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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: hattend
Yeah, really!

I do hope Hillary runs tho!

41 posted on 04/22/2004 8:24:31 AM PDT by wingster
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To: PJ-Comix
That's what I was going to say.

It isn't like he was seventeen, eighteen, or even twenty-one or twenty-two. The man was nearly thirty years old.
42 posted on 04/22/2004 10:51:43 AM PDT by victoryatallcosts
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To: kattracks; doug from upland
...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).

What day was the infamous Kansas City meeting of the VVAW that discussed assassinating pro-War U.S. Senators?

43 posted on 04/22/2004 10:55:19 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (EEE)
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To: Mia T
"johnkerryisdangerousforamerica"

He most certainly is. Same as with Clinton, they both distrust the concept of democracy and are convinced that Socialism is the preferred route fer our Country, as long as they are the supreme rulers in the politboro!! That's part of the reason Clinton/Gore sold out our National Security to Communist China...they do not trust America to do what's right...and with the Left in control, I share their distrust!!

FReegards...MUD

44 posted on 04/22/2004 11:00:10 AM PDT by Mudboy Slim (RE-IMPEACH Osama bil Clinton!!)
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To: kattracks
"Our democracy is a farce; it is not the best in the world."

What reporter, has the courage to ask Kerry about this quote?

45 posted on 04/22/2004 12:04:31 PM PDT by sr4402
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To: sr4402
I have only on thing to say to Kerry: May the Farce be with you.
46 posted on 04/22/2004 12:16:05 PM PDT by kabar
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To: kattracks
I'll argue that fighting in Vietnam was pre-emptive, not unlike today's stand against islams worst elements.

Looking back, would it have been wise for us to be "pre-emptive" against Japan, instead of waiting for Pearl Harbor to occur? I would say yes.

Kerry, for Vietnam (Cold War) and for War on (muslim) Terrorism, the answer is no.

He wants us to wait, weakly armed, until we get whacked. Then we run to Kofi pleading for the UN to look after us, singing Kumbaya and pitching our money into his bags.
47 posted on 04/22/2004 12:39:16 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Nov. 12-15, 1971.
48 posted on 04/22/2004 5:37:02 PM PDT by doug from upland (Don't wait until it is too late to stop Hillary -- do something today!)
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To: P-Marlowe
"[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's idea for a better American democracy: cheaper heroin, who knows it may get him a few votes.

49 posted on 04/22/2004 5:57:48 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: kattracks; MEG33; RonDog
The Wall Street Journal

When He Was Y&F, He Was Really Y&F

John Kerry never seems able to end questions about his public career as a leader of the radical Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Mr. Kerry himself finally admitted to Tim Russert of NBC last Sunday that his 1971 comments that U.S. troops were routinely committing "atrocities" were "honest" but also "a little bit over the top."

Now Mr. Kerry may have to explain yet more dubious remarks from that same year at West Virginia's Bethany College in which he declared: "Our democracy is a farce; it is not the best in the world." College newspaper accounts report Mr. Kerry also told students that "there is a disbelief in the American Dream, people are questioning if it is really a dream or if the dream still exists."

Mr. Kerry went on to tell his Bethany College audience that communism did not represent a threat to the United States. "The soldier went to Vietnam to defend the country from aggressive communism in the tradition of World War II," Mr. Kerry said. "But the soldier learned he was not fighting communism. Communism was not a threat to our country and the war was not moral."

In an interview with CNS News, Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist, said Mr. Kerry will probably try to laugh off his remarks as those of a "young and foolish" 28-year-old. But "just because he was young and foolish does not mean he will not have to explain these things," Mr. Sabato said. "It will cause him a problem and these quotes will be widely circulated."

Mr. Kerry's office isn't responding to calls from reporters about the statements, leading many to wonder if the "young and foolish" Mr. Kerry has grown up to become "old and evasive."
--John Fund
50 posted on 04/22/2004 7:12:53 PM PDT by JulieRNR21 (One good term deserves another! Take W-04....Across America!)
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To: wagglebee
Kerry's idea for a better American democracy: cheaper heroin, who knows it may get him a few votes.

Yeah, maybe he can cut a secret deal with some of his old smack distributer buddies in Hanoi and get them to lower the street price of Heroin before the election.

51 posted on 04/22/2004 9:24:57 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (Let your light so shine before men....)
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bttt
52 posted on 04/23/2004 8:26:16 AM PDT by jla (http://hillarytalks.blogspot.com)
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To: kabar
I have only on thing to say to Kerry: May the Farce be with you.

He who sows to the wind, will reap the whirlwind.

53 posted on 04/23/2004 9:35:06 AM PDT by sr4402
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To: kattracks

54 posted on 04/23/2004 10:51:38 AM PDT by Smartass (BUSH & CHENEY 2004 - THE BEST GET BETTER)
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To: MeekOneGOP
Funny!
55 posted on 04/23/2004 10:54:23 AM PDT by shield (The Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God!!!! by Dr. H. Ross, Astrophysicist)
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To: kattracks
Considering who the Dems have nominated, maybe our Democracy really is a bad sitcom. I mean come on. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton should show up some time to guest host HeeHaw. And then there's Mighty Mike Dukakis and the Tank of Doom. Hooah!

I'd say from where John F. Kerry sits, things look fairly farcical.
56 posted on 04/23/2004 1:07:52 PM PDT by .cnI redruM (Air America - at least Al Jazeera can pay their bills to stay on the air.)
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To: kattracks

Hello baby--you luv me--right? Owwch

I want a Purple Heart

57 posted on 04/23/2004 1:14:02 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot

"I swear Mz. Purple--you don't play ball--I'll expose you--and forget about that Abortion thing right now!!!"


58 posted on 04/23/2004 1:18:55 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: wingster; All
There is a new generation of young people who never knew the cold war or communism.
59 posted on 04/23/2004 1:23:06 PM PDT by expatguy (Fallujah Delenda Est!!)
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To: kattracks

bttt


60 posted on 10/22/2004 3:56:11 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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