Kerry Backs Off Statements on Vietnam War

ny times ^ | 4/19/04

[knak]

IAMI, April 18 — Senator John Kerry on Sunday distanced himself from contentious statements he made three decades ago after returning from the Vietnam War, saying his long-ago use of the word "atrocities" to describe his and others' actions was inappropriate and "a little bit excessive."

"If you wanted to ask me, `Have you ever made mistakes in your life?' sure," Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said in an hourlong interview on the NBC program "Meet the Press." "I think some of the language that I used was a language that reflected an anger."

[nopardons]

Hmmmmmm...which crime has the harder penalty.lying to Congress or committing war crimes? Why,war crimes, of course. So it would appear that flip flop Ketchup-boy is trying to cop a plea here.

[Chong]

WAIT!!! He denied speaking against the Vietnam veterans and accusing them of commiting all kinds of atrocities. So how can this be?

Can he back off from something that he didn't say?
Can he back off from something that he said but later denied saying?
Yes he can, when you are kerry. Go kerry! I am rooting for you! k-a-n y-o-u s-a-y sarcasm?

[Socratic]

"Let's pray for another 30 years of Republican control."

Amen.

[Jorge]

....saying his long-ago use of the word "atrocities" to describe his and others' actions was inappropriate and "a little bit excessive."

So NOW you say that your testimony before Congress, which was used by the Viet Cong to demoralize our POWs and soldiers fighting this war...and by US antiwar activists to spit on our veterans upon their return, was "a little bit excessive."

There are no words to describe my anger and disgust.

[isthisnickcool]

With the powers of the presidency, he is in some ways more scary than the Slickster.

And what about his wife? TER-E-ZA. Another nutcase. And note how they keep her under wraps. You don't hear her speak in person. Why not? Would she says dumb things? Or do they know that most Americans might not like her accent?

[plain talk]

"If you wanted to ask me, `Have you ever made mistakes in your life?' sure," Mr. Kerry

Kerry is just WAY TOO blatant as an opportunistic politician for most independents, the ones in the middle who will decide this (along with turn-out of the diehards). Clinton was much more subtle. Clinton was also a gifted speaker and could connect with people. Kerry is just an arrogant BS artist constantly dancing.

[Peach]

Well he has to back off those words now that they have been so strongly discredited.

In the "old" days, he would just be called a liar.

Today it's called "he backed off his words."

[kellynla]

I told you all that Kerry was a bald faced liar!
I guess I won't get a chance to prove him one in a court of law!

There were no "mass atrocities" by American troops in the Viet Nam war. PERIOD!


Semper Fi,
Kelly

[river rat]

Poor John, born with a silver turd in his mouth...
He'll choke on it...soon.
Semper Fi

[BigWaveBetty]

I hope every Viet Nam veteran watching caught this part of this interview.

(Videotape, MEET THE PRESS, April 18, 1971):

MR. KERRY (Vietnam Veterans Against the War): There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have...

(End Video tape)

Mr. Russert: You committed atrocities.

SEN. KERRY: Where did all that dark hair go, Tim? That's a big question for me. You know, I thought a lot, for a long time, about that period of time, the things we said, and I think the word is a bad word. I think it's an inappropriate word. I mean, if you wanted to ask me have you ever made mistakes in your life, sure. I think some of the language that I used was a language that reflected an anger. It was honest, but it was in anger, it was a little bit excessive. MR. RUSSERT: You used the word "war criminals." SEN. KERRY: Well, let me just finish. Let me must finish. It was, I think, a reflection of the kind of times we found ourselves in and I don't like it when I hear it today. I don't like it, but I want you to notice that at the end, I wasn't talking about the soldiers and the soldiers' blame, and my great regret is, I hope no soldier--I mean, I think some soldiers were angry at me for that, and I understand that and I regret that, because I love them. But the words were honest but on the other hand, they were a little bit over the top. And I think that there were breaches of the Geneva Conventions. There were policies in place that were not acceptable according to the laws of warfare, and everybody knows that. I mean, books have chronicled that, so I'm not going to walk away from that. But I wish I had found a way to say it in a less abrasive way.

Credit:
NBC News
MEET THE PRESS
Sunday, April 18, 2004

Yeah Kerry, those watching were in disbelief that your hair has changed so much we barely noticed you calling American troops murderers.

At least his great tan makes him look young. /sarcam

[LavaDog]

Boy that Tim Russert is one tough interviewer. I was waiting for his real hardline question to the Junior Sen (MA):

"Mr Prez-Elect, I mean Senator, what is your favorite color, and what do you think of the truly ugly color that GWB proposes as his favorite color. And if I may was this your favorite color while you were being a hero in Vietnam?"

[Mr. K]

What I dont understand is why when he ADMITTED COMMITTING ATROCITIES no one said "Oh really- what exactly did you do?"


The presstitutes gall me beyond belief.

[jocon307]

"How many more months of this schizophrenic nonsense do we have to endure? Will Princess Hillary take up the scepter? Will this election ever be over?"

LOL, I know exactly how you feel! And the polls, the polls, the never ending polls. Bush 47 Kerry 45 in whatever state. Kerry 48 Bush 46 Rasmussen overnight.

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Still 7 months to go! Ack and double ACK!

[kellynla]

I can't stand to look at the traitor but if anyone has a link to the transcript, I know some Viet Nam veterans who would love to read it. Thanks.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Freedom4US]

I watched the MTP interview twice, and specifically watched for any apology or admission he was wrong. In my view he carefully parsed his statements, and did not repudiate his
scandalous accusations.

[F.J. Mitchell]

What if Kerry as Commander-in-Chief became angry again and took out his anger on our troops rather than the enemy, as he did then? His reaction to his anger then caused the enemy to hang on, prolong the war and costed many American troops their lives. As Commander-in-Chief he could be a hundred times more useful to our enemies and that much more dangerous to the safety of our troops and the survival of America.

Those who cannot control their own anger, should never be entrusted with controlling anything else.

[river rat]

There is ONE way Kerry can put his lying past behind him..

It is the same offer I made in writing to Jane Fonda - when it was falsely reported that she had "gotten right with Jesus"...over HER treacherous past..

Kerry can arrange a massive international press meeting -- with microphones and cameras --- just like he loved to perform in front of, when he and his phoney warriors were calling us baby killers and rapists...

ONLY this time, the press conference has to be in front of that stone wall on the mall --- with the names of all those killed in Vietnam, whose name and sacrifice was slandered by the worthless POS like Kerry and Fonda..

In FRONT of those dead men's memorial -- Kerry must admit he was wrong, and that he lied and that he asks forgiveness from the men who are IN that wall and listening...

Then perhaps I can forgive Kerry, NO ONE MOMENT BEFORE..

Semper Fi

[RayChuang88]

The phrase wish-washy is truly apt description for Senator John F. Kerry. Make up your mind, for heaven's sakes!

[NorthWoody]

"Still 7 months to go! Ack and double ACK!"
_______________________________________________

Come on now, it's only 6 1/2 months. Don't make it out to be any worse than it is, PLEASE! :)

I just hope that on the morning of November 3, 2004 we can all wake up and know who will be our president for the next four years. No repeats of 2000.

[F.J. Mitchell]

To really position himself for being forgiven, he should follow up those confessions and apologies, by admitting that his actions not only make him forever unfit to be President, but unfit for serving in the US Senate as well, and tender his resignation as the grand finale.