Kerry Hits Back at White House, Defends Patriotism

Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry (news - web sites), lashing out at the White House's "twisted sense of ethics and morality," accused Republicans on Friday of distorting his record and attacking his patriotism.

Kerry, at an outdoor rally on the University of Pittsburgh campus, used an American flag and the national anthem to fire back at Republicans who charge he is weak on defense for voting against some weapons systems and an $87 billion bill to pay for operations in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites).

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, pointed out Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and political adviser Karl Rove did not serve in the military.

"I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance," the Massachusetts senator said. "I'm not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism."

"I've seen how these people in the White House today, in their twisted sense of ethics and morality, don't think twice about challenging John McCain and what happened to him as a prisoner of war," he said in reference to attacks by President Bush (news - web sites) in 2000 on his Republican primary rival McCain, an Arizona senator.

Kerry, who has tried to make his military experience a centerpiece of his campaign, is in a tight battle with Bush for the White House more than seven months before the November election.

Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman, said Kerry's judgment in his voting record on defense and security was in question, not his patriotism.

"The fundamental difference in this election will be between President Bush's steady leadership in the war on terror and John Kerry's consistent political opportunism on the war on terror," Schmidt said.

Kerry has come under heavy attack from Bush and Republicans, who have launched tens of millions of dollars of advertising trying to paint him as a waffling, traditional tax-and-spend Democrat.

"They don't think twice about trying to pretend to America that I somehow don't care about the defense of our nation," Kerry said, paraphrasing wording in the Star Spangled Banner including reference to "political bombs" bursting in the air.

"When I look up, that flag is still there and it belongs to all Americans," he said, pointing to a flag near the stage. "Not to them, not to a party. It belongs to us."

Kerry told the crowd of more than 5,000 that "asking questions about the direction of our country is patriotism."

The Bush campaign said on Thursday that it is cutting back its advertising by two-thirds, which Kerry said was designed to "distort" his record. Kerry told reporters he believed he had withstood the early Republican charge.

"They're out 50 million bucks and they got nothing for it," Kerry told reporters on his campaign plane on Thursday night.

The rally in Pittsburgh, which featured a performance by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, concluded a week-long tour of college campuses where Kerry plugged his programs to make college more affordable.

He appeared in Pittsburgh on the same day the powerful pro-gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, opened its annual convention in town. More than 50,000 gun-lovers packed the downtown convention center to sample what organizers billed as "Four Acres of Guns and Gear."

Cheney will make the keynote speech at the convention on Saturday, but Kerry did not mention the gun issue during his appearance.

The NRA has not made an endorsement yet but is certain to back Bush in November over Kerry, who supports the federal ban on assault weapons and a waiting period and background checks for the purchase of handguns.

It's pointless unless some sort of real inconsistecy is found in his record.
I was debating (with myself) whether to respond to your posts. I left the net, and was listening to the Michael Reagan Radio program. He had two lefties in a row, both claiming that Osama the Terr is talking the Kerry party line, BECAUSE he wants W to be re-elected. (!) One said that Kerry had promised to get us out of Iraq, and send the soldiers in Iraq to Afghanistan--to find Osama. He also claimed that Kerry was a wart hero, but Cheney and Rumsfeld had evaded the draft.
As is obvious, these calls made up my mind to answer your posts. I agree that your main premise is (in a general sense) sound. Having said that, though, I have to say that we are not talking about a general sense case, rather, a specific case.
That specific case is that Kerry, his handlers, and his minions, have CHOSEN to make the fact-oids that Kerry volunteered for "Combat Duty In Vietnam," and is a "Decorated Veteran," or "War Hero;" not merely as talking points, but as qualifications for a president to lead his country in wartime. THEY have made the case that He is a big deal "War Hero," and thus, bolster their imaginary case that W, Cheney, and Rumsfeld were "draft dodgers," or "deserters." I am unable to let this pass, without doing what I can to demonstrate the truth about Kerry's "War Hero" status.
If he were merely "Senator Kerry" from Boston, I wouldn't waste my time. If he was my brother-in-law, or my neighbor, or some guy in a bar, spouting off, I would just let it be. Kerry should have let well enough alone. Now, he must expect to be exposed, in public, just like those poor fools described in "Stolen Valor."

I believe that " some sort of real inconsistecy" is there, waiting to be " found in his record." In fact, I believe that Kerry's own record is what will demonstrate that he is greatly exaggerating his war record, and that he lacks the capacity to be the Commander in Chief.

Further, and as a separate issue, I think that Kerry decorating himself continues the "medal inflation" which was seen in at least some parts of the Vietnam War. By attempting to gain the Presidency by standing on what looks (to me) to be a hollow shell of heroism, Kerry re-opens the wounds caused when he (figuratively) danced (with golf shoes) on the backs of already damaged veterans, right up to the capitol fence, and threw his(?) medals away. By then dishonoring his own medals, he also dishonored everyone who served honorably.

Medal Inflation: Two stories.

1. Another gunner in my outfit told me that the reason he had volunteered to be a doorgunner was that he had been awarded both the Bronze Star, and Silver Star, and he wanted to do somethng to deserve them. He told me that he had never been out of the Base, never even been on perimiter guard duty, never fired a round, and never been shot at. I believe that he was telling the truth.

2. It was common knowledge (and I believe it to be true) that the major in charge of my company arrived just before Tet 69. So, even though he was not legally "qualified" to fly a hog, he pulled rank, to get a ride as a "Peter Pilot." Thus, he sat in the right seat, but couldn't handle the controls, or even touch the weapon systems. After just sitting there, for a few gun runs (down the active--the NVA and VC were dug in, right outside the wire) he PUT HIMSELF IN for a Silver Star, and a DFC.

3. I know a vet who says he "stopped counting when he got to twenty" medals, and I KNOW he isn't any kind of hero.

p.s. I am not saying that you are wrong, I am saying: "Now he has made it personal."

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