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Kerry in 1971: 'Our Democracy is a Farce' - Communism did not pose threat to the United States
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 4/22/04 | Marc Morano

Posted on 04/22/2004 2:30:07 AM PDT by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - John Kerry, the presumed Democratic nominee for president, was quoted by a student newspaper at West Virginia's Bethany College in 1971 as saying, "Our democracy is a farce; it is not the best in the world."

Kerry made the remarks on Nov. 2, 1971, according to the Bethany College student newspaper, The Tower . CNSNews.com has obtained a copy of the article written by John Majors, which details Kerry's visit to the college and appeared in the Nov. 11, 1971 issue of the newspaper. At the time, Kerry was still a leader of the anti-war group, Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW).

"There is a disbelief in the American Dream," Kerry was quoted as saying. "People are questioning if it is really a dream or if the dream still exists," Kerry reportedly told the students gathered in the school's Weimer Lecture Hall.

Two weeks after his appearance at Bethany College, Kerry resigned as a leader of the VVAW during the group's meeting in Kansas City. That's the same meeting, in which VVAW members allegedly discussed the possibility of assassinating U.S. senators still committed to the American war effort in Vietnam.

During his speech to Bethany College students, Kerry was quoted as saying that communism did not pose any kind of threat to the United States.

"The soldier went to Vietnam to defend the country from aggressive communism in the tradition of World War II," Kerry reportedly said. "But the soldier learned he was not fighting communism. Communism was not a threat to our country and the war was not moral," he added.

The college newspaper also reported that Kerry was critical of the federal government's power.

"The government can kick people around," Kerry told students. "We have allowed public officials to exercise too much power."

Kerry reportedly backed up his belief that the U.S. "democracy is a farce" by citing statistics showing that only 25 percent of those eligible to vote in the 18-21 age bracket had in fact voted. But Kerry cautioned that, "Voting is not the only way change will come.

"There will be a confrontation, but it must be a non-violent effort," Kerry was quoted as saying. "If we are interested in overall change, we must demobilize society in the direction it is headed. We can't sit around and support this kind of society," he added.

A large part of Kerry's speech was devoted to what he believed were the negative effects of the Vietnam War on American veterans.

"[Some veterans] came back with a heroin habit that cost $12 a day in Vietnam. That same habit costs $175 to $250 a day in the U.S.," Kerry reportedly said. "[S]till other veterans came back with psychological problems, such as those who sleep with knives under their pillows, or those whose wives have to wake them up with code words so they won't get stabbed."

Kerry ended his speech warning about the challenges ahead.

"The greatest of all dangers is the future. Americans know the difference between right and wrong. We must make a positive commitment. Something can be done," the Bethany College newspaper quoted Kerry as saying.

Larry Sabato, a political science professor from the University of Virginia, predicted that Kerry will try to write off his 1971 comments as "young and foolish," but that it won't be an easy task.

"Just because he was young and foolish does not mean he will not have to explain these things," Sabato told CNSNews.com . "It will cause him a problem and these quotes will be widely circulated," he added.

B. G. Burkett, a military researcher and author of the book, Stolen Valor , said Kerry's speech to Bethany College students is further proof of the presidential candidate's "hypocrisy."

"During and after the Vietnam War, [Kerry] denigrated honorable men who served this nation well in Vietnam by calling them drug addicts, rapists, murderers, war criminals," Burkett told CNSNews.com .

"He is now trying to act like he is proud of his service when at the time he renounced the U.S. government, he renounced the U.S. military and he renounced and threw away the very medals he now claims he is proud of," Burkett said.

Repeated phone calls to Kerry's campaign for reaction to his 1971 speech to Bethany College students were not returned.

See Related Articles:

Kerry Still Backpedaling on Presence at 1971 Anti-War Meetings

Kerry Lying About Anti-War Past, Supporter Alleges


E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.

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TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 1971; kerry; kerryrecord
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To: kattracks
"Just because he was young and foolish does not mean he will not have to explain these things,"

Especially now that he's old and foolish.

21 posted on 04/22/2004 5:16:48 AM PDT by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Republicam)
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To: mountaineer
Any idea what time on Monday Kerry will make his appearance?

I think I'm making a Kerry's Waffle House sign, complete with a menu.

Not sure yet though!

I will be going to school near you btw, at West Liberty in a few more semesters after WVNCC, maybe even in the Spring 2005.



Patriot Paradox

22 posted on 04/22/2004 5:19:17 AM PDT by sonsofliberty2000 (In this springtime of hope, some lights seem eternal; America's is. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: sonsofliberty2000
No, I've been checking the news sources, but the exact time and place of Kerry's visit hasn't been announced.
23 posted on 04/22/2004 5:26:37 AM PDT by mountaineer
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To: kattracks
Well those quotes explain his voting record for the last 20 years
24 posted on 04/22/2004 5:31:55 AM PDT by Mo1 (Make Michael Moore cry.... DONATE MONTHLY!!!)
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To: Schnucki
Has he since renounced these views or does he still hold them dear? Has anybody asked him?

If you notice in the interviews he gives .. Kerry NEVER denounces nor regrets what he did back then

Kerry just says he used the wrong words

25 posted on 04/22/2004 5:34:38 AM PDT by Mo1 (Make Michael Moore cry.... DONATE MONTHLY!!!)
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To: kattracks
Kerry in 1971: 'Our Democracy is a Farce'


I thought the US was a republic. This worship of unlimited majoritarian rule is communism.

26 posted on 04/22/2004 5:47:26 AM PDT by society-by-contract
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To: kattracks
"There will be a confrontation, but it must be a non-violent effort," Kerry was quoted as saying. "If we are interested in overall change, we must demobilize society in the direction it is headed. We can't sit around and support this kind of society," he added.

Many of us would agree with the slimeball, but for different reasons.
When Democracy needs to be a "suicide pact" I part company with it.
Effing Kerry needs to know that, like free will, having the ability to not vote is an essential ingredient in the definition of, if not a democracy, at least of a free society.

27 posted on 04/22/2004 5:54:01 AM PDT by Publius6961 (.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; All
“Yea... but Bush went AWOL! Bush is stupid! Kerry saw the baby-killing' man! No blood for oil!”

Reactions to this story by... Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw and 90% of the major news media. Just watch!

28 posted on 04/22/2004 5:59:50 AM PDT by johnny7 (“Virginians we will stay! Who will come with me?!” -Louis A. Armistead)
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To: kattracks
"[Some veterans] came back with a heroin habit that cost $12 a day in Vietnam. That same habit costs $175 to $250 a day in the U.S.," Kerry reportedly said.

Could this be a reason why he scouted out multi millionaire wives?

29 posted on 04/22/2004 6:11:41 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (Let your light so shine before men....)
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To: kattracks
And this just in from our Science Research Department, “ a tiger can’t change it’s stripes”.
30 posted on 04/22/2004 6:20:46 AM PDT by tractorman
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To: kattracks
Larry Sabato, a political science professor from the University of Virginia, predicted that Kerry will try to write off his 1971 comments as "young and foolish," but that it won't be an easy task.

In 1971, Kerry was 28 years old. Not all that young.

31 posted on 04/22/2004 6:24:11 AM PDT by PJ-Comix (Saddam Hussein was only 537 Florida votes away from still being in power)
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To: kattracks
Kerry reportedly backed up his belief that the U.S. "democracy is a farce" by citing statistics showing that only 25 percent of those eligible to vote in the 18-21 age bracket had in fact voted. But Kerry cautioned that, "Voting is not the only way change will come."

Hey f'ing kerry, the only way we can change this, is to vote out ALL politicians who think like you think.

Our Democracy is a Farce - Get real. One thing about the rat party, it has the correct symbol - a JACKASS.

32 posted on 04/22/2004 6:29:08 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for kerry or any other RAT, is a vote for the terrorists.)
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To: kattracks
Kerry: Communism was not a threat to our country...

'Splains a lot...

33 posted on 04/22/2004 6:36:45 AM PDT by EternalHope (Boycott everything French forever. Including their vassal nations.)
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To: kattracks
John Kerry, the presumed Democratic nominee for president

Why is this phrase in almost every story about Kerry? Does the media know that the "Torecelli Option" is in play.

34 posted on 04/22/2004 6:46:00 AM PDT by hattend (Give a monthly FR donation so we can end the stupid fundraisers - I'm at $40 per mo)
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To: kattracks
Communism was not a threat to our country and the war was not moral

Iraq was not a threat to our country and the war was not moral

Fill in the blank. It is the standard lefty mantra...

John Kerry's slogan, plus ça change, plus même chose..

35 posted on 04/22/2004 8:05:24 AM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: kattracks
BTTT
36 posted on 04/22/2004 8:09:03 AM PDT by EdReform
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To: kattracks
"Communism was not a threat to our country..."

You're right F'n! Communism was the friend of peace-loving people everywhere! Everyone had so many choices in their lives. Everyone was free to speak up and out about their government.

We need to come up with a cast for the '04 Election Wizard of Oz. Kerry can be the Scarecrow!

37 posted on 04/22/2004 8:11:03 AM PDT by wingster
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My bad; F'n can be the Scarecrow...!
38 posted on 04/22/2004 8:11:32 AM PDT by wingster
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BTW, speaking of the Wizard of Oz, has anyone else noticed that what the Scarecrow says after he receives his brain is incorrect?

If I'm not mistaken, he says something to the effect that "the sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side." ...which is not true.

So F'n would be the perfect actor for the role. He didn't have a brain before, then after much education and dilly-dallying in "Oz", the brain he received is defective!

39 posted on 04/22/2004 8:15:38 AM PDT by wingster
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To: sonsofliberty2000

40 posted on 04/22/2004 8:16:34 AM PDT by BJClinton (This is how one should do a sarcasm tag: </sarcasm>)
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