Washington Post's David Broder Q & A Regarding Kerry's Refusal to Release His Military Records

The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, March 4, 2004 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

The Washington Post's David Broder, known as 'the dean of the Washington press corps, held a moderated online discussion last Thursday on the presidential campaign.

Here is the question I posed and Broder's response. I was unable to answer his question back to me because I had submitted the question the night before and was at work when the online chat took place.

Washington, D.C.: Sen. Kerry parades around former Sen. Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in an accident in Vietnam, like Jerry Lewis on a telethon so as to burnish his Vietnam combat credentials, yet he refuses to authorize the release of his records documenting his three Purple Heart earning flesh wounds.

When is the press going to put the pressure on Kerry that they put on President Bush about his Guard records?

After all, Kerry used those three Purple Hearts to get out of Vietnam after four short months -- leaving his 'band of brothers' to fight on without him.

David Broder: You imply something dishonorable about Sen. Kerry's war record. I know of nothing that supports that suspicion. Do you have any such evidence?

You'll note Broder did not answer the question about the press, but instead turned it around on me. I'll send a response to him at his next online chat.

[Just mythoughts]

Very interesting. So there is something hidden in those records.

OK how do "WE" not the Bush/Cheney campaign, put the pressure on these who will not follow the STANDARD they set?

[ThreePuttinDude]

bump

[Always Right]

Can't the records be claimed under the freedom of information act.

[Fenris6]

If Broder is the "Dean" he shoud be ashamed. Objective and truth-seeking? Yeah right.

Ask him this:

1) Re Kerry's testimony before congress about war crimes in Vietnam. Q: If Kerry saw these things, he had a responsibility as an officer to report each instance to his superiors. Why didn't he? Doesn't this make him complicit in the cover up of such crimes? And isn't this yet another example of Monday-morining quarterbacking by Kerry?

2) As for unethical conduct in Vietnam, Kerry by his own admision chased down a wounded enemy and finsihed him off as he was dying. Isn't this against Geneva? Aren't we supposed to treat captured enemy with a bit of mercy? Kerry got a silver star for this - who wrote him up for the medal? Usually its superior officer's who do this, But Kerry was most senior on the scene...and you're NOT allowed to write yourself up for medals.

[kristinn]

Privacy exemption. Kerry needs to waive that for them to be released. He has declined to do so.

[kristinn]

By doing things like this with Broder and other reporters. Letters to the editors, calls to Kerry's campaign HQ, or raise it at his campaign stops. He's still on the hustings.

[alwaysconservative]

We should write letters to our newspapers, and to all the mainstream media on TV with just two short and simple questions:

Now that the President has disclosed his military records for his critics to comb through, when is candidate Kerry going to do the same with his records? Or is there a double standard on the part of the press in wanting the public to see this information?

C'mon, FReepers, let's get busy.

[Jim Noble]

OK how do "WE" not the Bush/Cheney campaign, put the pressure on these who will not follow the STANDARD they set?

Not to worry.

Hillary will release them in early October.

[kristinn]

After the way the 'Rats went after the honorably discharged George W. Bush without any evidence, I believe that Kerry's entire military record should be scrutinized. Fair is fair.

[Just mythoughts]

I don't want to wait for hillry's October surprise!

This bunch almost stole an election in 2000 just with "VOTE FRAUD" and a few fellow travelers on a state supreme court.

[gunnedah]

How do you have anything when he wont release the records.
The speculation that McCaulffe,Kerry and the Democrats raised about Bush and his National Guard service was not accompanied by anything from them and the press ran like hell with it.
May God forgive me but if there is another attack by Al-Queida in this country I hope its on the so called "Mainstream Media" they are truly evil liars and manipulators driving their evil agenda home.

[Smokin' Joe]

"MACV launched its Drug Abuse Counteroffensive in the summer of 1971. On June 17, President Nixon announced that the military effort in the drug program, as part of the national effort, would include the identification of heroin users in Vietnam...On July 7, the Army began testing units rotating back to the United States, and August 1 expanded the testing to cover amphetamines and barbiturates."

From The Rise and Fall of an American Army US Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1965-1973, by Shelby L Stanton Presidio Press 1985

I do not know the Navy's policy in this regard, but with his ties to the Kennedys, I am sure Kerry would have been made aware of impending policy in this regard, well in advance, if there was any 'need to know'.

The crowd he was running with just after the war was suspect enough. Not like the vets I knew who came home and went to work.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Privacy exemption. Kerry needs to waive that for them to be released. He has declined to do so.

Bush released his records.

One must conclude that Kerry is ashamed of his records.

Or does he have something to hide?

[The Other Harry]

Kristinn, please stay in there. I would like to have seen you debate directly.

[Semper Paratus]

Hillary will release them in early October.

And she'll find they were sitting on her Senate desk all along.

[alnick]

You imply something dishonorable about Sen. Kerry's war record. I know of nothing that supports that suspicion. Do you have any such evidence?

I would like to see this turned around to read:

"You imply something dishonorable about President Bush's service record. I know of nothing that supports that suspicion. Do you have any such evidence?"

Why is it that they demand evidence to support ugly claims against Kerry but no such evidence is needed before they trot out the most egregious implications about our president?

The hypocrites.

[GunnyB]

2) As for unethical conduct in Vietnam, Kerry by his own admision chased down a wounded enemy and finsihed him off as he was dying. Isn't this against Geneva?

It is absolutely against the Conventions to do this. As a matter of fact, it could be considered a war crime in and of itself. Frankly, I am not surprised by Broder of any one else in the elite media who hasn't seen though this. They have no military background, have probably never read the convention - or been briefed on the rules of land warfare.

I want to know where the outrage is at this lack of forthrightness with the American people. Where are Kerry's records? We must press this point in every way we can. Those Dim bas*ards gave our President a proctological exam about his records - where are the demands for parity?

[kristinn]

Hillary will release them in early October.

I can just see the N.Y. Post headline now: Purple Heart for Purple Manhood: Kerry Caught Clap in V.C. Honey-Trap.

[evad]

Do you have any such evidence?

"I may, but that's not the question" would have been my reply.

I would appreciate it if you would answer my question before we go off to another topic.