Kerry Blasts Bush Over Attacks on Record (JOHN F'N KERRY BARF ALERT!!!!)

Drudge Report ^ | Feb 21,2004 | NEDRA PICKLER

[txradioguy]

Feb 21, 11:18 PM (ET)

By NEDRA PICKLER

ATLANTA (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry accused President Bush on Saturday of using surrogates to attack his military service in Vietnam and his subsequent activism against that war.

In a letter to Bush, Kerry wrote: "As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and painful period in our nation's history, and the struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been hard to believe that you would choose to reopen these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do."

Kerry was reacting to criticism earlier in the day from a leading Georgia Republican who, speaking for Bush's re-election campaign, predicted trouble for Kerry in the state's primary.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss said during a conference call arranged by the Bush campaign that Kerry has a "32-year history of voting to cut defense programs and cut defense systems."

(AP) Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., accompanied by AFL-CIO President John... Full Image

When Kerry responded later, at his side was Max Cleland, a triple-amputee Vietnam veteran who lost his Senate seat to Chambliss in 2002 after being portrayed as soft on homeland security.

He said the president "decided once again to take the low road of American politics."

"Saxby Chambliss, on the part of the president and his henchmen, decided today to question my commitment to the defense of our nation," Kerry said in Georgia, one of 10 states choosing electoral delegates on March 2.

Kerry said Bush used the same strategy to beat John McCain in the 2000 race for the Republican presidential nomination, and during the Chambliss-Cleland race.

In his letter to Bush, Kerry called Chambliss' run against Cleland "one of the most despicable campaigns ever conducted."

During the news conference, Kerry said he voted for the largest defense and intelligence budgets in American history, although sometimes he "voted for common sense to make changes."

Bush, he said, was ignoring issues like jobs and health care to "engage in the politics of fear."

Kerry has gotten the endorsement of John Lewis, a civil rights leader and Georgia's longest-serving congressman. But Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., is backing Bush.

Kerry also defended his military record during an interview taped Saturday for broadcast Sunday morning on ABC's "This Week."

"I don't know what it is that all these Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam are fighting a war against those of us who did," the Massachusetts senator said.

Kerry has campaigned on his Vietnam combat record, which includes three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.

Chambliss said Kerry, despite his service, has a weak record on military issues.

"He has a long history, particularly in the last decade, of not only voting to cut intelligence spending, but introducing bills to cut intelligence spending," Chambliss said.

Cleland, a Democrat, had some criticism for Chambliss.

"For Saxby Chambliss, who got out of going to Vietnam because of a trick knee, to attack John Kerry as weak on the defense of our nation is like a mackerel in the moonlight that both shines and stinks," he said.

[txradioguy]

Wait a minute I'm confused. Kerry shoves it down everyones throat that he served in Vietman. Then he accuses the President of "opening up old wounds"? SOmeone PLEASE explain this to me!!

[My2Cents]

John F-in' Kerry is a whiney little turd.

[MediaMole]

John "Bush was AWOL" Kerry is accusing someone of using his military record against him.

[scarface367]

Ketchup boy wanted to run on his war record. But when his traitorous post-war record gets dragged up, he whines that Bush is doing a dirty campaign. The rats never cease to amaze me.

[BulletBobCo]

Already posted here.

[txradioguy]

What gets me is that Kerry get's upset about the President supposedly using "surrogates" to smear him. Yet F'n Kerry has the entire cnnnbcabccbsnytimes comglomerate to act as HIS surrogate to smear the president 30 times a day over a non-issue. It's incredible what the RATS will do to win back power.

[July 4th]

I read the first few paragraphs of the article and thought my head was going to explode! Has the universe been completely warped 180 degrees?

[July 4th]

Keep in mind, however, that the author - Nedra Pickler - normally does a nice job presenting both sides of the issues.

[My2Cents]

And since when has reporting the truth about a candidate's positions and statements been considered "negative campaigning"?

[bornintexas]

Oh, and this article is just in time for the Sunday Morning No-news shows. You can bet that this will be discussed on all the shows tomorrow about how poor whittle kerry is getting attacked by Bush.

[txradioguy]

"I read the first few paragraphs of the article and thought my head was going to explode!"


That was the EXACT feeling I had. It's like we've been transported into an alternate universe where right and wrong and what's the truth has been strangely twisted.

[onyx]

Kerry is whining now, he'll soon be screamiing foul. His past is coming home to haunt him.

[txradioguy]

"And since when has reporting the truth about a candidate's positions and statements been considered "negative campaigning"?"


When RATS do it to Republicans it's called "exposing the facts on the issues"


When Republicans to it to RATS it's called "negative campaigning"

[Mo1]

Wait a minute I'm confused. Kerry shoves it down everyones throat that he served in Vietman. Then he accuses the President of "opening up old wounds"?

It's an old play out of the Clinton game book ..

[Minn]

I'm also confused. How is criticizing Kerry's nauseatingly dovish senate record dredging up Vietnam, but bringing Cleland to nearly every campaign stop isn’t?

The Dem’s demagoguery knows no bounds. Cleland is indeed their new Florida 2000.

[txradioguy]

The RATS are going to use Max Cleeland as much as they can this year. And they are going to continue to use the lie that Saxby Chambliss questioned Cleeland's "patriotism" when in fact the only issue brought up was the fact that Cleeland voted against homeland security issues. Ann Coulter did a great article on this issue this week.

[teletech]

FINALLY, Kerry on the defensive! It's about time!

[armyboy]

Let me get this straight.
When Kerry brought up President Bush's military record it's a legit. tactic
When a Bush campaign supporter brings up Kerry's militray record, Kerry get's all flustered.
What a F'ing hypocrite

[Use It Or Lose It]

To the Rats, the truth is negative. Hasn't anyone noticed how the Guard story has disappeared from the front pages recently? It's imperative that Kerry's post-service activities and words be kept in the forefront.

Interesting observation heard yesterday: If Kerry receives nomination and selects Edwards, it's theoretically possible any aspirations Hillary has for the White House wouldn't be realized for 16 years (8 Kerry, 8 Edwards). Would she wait that long?