Posted on 04/23/2004 4:54:02 PM PDT by jmstein7
John Kerry was denounced as "Hanoi John" in the US House of Representatives on Thursday as Republicans attacked the Democratic presidential candidate's record as an outspoken foe of the Vietnam War.
One by one, several Republicans, many of them Vietnam veterans, stood and challenged Kerry's patriotism. They did so in marking the 33rd anniversary of Kerry's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as a leader of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
"On this day in 1971, John Kerry showed his true colours, and they are not red, white and blue," said Rep. Sam Johnson, a Texas Republican.
"Before the Senate, before America, and before the world, he blasted our nation, chastised our troops and hurt our morale," said Johnson, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
"Is it any wonder that my comrades from Vietnam and I have a nickname for him similar to 'Hanoi Jane'," the name given to war foe and actress Jane Fonda, Johnson said. "It's called 'Hanoi John'."
Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California Republican, added: "We do not need a 'Jane Fonda' as commander in chief."
Democrats were not in the chamber when Republicans began what one denounced as "a sneak attack," but several rushed in to defend Kerry. They noted he won awards for bravery and heroism in Vietnam as well as three Purple Hearts.
Representative Jim McDermott, a Washington Democrat, took the offensive in speaking up for Kerry by appearing to allude to questions about whether President George W. Bush shirked his duties while a member of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.
Without mentioning Bush by name, McDermott said: "For anybody to come out here and attack his (Kerry's) war record, you have to have pretty good credentials."
"If served and showed up for drills at your local National Guard, I think those would be acceptable credentials," McDermott said. "But if your were in the National Guard, and you didn't show up ... you have real nerve to start an attack on John Kerry's character."
Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, chaired the House at the time of the heated exchanges and repeatedly pointed out that chamber rules do not permit personal attacks on senators.
Yet the drumbeat of criticism against Senator Kerry of Massachusetts continued.
"John Kerry should apologise," said Representative Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican.
Representative John Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, said: "What we need is leadership, the kind that John Kerry provided in the fields of Vietnam ... that he will provide as president of the United States."
Could he have been serving in an Active Reserve capacity? If so, his terminolgy would be appropriate.
The term "Vietnam-era Veteran" is commonly used to describe those who served during the time of but not in Vietnam.
Some people use that term for those of us who were in the Navy and spent time off the coast of Vietnam; they reserve the term "Vietnam Veteran" for those who served in-country, including the Swift and PBR folks.
Heard this item on Mike Savage today. Seems Hanoi John's photo portrait enjoys an honored place in a Hanoi war museum. According to this story, his "anti-war" activities are credited by the North Vietnamese as making a vital contribution to the North's "victory" over the United States. Anyone know more about this? If true I think it deserves some circulation.
"Vietnam-Era" is what you call someone who spent no time in Vietnam, but was in the service while others fought there.
I don't think being a civilian working for the Pentagon counts.
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