Discussion Thread: Kerry's Appearance on GMA Regarding Medals

Good Morning America - ABC News

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Let's see if I can kick this off.

During the promo at the beginning of the show, where he was standing by live in West Virginia, and throughout the interview itself, Kerry tried hard to keep this huge "what me worry?" smile plastered on his face. He coupled it with numerous condescending head shakes that seemed to imply "these poor benighted fools who so miserably misunderstand the greatness that is John Kerry."

[Recon by Fire]

Maybe he threw what was left of his brain over the fence. This guy is a mental midget who rides the short bus...I mean SUV that he doesn't own.

[bannie]

These were completely new citations, revised from earlier versions that had been signed by his admirals, each citation clearly signed with Lehman's signature.

What kind of REVISION???

[weegee]

I couldn't sleep because of allergies. I'm glad I got to witness this.

Here's the response from the Rat Hole (Buyer's remorse and it isn't even election day.):

I'm half cringing waiting to hear what he says tomorrow.

Kerry should consider NOT flaunting this subject; flaunting it calls for a more detailed look.

(sarcastically:) When Kerry changes his mind, he's an unexcusable and absolute liar who isn't fit to be president.

Lying in a manner designed to lower morale of Americans at home and in troops during wartime is TREASON as it provides aid and comfort to the enemy. Axis Sally was sentenced for her actions after WWII. Lord Haw Haw was executed.

People do not like someone who shades the truth or is a liar. Kerry has to change his style or he will be badly beaten in 2004.

I'm not sure it really matters since once you become a hero you can't throw away that fact.

Benedict Arnold was an American Hero. He is also known for his betrayal of America and aid to the enemy.

Traitor and hero are not mutually exclusive concepts but TRAITOR does significantly impact any "heroic" status. This is what I get looking at Rat droppings for some signs of wisdom.

[prairiebreeze]

Thanks!

[7thson]

As far as I know, you don't wear them with civies. I never did and was never told to do so. Kerry is an arse-wipe that spent a couple years in the navy and believes he knows everything about every military branch.

[Don Carlos]

Not being with any military experience I don't know what to make of his claim that ribbons and medals are viewed absolutely interchangeably.

For each medal, you get a ribbon. The medal is the same ribbon, with a metal medallion hanging from it. All medals have a corresponding ribbon. All ribbons, however, do not have a medal. For example, Good Conduct, National Defense, etc, are ribbons that do not have a corresponding medal.

Ribbons are worn on class "A" or 'tunic and tie' uniforms and occasionally on shirt-sleeve semi-dress uniforms, but NEVER on BDU or utility dress fatigues. Remember the JF'nK photos of him in BDU with his ribbons? It aint done, ever! Medals are generally worn on formal occasions only.

[mewzilla]

If this is innoculation, I don't think it's working :) And after 8 years of Toon and post 9-11, the nation's tolerance for pathological liars seems to be sadly lacking. I don't know what to make of this. But I'd love to know the backstory on how and why ABC got this footage. Especially since there's so much else they're willfully ignoring...

[not_apathetic_anymore]

LOL... Fer cryin' out loud you guys...The Boson Globe saw him. Who are we to question him and what the Globe reported!

I think we know now why the DNC hammered so hard about the National Guard Stuff. They knew this was coming and needed something to try and change the focus.

[weegee]

Protest leaders also bragged about how many times they burned their "draft card". Put something in your hand and who would ever know?

[Terry Mross]

Very funny stuff.

I wonder if Tur-ray-za will bow down to Hillary. I have a feeling Turrayza thinks she's better than Hillary, a lowly senator. It's going to be fun to watch!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Words and phrases were changed (from the original) ...

The whole effect is subtle, but the revisions (to both the Brpnze Star and Silver Star citations) tends to make Kerry the center of the whole action, instead of being on a group of boats, all of who were in action.

Zumwalt's versions of both citations are actually longer, and have more detail. They're not "bad" - just not "as glowing" a description of Kerry.

[weegee]

That was Kerry's defense today (several times in fact). "We still don't know if George W. Bush was AWOL or not" (paraphrased).

[Skywarner]

"It sounds like Kerry wanted everyone to THINK he was throwing his medals away. Then again, it appears he asked for replacement medals in 1984. I think he DID throw his medals away. In 1984 he needed them to get the union's backing in his senate bid. Being a high ranking politician it was very quick and easy for him to get his replacements, hang them on his wall, then have the union official over for viewing."

BINGO!!!!!!

I would love to hear Kerry's response (or meltdown) when he tries to explain the reason why he needed to replace his medals in the first place. Maybe he was confused and meant to request replacement ribbons??

[A.A. Cunningham]

Kerry said you get a "tiny ribbon" to wear with our civilian clothes ...

I never received a "tiny ribbon" to wear with civvies but the only medal I ever earned was a good conduct medal so one might be included for others: Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, etc. If you see or remember seeing Bob Dole, he always wore a Purple Heart lapel ribbon on his suit coat.

[Recon by Fire]

I believe that if you ask for a replacement of an award, whomever is the Secretary at the time you ask is the one who signs it.

I know that my EX ate some of my awards and when I asked for replacements, Thomas White signed them and he was not the Secretary when I got the original awards.

[j_tull]

wearing the ribbon shows you were awarded the medal

Additionally, you can buy replacement ribbons at the Exchange. You cannot buy replacement medals.

[maryz]

(They DO wear medals on civilian clothes that way in the Soviet Union.... Maybe he is just confused about which military he served under.)

LOL - yet another idea for an RNC ad!

[mwl1]

We watched the tirade this morning on GMA before getting on with our day. My wife, who is conservative but not very political, was incredulous... "what is the damn difference between the medals and the ribbons?... what in God's name is this man even saying? What does Bush have to do with this?"

Sadly, I doubt any other networks other than Fox will even touch the story... unless they want to help avenge how Charlie Gibson was treated by Lurch.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Oh, that's OK.

Kerry revised his DD-214 (discharge papers) revised too.

The revision (A DD Form 215) adds 4 Vietnam bronze stars to his (previously unadorned) Vietnam Service ribbon, and is dated March, 2001.

[TommyDale]

The videotape could very well have been in his FBI files. Let's see, who has copies of FBI files?