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Cleland: Kerry Won't Release Vietnam Medical File
NewsMax ^ | 2/29/04 | Limbacher

Posted on 02/29/2004 7:38:32 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Former Sen. Max Cleland said Sunday there was no reason for Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry to release his full medical file - including records documenting the injuries that won him three Purple Hearts in Vietnam - calling requests for the Vietnam records "the height of hypocrisy."

"That might be the height of hypocrisy, for people who never went to Vietnam [to ask for Kerry's wartime medical file]," Cleland, a leading Kerry backer, told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg.

"I mean - I felt a wound. John Kerry felt a wound," he added.

Sen. Cleland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam but never received a Purple Heart, said Kerry's physical sacrifice had been just as great as his own, telling Malzberg, "I don't see any difference."

When pressed on why he thought Kerry didn't need to release his full medical file, Cleland shot back, "You read the book 'Tour of Duty.' I'm not going to get into an argument with you here. Let's just say, we have a clear choice in America."

However, when asked two weeks ago about the severity of Kerry's wounds, "Tour of Duty's" author Douglas Brinkley explained, "They were minor."

The issue of whether Sen. Kerry should release his medical files could become a prickly one for the candidate, especially since he has been less than forthright about personal medical issues in the past.

In Feb. 2003, Kerry underwent an operation for prostate cancer. But he had declined to reveal the condition for months, even when reporters asked about his health. When he finally went public with the news, Kerry claimed that the cover-up had been necessary because his doctors "had not settled on a course of treatment."

When he ran for president in 2000, George Bush released his full medical file, a disclosure so complete that it came to include Bush's 1970s dental files this year.

The exchange between Cleland and Malzberg went like this:

MALZBERG: There's been criticism, fair or unfair, that within the first 24-hours [John Kerry] had his first purple heart. He got three in four months without even a day of duty lost from wounds, according to his training officer. But he will not release his Purple Heart medical treatment reports to be released. And he is the only person keeping them from being released. Would you call on him to release all of his records, sir?

CLELAND: Well, look here. I mean - ah, ah - I think - ah - that might be the height of hypocrisy, for people who never went to Vietnam - as Shakespeare said, "Those who jest at scars never felt a wound." I mean - I felt a wound. John Kerry felt a wound.

MALZBERG: But you never received a Purple Heart, sir.

CLELAND: May I just say, when he was the skipper of his boat with five enlisted men in that situation - going into the jaws of death every day - he had to rely on his instincts for survival. And he and his crew were one. They were a band of brothers. Now, under that situation they saved each others lives. He also saved the life of a Special Forces officer out of the Mekong Delta River, Jim Rassmussen [sic]. And he is campaigning around America for Kerry even though he's a Republican.

The point being, we've been there, done that, gotten a few holes in our T-shirt and we've come back to America to say, war is the last resort, not the first resort.

MALZBERG: I understand, sir. But you were a hero. You lost three limbs, sir, and you don't have a Purple Heart. He barely missed day and he has three of them. And I'm just saying, why not end the controversy . . . Why not see what the injuries were, sir?

CLELAND: May I just say to you and all your listeners, if you want know the full story of John Kerry and the Vietnam War, just go out and buy a book that's on the New York Times bestseller's list, called "Tour of Duty." . . . If we get bogged down in guerilla wars in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in the Balkans and all around, we're going to see repeats of Vietnam. . .

Now that people are going after John Kerry for supposedly being weak on defense, especially by those who never went to war. I mean, you talk about a short term, George Bush had eight months dropped from his tour. He never even completed his tour of duty.

MALZBERG: Well sir, Kerry got out early, also - Kerry got out six months early as well.

CLELAND: Yeah, because he got wounded.

MALZBERG: But we don't know the extent of those wounds, sir.

CLELAND: I got out five weeks early because I got blown up.

MALZBERG: Yes, but don't you see the difference? You lost three limbs.

CLELAND: I don't see any difference.

MALZBERG: We don't know what happened to Kerry because he won't let us know.

CLELAND: That's not true. You read the book "Tour of Duty." I'm not going to get into an argument with you here. Let's just say, we have a clear choice in America. And the great citizens of New York have a great choice on Tuesday. . . . We don't have to repeat another Vietnam. [END OF EXCERPT]



TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; interview; kerry; kerryrecord; malzberg; maxcleland; medicialrecords; purplehearts; talkradio; transcript; vietnam; wabc
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To: LiteKeeper
It is the vets that can ask,demand,inquire about Kerry's records.Those who served can blow Cleland's rationalization about Kerry's records out of the water.Thank you for your service.

God bless our armed forces and their loved one who wait at home.
21 posted on 02/29/2004 7:54:10 PM PST by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
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To: FormerACLUmember
I believe Kerry is terminally ill. He will try to get elected with Hillary of the ticket knowing full well he will not live out his first term

With Hillery "one heartbeat away" Kerry is DOA.
22 posted on 02/29/2004 7:55:08 PM PST by OldEagle (Haven't been wrong since 1947.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Let's start calling him "One Nut Kerry" to force him into showing his files to prove otherwise. This is great, but don't force it till he's got the nomination.
23 posted on 02/29/2004 7:56:28 PM PST by KillTime
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To: Fenris6
but how do we knows they weren't self inflicted? maybe just one or two of them?
24 posted on 02/29/2004 7:56:39 PM PST by oceanview
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To: oceanview
Kerry wrote up all his own reports on the alleged injuries during his unususally short stint in Vietnam. Very, very suspect since 3 wounds and you are home to the good ol' USA, land of opportunity and rich widows.
25 posted on 02/29/2004 8:03:10 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (Man rises to greatness if greatness is expected of him)
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To: MarkeyD
I would also like to see the citation on the Silver Star
26 posted on 02/29/2004 8:05:24 PM PST by squirt (POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED, FOR THE SAME REASON)
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To: FormerACLUmember
aren't these type of claims of injury suspect to even modest review before awarding purple hearts?
27 posted on 02/29/2004 8:06:01 PM PST by oceanview
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To: FormerACLUmember
You're nopt allowed to write yourself up for medals - this should be investigated. If true, his medals should be revoked.
28 posted on 02/29/2004 8:06:35 PM PST by Fenris6
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To: OldEagle
If Kerry has metastatic prostate disease, then you know that Hillary will (a) be the first to know, and (2) planning her coup to seize the VP spot.
29 posted on 02/29/2004 8:07:03 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (Man rises to greatness if greatness is expected of him)
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To: OldSmaj
AS a Purple Heart Nam Vet, I think as you do. I correspond with many others that agree also. Clinton never allowed his medical records to be viewed. His weren't war wounds, but scabs form.

When are the American people going to get wise? We are dealing with another Slime Ball, who will lead us into great troubles if we allowed him in the office of Presidency. Doesn't it make you sick to think of another player on the Great Seal???

30 posted on 02/29/2004 8:07:12 PM PST by Joee
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
If I were Kerry, I wouldnt either. People might not think me a hero.
31 posted on 02/29/2004 8:08:36 PM PST by cynicom
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To: gov_bean_ counter
Nutball comments..
32 posted on 02/29/2004 8:08:47 PM PST by tcuoohjohn (Follow The Money)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The hypoocrisy of the left is insane.
It's perfectly fine for the dims to demand to see president Bush's military records.
But it's not ok for people to request Kerry's record.
Kerrys the hypocrtie
33 posted on 02/29/2004 8:09:14 PM PST by armyboy (Posting from Sustainer Army Airfield Balad, Iraq. All Gave Some...Some Gave All)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
I'm inclined to give him a pass on Vietnam service. All wounds inflicted by the enemy which require medical attention qualify for an award of the Purple Heart. I know it's an award I never want to receive. If it's my blood, even a little wound will be a big deal to me.

I'll give him a pass on the Purple Hearts, on leaving country early and on the actions for which he received the Silver Star and Bronze Star with V device. Some superior signed off on all of these and is ultimately responsible for each decision (just as Bush's superiors were ultimately responsible for judging the character of his service).
34 posted on 02/29/2004 8:09:58 PM PST by bin2baghdad
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To: bin2baghdad
then why not release the records if they only serve to supplement his claims of valor?
35 posted on 02/29/2004 8:11:10 PM PST by oceanview
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To: squirt
To even qualify for the Silver Star, one must have TWO witnesses to the action involved. Who were these witnesses?
36 posted on 02/29/2004 8:12:09 PM PST by Carolinamom
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
...calling requests for the Vietnam records "the height of hypocrisy."

How 'bout calling into question every detail of your opponent's service while keeping your own under wraps. Would that be hypocritical?

Apparently not, because service in Vietnam elevates Kerry to a moral plane high beyond our comprehension.

37 posted on 02/29/2004 8:12:17 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: Rhys Ifans
Cancer of the colon, while out of the service, is not a Government record. There should not be any restriction on a medical PUBLIC record that is from the armed forces. I believe there is still a "Freedom of Information Act"? and it is the public's right to be able to see these non-classified records on request?
38 posted on 02/29/2004 8:14:01 PM PST by glowworm ( Rats and rat behavior, a rat is a rat is a rat..)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

"I was wounded by a shell fragment!"

...an eggshell, that it.

39 posted on 02/29/2004 8:17:22 PM PST by Cloud William
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The Repubs have GOT to take off their gloves, throw away the Marquis of Queensbury rules, and fight the Dems on their own ground.

Clelland shouldn't be permitted to escape with this phoney posturing over Kerry's record.

If George Bush's record has been subjected to so much scrutiny, the American Public is entitled to know WHY Kerry received those "Purple Hearts" before returing stateside to aid Hanoi Jane Fonda against our servicemen and Country.
40 posted on 02/29/2004 8:20:06 PM PST by ZULU (GOD BLESS SENATOR McCARTHY!!!!)
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