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."

[highlander_UW]

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

Because he admitted to what they were. I believe he said he fired on civilians and burned villages.

[wingster]

"I think some of the language that I used was a language that reflected an anger."

I think some of the language that he used was a language that reflected an agenda!

[Just Lori]

Such a beautiful and ugly wall. I get so angry.

[bootyist-monk]

"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?"

Judging from the look of his skin, I would say his favorite color is orange.

[ride the whirlwind]

An anti-American nightmare ticket.

[Just Lori]

A better interviewer than Russert would have asked Kerry whether he regrets his role in the real Southeast Asia genocide -- the one that happened after America went home.


Amen to you! Do you think he regrets the atrocities that were STOPPED when we went to Iraq?

[Just Lori]

If Kerry shows up at the "Wall" he will be about as welcome as a ham hock at a bar mitzvah. LOL
And we Viet Nam vets will make sure of that!


I so wish my brother could be there with the rest of you.

[cyncooper]

"If you wanted to ask me, `Have you ever made mistakes in your life?' sure," Mr. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said

What about the part where you accuse all the other soldiers of committing atrocities.

In fact, did he not on this same program claim he used excessive language, but them claim he had been accurate back then?

[Spotsy]

Okay, John, what words WOULDN'T be excessive?

So, John, are you saying that your fellow soldiers weren't quite like Genghis Khan? Who would you compare them to now?

[Iberian]

No, no he never lied .... well he sort of did, but he din't
He did but din't cause he took it back.

Kerrys Prayer. "Up there some where there is some sort of saint, if you pray some sort of prayer he grants you some some of wish"

This guy is an idiot, can you smell socialism??

[chadsworth]

My sentiments about Mr. J F'n Kerry. Here are just a few of his character traits.

[GOPrincess]

This appearance should provide fodder for conservative talk hosts for an entire week. Responding to the war atrocities question by saying the big question for him is where did the dark hair go, and then following up trying to have it both ways -- I shouldn't have used that word but on the other hand, sure, it happened -- I couldn't believe my ears. And then there was his budget plan, which might change "if we go to war or something." Uh, aren't we in a war already?

And what particularly disturbs me is that no journalist bothers to ask Kerry *what* atrocities he committed. Or whether he did take out a mortgage and whether he owns the house that was mortgaged, or did Teresa illegally give him the money? And did he receive an annulment and marry in the Church, or not? I could go on and on.

This guy lives his life as a two-timing double-talker. The thought of him in the White House is terrifying.

[Texasforever]

LOL

[sasportas]

I don't believe Kerry period. This is all about power, folks. Kerry will say whatever it takes to get in the white house. He is lying to gain the Vietnam vets and patriots votes. Once he gets in (heaven help us) you'll find nothing he says to get in meant anything.

[prairiebreeze]

Thanks for the ping. Hopefully in November we can refer to John Feckless Kerry as Mr. French Fried. They go well will Ketchup.

Prairie

[prairiebreeze]

will=with

[demlosers]

Kerry Backs Off Statements on Vietnam War

MIAMI, 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."

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The near-apology came after the host, Tim Russert, played videotape of Mr. Kerry, in 1971, acknowledging that he had participated in shooting in free-fire zones, burning villages and search-and-destroy missions. All those actions were "contrary to the laws of warfare" and the Geneva Conventions, he said then. Republicans have seized on those comments, and accusations about war crimes the young Mr. Kerry made in testimony before a Senate committee, to try to undercut his war credentials.

"The words were honest," Mr. Kerry said Sunday, "but on the other hand, they were a little bit over the top."

In an appearance his aides hoped would counterbalance President Bush's televised news conference last week, Mr. Kerry said he completely supported Mr. Bush's new position that Israel should be able to keep part of the land seized in the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. He also backed Israel's assassination this weekend of a Hamas leader.

"I believe Israel has every right in the world to respond to any act of terror against it," he said. Some members of Mr. Kerry's campaign are concerned that Mr. Bush's statements about West Bank settlements could draw Jewish Democrats.

Mr. Kerry's position on Israel was a rare point of agreement with the president, whose handling of Iraq Mr. Kerry called "stunningly ineffective."

"It may well be that we need a new president," he said, "a breath of fresh air, to re-establish credibility with the rest of the world."

The interview capped a week in which Mr. Kerry hammered Mr. Bush daily on Iraq, hoping to contrast his internationalist approach and policy experience with what his advisers see as Mr. Bush's simplistic "stay the course" presentation. He spent all of Saturday huddled with aides in preparation for the show.

It was Mr. Kerry's 19th appearance on "Meet the Press," his fourth since December 2002. He appeared well prepared for the forum and avoided verbal stumbles, correctly pronouncing the name of the United Nations' envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, which he had mangled three times in recent days. Hours later, at the University of Miami, Mr. Kerry goofed again, referring to the envoy as "Brandini."

The wide-ranging interview focused largely on foreign policy, but also touched on job creation, budget balancing, his wife's tax returns and even the gas mileage standards for new cars. Pressed on his past comments about raising the retirement age and instituting a means test for Social Security, Mr. Kerry turned the tables on Mr. Russert, saying, "I wish I had the power to press this button and put up on the screen what you said" in 1997 when Medicare seemed on the brink of bankruptcy.

Marc Racicot, chairman of Mr. Bush's re-election campaign, criticized Mr. Kerry's appearance as "little more than contradiction, a great deal of confusion, inaccurate attacks and a fundamental misunderstanding of the threat that we face with terror."

In a conference call with reporters, Mr. Racicot called Mr. Kerry's reasoning on voting to authorize the invasion of Iraq but not the $87 billion appropriation for reconstruction, "remarkably flawed."

The interview did provide new fodder for Republican attacks on Mr. Kerry for avoiding direct questions. Three times, on questions about troop deployment, troop financing and whether he would pledge not to run for re-election if he failed to fulfill promises to create 10 million jobs and cut the deficit in half, Mr. Kerry said "it depends" on the circumstances or the situation.

Asked at the beginning of the show for a yes or no answer on whether the war in Iraq was a mistake, Mr. Kerry responded, "I think the way the president went to war was a mistake."

Pushed to reconcile his description of Cuba policy four years ago as counterproductive with his current support for the embargo, he said, "I think in the year 2000, the politics are very different from where they are in 2004."

When Mr. Russert asked whether his wealthy wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, would release her tax returns, which she has refused to do, Mr. Kerry said, "My wife is doing exactly what the law requires."

The most awkward moment came after the Vietnam-era videotape, Mr. Kerry's "Meet the Press" debut, with the candidate watching his younger self use grave and graphic words to describe the Vietnam War.

"Where did all the dark hair go, Tim?" Mr. Kerry tried, wearing an odd grin. "That's a big question for me."

[knak]

Why did you post the whole thing? MSNBC articles are supposed to be excerpted on FR.

[kellynla]

Has anyone found the military medical records that Kerry "claims" have been made public???

Or was that statement just another famous Kerry IHOP special?