Kerry in Medals Meltdown, Slams Bush National Guard Record

NewsMax ^ | 4-26-04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[jmstein7]

An angry-sounding John Kerry denied Monday morning that he ever claimed to have thrown away his three Purple Hearts and two medals for combat valor during an April 1971 anti-war demonstration, blaming Republicans for the new controversy and blasting President Bush's National Guard record.

"This comes from a president and a Republican Party that can't even answer whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard," a seething Kerry told "Good Morning America's" Charlie Gibson.

Kerry was responding to a 1971 interview unearthed by ABC News in which he told WRC-TV that he "gave back" somewhere between six and nine of his medals during a Washington, D.C., demonstration days earlier. News coverage of the episode shows Kerry and other Vietnam veterans throwing medals onto the steps of the Capitol building.

When pressed by WRC on whether the medals he "gave back" included his Purple Hearts and his other medals for valor, he replied, "Well, above that, I gave back my others."

But Kerry insisted to GMA that there was nothing to the story, and again tried to shift the focus to President Bush.

"This is being pushed yesterday by Karen Hughes in the White House on Fox. It shows up on several different stations at the same time," he complained. "This comes from a president who can't even show or prove that he showed up for duty in the National Guard. And I'm not going to stand for it."

As Gibson continued to press Kerry for answers, the Democratic presidential candidate raised Bush's service record for a third time.

"George Bush has yet to explain to America whether or not - and tell the truth about whether he showed up for duty. I'm not going to get attacked on something that I did that is a matter of record."

Challenged on the discrepancy between what he told WRC and what he says now, Kerry told Gibson, "Back then, ribbons, medals were absolutely interchangeable," insisting that he never said he had returned his combat medals.

[TADSLOS]

Yeah! Bring it on, J Effin' K! Pour out that hate and disdain for our National Guard and Reserves! We're only a couple of million strong with long memories....and we know all about medals too. Man, November can't get here quick enough. This is gonna be fun.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

It boggles the mind how this ‘Hanoi John’ Kerry made it this far to become the next “senile” Jimmy “The peanut farmer” Carter democratic nominee? H.J.K. is to the Democratic party what Jimmy was in the mid-late 70’s. People of this nature should never get the opportunity to become President of the greatest nation on the face of this earth, under any circumstances.

[GailA]

KERRY TO DEMS: STOP 'AWOL' JABS AT DUBYA

[martin_fierro]

New tagline time.

[ChevyZ28]

We thought the samething about Clinton when his draft dodging issue surfaced, then we thought it again during the Lewinsky fiasco. I just sincerely hope we do not end up with the same end result.

I do agree with you, Kerry should step aside. One thing about Kerry, he isn't as fun to make fun of as Howard "I have a scream" Dean or Jumpin' Jim Jeffords.

[ChevyZ28]

You know, I hadn't even thought of him (Edwards). I would be more concerned with the return of Dean. Although, honestly, I don't think either of them have a snow ball's chance in a frying pan of winning.

[sgtbono2002]

Before this Kerry had been hiding behind his sycophants , letting them bring up the National Guard charge against Bush. Now we know where it was coming from . He has let the cat out of the bag.

[muawiyah]

Yes, the old "Dingell-Norwood" ploy.

I remember it seemed terribly important to Algore at the time, but does anyone recall what it might have been about?

[The_Media_never_lie]

I thought Dean with his shortcomings was a good candidate, but Kerry seems weaker!

Hillary is pure evil. She makes my skin crawl.

[Ethyl]

Kerry was responding to a 1971 interview unearthed by ABC News in which he told WRC-TV that he "gave back" somewhere between six and nine of his medals during a Washington, D.C., demonstration days earlier. News coverage of the episode shows Kerry and other Vietnam veterans throwing medals onto the steps of the Capitol building.

When pressed by WRC on whether the medals he "gave back" included his Purple Hearts and his other medals for valor, he replied, "Well, above that, I gave back my others."

What is his problem? He said that he threw back his metals onto the Whitehouse lawn (I think you are mistaken above)?? We have news revealing that, so what is he crying about now? Could it be that he was a VIET NAM VETERAN AGIANST THE WAR? Oh, yes he was and he admits that, so WHAT IS HE CRYING ABOUT NOW? Oh, yea, he was a Viet Nam Veteran Against the War? After his idiotic behavior AFTER THE VIET NAM WAR, when he did the dirty deed, he will suffer from what he did, but he never thought he would????????????? Guess what.........suffer Hanoi john YOU WERE A VIET NAM VETERAN AGAINST THE VIET NAM WAR! America HATES the likes of you and jane!

[muawiyah]

Again, a serious reminder ~ with few exceptions (mostly Indiana Air Guard) the Guard and the Reserve, per se, really didn't have anything to do with Viet Nam (unless they missed too many drills and got sent to an active duty unit).

They participated in other wars. Kennedy and Johnson didn't want to get anyone excited by calling up reserve forces.

This was a mistake that it took several Republican Presidents over several decades to correct.

[raynearhood]

I don't feel like writing it again, so here is my comment on a similar thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1124951/posts?page=38#38

[Ethyl]

I'm seriously thinking Kerry may not make it past the convention. The Dems surely must see the folly of the Kerry candidacy by now. I almost feel sorry for them.

NONONONONO, let's let them nominate the silly ba@tard, better for us to win.

[underbyte]

Yes! I am looking for that Dean Moment. These Lib. elites crack like egg shells at the slightest pressure, scary to think what would happen in a real crisis. Hilliary or Edwards is going to be the nominee in IMHO. Kerry is just about cooked and will not make it out of the convention,

Who was the DEM primary '80's canidate that cried during the press conference when some nasty things were said about his wife?

What a bucnh of weenies

[Ethyl]

let me say that as a political observer for 45 years, I have never seen such a day leading to the ultimate political end of a politician. kerry was a horrible traitor in '71 and should have been thrown into prison with hanoi jane. He is truley hanoi john. But realizing the despicable conduct of throwing his self applied for MEDALS over the White House fence in the teeth of the Viet Nam war when my friends were winning that war (it was lost by Congress cutting off the money after we left) and today suffering the rebuke of Charlie Gibson and Tom Oliphant who both stood there in 1971 watching him do it and now listen to him lie to their face is the end for this boy. He is finished politically and must stand aside.

NONONONO! Kerry is dispicable, let's keep him there. We need him for the dems, easy to beat in the real elecions.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This has the odor of Hillary. She rides in at the last minute to be reluctantly drafted to lead her party after Kerry is destroyed... the only hope of a desperate party.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"George Bush has yet to explain to America whether or not - and tell the truth about whether he showed up for duty.

Oh for heavens' sake...is Kerry SO out of ideas he has to again bring up an accusation he and the American people know is false?

Kerry's becoming a bad joke.

[Ethyl]

Watch out belooooowwww!

Here comes Hillary!
Here comes Hillary!

Here comes Hillary! whow!

The press loves Hillary! whow!

I hope the American public realizes how screwed up the Democratic Party is.


Bad sign, we need to stop this. We love john vietnam kerry, and hanoi jane, better for the dems to love them too. Come on dems love your select nominee Mr. Hanoi John!

[Blood of Tyrants]

Not only that but Bush's NG service is sooooo last century.