John Kerry's official site changes words about his medal stance

Powerline ^ | 04/26/04 | Powerline

[Pikamax]

A reader writes us as follows:

The linked screenshots show significant editing of the DBunker post on Kerry’s medals that was featured on Good Morning America. The phrase, “he has been consistent about the facts and the symbolism of the medal-returning ceremony” was removed in between the two screenshots enclosed. The first was taken at 9:50 am, the second at 10:26 am, as indicated on the timestamp in the filename. Here are the two screenshots, the first taken at 9:50 a.m.

And the second taken at 10:26 a.m.

[tbeatty]

There was a DBunker before these two that said something completely different. This is the third version of the answer. It seems the only thing that stays the same is question.

[Arkinsaw]

They should have left it the way it was because he HAS been consistent. Consistently flip-flopping.

They are not quite as good at parsing as Clinton was.

[Smartass]

Hey, I screwed up Vietnam, now I can muck up Iraq.

[ChadGore]

What a sad sack.

Now the libs know how we felt running Dole.

It's hard to get excited about a guy you know is gonna loose.

[jern]

good stuff

[mdittmar]

Vote,Clinton won twice.

[FoxInSocks]

I don't see anything at all ceremonial about chucking one's (or someone else's!) medals over a fence.

[bin2baghdad]

I guess I don't get all the technicalities that are being argued. I've been awarded several medals during my military career. I've never thought that the physical medals/ribbons were terribly significant. I buy new ribbons when the old ones are soiled, and I throw the old ones away. I would do the same with medals if I actually wore them. I wear them because I have been authorized them. Throwing them in the trash doesn't change the fact that I am authorized them. If I were to return pieces of ribbon to the White House or the Defense Department, I don't think anyone would alter my OMPF. That being said, if I made a public display of repudiating them, I would be something of a hypocrite if I later made a show of them, claimed to be proud of them and displayed them to visitors. Nothing would have changed as far as my entitlement to the medals, but I don't see how I can disavow them and display them at the same time.

[MJY1288]

"I don't see anything at all ceremonial about chucking one's (or someone else's!) medals over a fence."

It would be different if anyone was on the other side of the fence eagerly awaiting them :-)

[jigsaw]

Dang that's great reporting!

John, you can run, but you can't hide.

[BykrBayb]

I guess I don't get all the technicalities that are being argued.

It looks to me like you do get it. Kerry and his supporters don't.

[Williams]

It's all Kerry BS. You "return" your medals by mail or by walking into someone's office with them. NOT by chucking them over a fence.

Question: Whatever he threw over the fence, what was done with them?

[Paul Atreides]

It ranks right up there with admitting to committing war atrocities, and, claiming others did the same, being chalked up to the "impetuousness of youth."

The lying scum was asked about his statements, shown on tape, and the first thing that comes out of his mouth is a flippant remark about his biggest worry being "where all that dark hair went."

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

I'll have to find the artical I read,
but didn't Kerry also say about 2 months ago that the medals he threw over the fence were those of dead Vet? Now they are from 2 guys who could not be there?
So which is it?
Or better yet...
What will the story be tomorrow?

[Paul Atreides]

Question: Whatever he threw over the fence, what was done with them?

Well, I know what would have happened if Bubba had been tending the White House lawn:

"Ah never wrote that letter. See? I have medals to prove Ah was in Vietnahm."

[Spotsy]

I agree with you - nothing ceremonial about tossing medals and ribbons.

Given Kerry's superior intellectual capabilities and electrifying personality, why couldn't he find more honorable means to oppose the war, rather than lying and acting like a lunatic hippie?

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[John Thornton]

Remember that this is the *first time* most Americans have heard anything about Kerry throwing away his medals. Ribbons/medals/another guy's medals----most Americans will NOT react positively to this story.

His actions were the same as burning an American flag. And no amount of spin will make his actions look presidential.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"It ranks right up there with admitting to committing war atrocities, and, claiming others did the same..."

Why has he never been charged for those "war atrocities"? I know he said others did the same, but I bet he did not name names. However, he named himself. Maybe he should stand trial for all those bad things he did.

IMHO: Lie or not he said HE commited war crimes and someone should hold his feet to the fire!