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."
Yet the drumbeat of criticism against Senator Kerry of Massachusetts continued.
I suspect that Representative LaHood was saying, quietly, "You go guys".
Finally, we see some Republicans with cajones.
U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the man on whom the movie "Top Gun" was based.
Randy H. Duke Cunningham was the first American pilot ace of the Vietnam War. Born in 1941 in Los Angeles, California, he was told by a soothsayer as a child that he would become a famous pilot. After earning two degrees in education from the University of Missouri and then coaching two high school swimmers to Olympic medals, Cunningham was commissioned in the US Navy in 1967. He graduated at the top of his class in 1968 and was then sent to the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II Replacement Air Group at Miramar, California. Upon graduation, Cunninghams new unit, Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96), was unprepared to receive him so he was given temporary duty at the new Top Gun Fighter Weapons School. He eventually joined VF-96 and participated with them in the Navys first-ever Fleet Adversary Program, which was similar to a mini-Top Gun class. It was also at this time that his love for John Wayne movies and his aggressive character earned him the nickname Duke. Following an uneventful tour in Vietnam aboard the USS America, his unit returned to Miramar to complete a second Fleet Adversary Program. VF-96 then returned to combat aboard the USS Constellation. On 19 January 1972, Cunningham and radar intercept officer, Bill Driscoll, downed a MiG-21 Fishbed in a treetop-level dogfight. It was their first victory and ended a 2-year lull in the air war. On 8 May 1972, Cunningham engaged three MiG-17 Frescos and shot one tailing his wingman. Two days later, at the onset of Operation LINEBACKER, over 20 MiGs attacked his formation while flying east of Hanoi. In an intense battle, he quickly destroyed a MiG-17. Turning to assist others, he downed a second MiG-17, saving his executive officer. He then flew head-on into another MiG-17. However, this adversary was no ordinary pilot. It took three engagements, but Cunningham managed to down him. Unfortunately, while heading back to the carrier, his Phantom was hit by an SA-2 Guideline. Ejecting over the Gulf of Tonkin, he and Driscoll were rescued by a Navy helicopter. After the war, Cunningham held several staff positions and eventually commanded Fighter Squadron 126, the Pacific Fleet Adversary Squadron. He retired in 1987 and took a position as the Dean of the School of Aviation at National University in San Diego, California. Passionate about civic affairs, Cunningham ran for public office in 1990. In 2002, he was elected to his seventh term in the House of Representatives, representing California's 50th Congressional District. Cunningham currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and on five subcommittees.
SETTING: On 10 May 1972, Duke Cunningham became the first pilot ace of the Vietnam War and the first Navy jet ace in history. He was also the only American to down three MiGs in one day, including a victory over a leading ace. Unable to out-climb the MiG, Cunningham chopped the throttles on his McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II and slowed to 150 knots. When the MiG overshot him, Cunningham closed quickly and destroyed it. His actions earned him a Medal of Honor nomination. He was also the inspiration for the hit movie Top Gun.
U.S. Navy Medical Corps, Lieutenant Commander, Chief Psychiatrist, Long Beach Naval Station, California, 1968-70.
Works for me!
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I thought it was "Senator Hanoi John F'n Ketchup."
Someone mentioned to lay low until the nomination. Either way, the Darksiders are stuck with their peckers in their hands. What will the public make of an entire party of fools?
They are in the position of having to use the south end of their mascot this time around. F'n Ketchup is head of the "Double Jackass Committee" this week and he has the party backing him up.
And both Cunningham and Johnson have better credentials than Kerry -- even assuming Kerry's "heroism," which the records sure make look fishy, is real.
And everybody has better credentials than McDermott, who has been busted as a phony Vietnam vet (He was in a city that, like Vietnam, is near the Pacific Ocean. Even though it's in California. A simple misunderstanding....)
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
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