Kerry Sees a Little Vietnam in Louisiana Coastline

Yahoo! News ^ | 4/21/04 | Patricia Wilson - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

ST. BERNARD, La. (Reuters) -

The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet is a long way from the Mekong Delta, but it brought back memories for Democratic presidential hopeful and Vietnam War veteran John Kerry (news - web sites) on Wednesday.

Standing at the bow of a 25-foot power craft called "Fishing Magician" inspecting coastal erosion in southern Louisiana reminded Kerry of his days as commander of a Navy "swift" boat 35 years ago.

"I looked out at the shoreline and I commented that parts of it looked a lot like the rivers and coastline that I went through in Vietnam," the Massachusetts senator said.

He told about 100 supporters sweltering in the heat on the banks of the Mississippi that he had spent a lot of time "in a habitat that looked a little like this" as a young Naval officer. He said the 50-foot gunboat he commanded was built "right here in Louisiana."

But Kerry made no mention of the controversy over release of his full Navy records and questions about the first of three Purple Hearts he was awarded.

Under fire from Republicans, his campaign released some of his military records late Tuesday and Wednesday after questions were raised about the war wounds he suffered to earn his first Purple Heart.

Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said on "Meet the Press" on Sunday that he would release all of his military records, following the example of President Bush (news - web sites).

He has made his military service during the Vietnam War a focus of his campaign, and said last week Republicans like Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and White House political adviser Karl Rove who never served in the military should not question his patriotism by criticizing his defense record.

SEVERITY OF WOUND

Kerry served as a swift boat commander in Vietnam's Mekong Delta in 1968 and 1969. His former commanding officer, Lt. Commander Grant Hibbard, has said he raised questions at the time about Kerry's first Purple Heart and the severity of the wound.

The documents released by the campaign include Kerry's Purple Heart citations. Purple Heart requirements do not specify the severity of the wound.

Kerry's visit to Shell Beach was tied to a three-day campaign swing through Florida, Louisiana and Texas focusing on the environment and fund-raising.

The son of a diplomat who graduated from Yale, joined the Navy, became a prosecutor and has served in the Senate for almost two decades, Kerry declared an affinity with the people of the tiny town of St. Bernard.

"We're both fishing people, we're both people of the sea," he said.

Kerry blasted Bush's environmental record and said the president had cut funding for coastal programs and refused to release the results of a study in Louisiana that was to outline a comprehensive plan to address the rapidly depleting coastline.

"Today, a piece of land the size of a football field sinks into the Gulf of Mexico on average every half hour," he said. "And coastal erosion isn't just swallowing your beaches, it's drowning your economy."

Kerry vowed to make coastline protection an environmental priority and said he would redirect part of offshore oil and gas revenues to a coastal conservation fund.

[Howlin]

He told about 100 supporters

Less than 200 last night; less than 200 yesterday.

Where are his supporters?

[Howlin]

Can you get that from the library?

[juzcuz]

The city of NO is a real sick drug infested place with multiple gang murder "every" night. Everyone/anyone who want's LIFE leaves.... There tax base is leaving the entire city is becoming a BROWN ZONE of emptyness... Wonder if Kerry will visit the streets? I think not..

[Rocky]

"it brought back memories for Democratic presidential hopeful and Vietnam War veteran John Kerry"

Ol' Victor Cajun was hidin' behind every tree.

Kerry is very talented. He can segue from any subject into Viet Nam without even taking a breath.

[jwalsh07]

The crew should be careful, Kerry may just leave them there.

[cksharks]

He should be right at home then because about 2/3 of the area is inhabited by vc.

[Sofa King]

Hey, did you know that my mother used to have a nutria fur coat?

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Do all demoncrat ladies pose with their legs spread open like that? Yeesh....

[olde north church]

1. He went to the N.O. in search of a woman he left in Saigon more than 30 years ago, "Me sew hawn-neeh". She performed the same functions as the family maid.
2. I saw the tape of them zippin' around the river, Kerry pointed his arm toward the something on the shoreline and almost knocked the African-American out of the boat.

[bornintexas]

"We're both people of the sea."

bawwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh Do dims really fall for this sh*t? I expected him to break out singing "Under the Sea" from the "Mermaid" at any time. lol What a dofus.

[onevoter]

I remember a friend telling me that, during Al Gore's run for president, he happened to see one of Al's stops. Evidently Al would bus people from stop to stop, in essence providing his own audience wherever he went. It might be interesting to see the faces of the people in the John Kerry audience, just to see if we see the same faces again and again and again. Let's face it, 100 people is hardly an impressive showing!

[Howlin]

Union people?

Gosh, I never knew that they did stuff like that; honest!

[Howlin]

He should be right at home then because about 2/3 of the area is inhabited by vc.

LOL!

[LadyPilgrim]

He just can't seem to let go........can he?

[July 4th]

I hope he had a safe trip. If he would have cut his finger on the boat or something, we'd have to hear about how he need a Congressional Medal of Freedom.

[Kate of Spice Island]

If you want some fun (or to barf again) imagine Kerry doing a sissyboy sashay with a little parels-vous francais and grabbing his derriere...which cheek was it?

[Darlin']

Oh, Peeeee-uke. Who is doing his advance work and prepping him for these stops ? Last night was the first time I'd heard he planned to be in the state today. We have 2 democrat U.S. Senators, the congressman down there is a dem, the newly elected governor is a dem and the best crowd they could draw was 100 people. Heck, on any given day there might be close to that mumber down there fishing. "sweltering" in the heat ? LOL. That reporter "ain't from round these parts". 83 isn't exactly hot down here and the humidity was pretty low.

[saxxa]

Howard Manly...LIBERAL writer from boston , a few weeks ago, compared Boston to Rawanda !!....these people are not in reallity ..

[Tribune7]

"I looked out at the shoreline and I commented that parts of it looked a lot like the rivers and coastline that I went through in Vietnam," the Massachusetts senator said at which point Sen. Mary Landrieu kicked him in the shin.

Kerry has applied for a Purple Heart.

[Tribune7]

LOL. Thank you Dems.