being ostracized by our society at large. It contributed to numerous suicides by Vietnam veterans, it contributed to the Nam vets inability to get back into the fold of normal society, Jobs were hard to come by especially for combat veterans. The widespread rejection of Vietnam veterans into society nationally was in large part due to the contributions of one John F. Kerry. Veterans were labeled and called names simply because they served their country. The military was attacked on all sides and it became a general target for these people. American Heroes were ashamed to admit they served their country for fear of attack and vilification of the left. In plain and simple terms Kerry and his friends went a long way to disrupt the lives of so many veterans and their families simply because they served their country when called upon with honor and dignity. For Kerry protesting and marching under the flag of our Communist enemy was a matter of pride. For most veterans it was a national disgrace. His conduct relating to our veterans contributed largely to many of the problems Vietnam Veterans suffered upon returning home. Not once has he recanted or apologized for his actions.
I will not go into how as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, J.F. Kerry, "as chairman of the Select Senate Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, created in 1991 to investigate reports that U.S. prisoners of war and soldiers designated missing in action were still alive in Vietnam, Kerry badgered the panel into voting that no American servicemen remained in Vietnam." (Source: What You Don’t Know About John Kerry)
Or how Kerry went out of his way to normalize relations with Vietnam and refused to be or get serious about the at that time "UNRESOLVED" issues relating to the POW/MIA issue. Or how he pushed for normalizing relations with Vietnam. "His quick fix committee closed down the live POW/MIA issue so that he could have his investment in Vietnam prosper. The Collier Corporation is an international Real Estate leasing organization, the largest of its kind in the world. The Collier Corporation had business leases in Vietnam before the Committee ended, (Remember there was a trade embargo in place with Vietnam at the time) Kerry Committee opened the way for normalization with Vietnam and Huge profits for his trust. Kerry's supposedly 'blind' trust fund, was heavily devoted to building a new port in Cam Rahn Bay. Who ran his trust? His cousin, Collier." (Source: What You Don’t Know About John Kerry)
"Sen. John McCain revealed that his North Vietnamese captors had used reports of Kerry-led protests to taunt him and his fellow prisoners. Retired General George S. Patton III angrily noted that Kerry’s actions had 'given aid and comfort to the enemy.' " (Souce: Newsmax Chuck Noe, What You Don’t Know About John Kerry - Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004)
Even today he has a history of waffling relating to Iraq and Afghanistan. His history of support for socialist and communist causes are well documented. This is what many veterans claim they want as the leader of this country?? Where have they been or have they simply forgotten what Kerry is responsible for during the late 60's and early 70's and beyond?
I do not and cannot reconcile his past conduct or even his current conduct as anything more than a radical who is a big part of the "Blame America First" brigade. Those pin heads that only see America as the problem in international issues. Of course we can forget that we just freed 25 million Iraqis and brought down an evil dictator named Saddam. For the first time in over 30 years Iraq is free and the people of Iraq can live free. The days of living life in fear of Rape, Murder, Torture, Mass Executions, and Genocide are done. Yet Kerry can't decide what was the right thing to do? Probably because Saddam didn't have a communist banner to march under. Are there issues and problems in the Iraq situation? Of course anything of such a degree and scale will have problems. Germany and Japan did not change overnight and Iraq will not either. But U.S. Intervention and leadership in developing post war Germany and Japan was a huge success. Look at those two countries today. There is no reason why the same cannot be said about Iraq in the future.
How anyone can consider him a supporter of American Values and Constitution with his socialist agenda is amazing to this veteran? Do we really want a president that organized and lead anti War and Anti America protests and demonstrations under the flag of the enemy we were fighting at the time? He clearly opposes the very values that make this country great, except when they are to his advantage. But then he has his doesn't he. And now he wants more. Sounds very Clintonist to me.
More important I think relating to his past history is the simple fact that he has "NEVER" recanted or apologized for his past actions and conduct. He owes every veteran that served in Vietnam an apology for his past conduct. He owes America an apology for his conduct during that era. Instead he wants us to reward him with the highest office in the land.
He would prefer that his past remain quiet and not brought forward. Like his book he and Vietnam Veterans Against the War authored titled "The New Soldier" which he pulled out of print when running for Congress, he wants things to disappear. He, like his great antiwar, politically correct, socialist friends, have done nothing but benefit from this country. Yet they continue to attack it from within. This is what some veterans want to support? Being a veteran clearly amongst many other things does not justify voting for a veteran simply because he is a veteran.
This veteran, in the guise of J.F. Kerry, has a record that has shown and displayed his contempt for his country, his fellow veterans, and contributed directly to the disruption and the very lives of so many of this nations heroes that served in Vietnam.
Its America, vote for who you wish. But think before you vote. Clinton is vilified as a draft dodger. So be it. We know Clinton hated the military and is a coward. More important and degrading is that Kerry, having served, broke faith with his fellow veterans and attacked them, their integrity, their honor, their dignity, and their service to their nation. Then built a career on their broken bodies and lives. Today, playing the role of the Heroic Proud Vietnam War Hero who wants to be president! He wants us to forget about his past activity, he wants that part of his life to disappear like his book did. It raises two questions. Which Kerry is running for office? The Kerry left wing liberal that renounced his fellow veterans and country, or the Kerry left wing liberal that prances around as the proud Vietnam Veteran Hero?
We are at war again. A war against Terror and others that would like to bring down this great country. Is this antiwar radical what you want to lead us when the likes of Bin Ladin, and other terror groups are running loose?
Its your decision.
Its America and you can vote as you please.
My thoughts and opinion.
John Kerry disgusts me as much, if not more than Der Schlickmeister.
Register me one Viet Nam vet that not only will not vote for him but rather vote for GW Bush if for no other reason to make sure the traitor Kerry does not get into the oval office.
The President has his plan to remind every one at the Pubbie convention about what this war is all about. It also falls around September on the 3 year anniversary.
The closer we get to the election, the more effective the Republican campaign will be.
At this point I'd consider it only a gesture and politically motivated like Kerry's entire life has been. I wouldn't give him any leeway even with an apology for his statements and actions demeaning Vietnam veterans. /rant
I'm not a very forgiving person.
Good article Sam, thanks for the ping.
I agree with you 100%, I wouldn't believe Kerry if he told me the sun rose in the East and set in the West.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.