Those who do not want to criticize Kerry's war record miss the crucial point. It is KERRY who, ad nauseam, boasts about his war record. It is KERRY who claims it is a qualification for president. It is KERRY who today impugned Cheney and Rove for not serving.
Based on KERRY's constant claims, one would naturally examine his record. For example, he tried to avoid combat. He got out of combat ASAP. In fact, he insisted on it. So for KERRY to be talking about Cheney "avoiding service" is misleading at best.
And he is wrong from so many angles. Despite his brief combat service, he is horrible on national defense. It is no contest between Kerry and Cheney. No one is criticizing his patriotism. He is bragging about himself in an embarrassing way. And he is trying to stifle a national security debate, claiming questioning his votes is questioning his "patriotism." How could such a man possibly serve as president?
I agree with you on every thing except that he had brief combat experience and got out of combat ASAP. He got out of combat after being assigned to a second boat. On that boat he earned, unless it can be proved otherwise, a Silver Star. That doesn't constitute getting out of combat ASAP.
I also agree that he was wrong to say that Cheney avoided service. We should answer that comment, and then attack Kerry on everything following Vietnam.