Kerry Escalating Use of War Veteran Status

LA Times ^ | April 29, 2004 | Matea Gold,

[The Bandit]

PHILADELPHIA — When Sen. John F. Kerry's advisors indicated recently that his service during the Vietnam War would be central to the campaign's effort to define him, they weren't exaggerating.

Kerry's medal-laden service in Vietnam long has been an integral part of his political persona. But if his performance on the stump this week was any indication, references to his time as a naval officer commanding a swift boat in the Mekong Delta will be a ubiquitous part of the Democrat's presidential bid.

In one 24-hour period, he invoked his service:

•  To fend off attacks by his Republican rivals;

•  As evidence he will fight to expand healthcare;

•  As evidence he understands the complicated landscape in Iraq;

•  To explain his love of peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches.

Kerry's GOP critics have helped keep the spotlight on his military resume by questioning the validity of one of his Purple Heart medals, challenging the sincerity of his antiwar activities when he returned from Vietnam and suggesting he is weak on national security issues.

[BenLurkin]

Look, Kerrry switched sides and supported the Commmunist enemy during the latter part of the wart. What kind of hero is that?

[Spok]

How come military service was a nonissue when the Dems were running Clinton? Why does the press ignore this double standard? (Rhetorical question.)
It needs to be stressed that being a veteran is not an automatic qualification. Bendict Arnold was also a veteran.

[NormsRevenge]

[Riley]

Kerry Escalating Use of War Veteran Status

So he's going to refer to it what, more often? Is that possible?

[cripplecreek]

John Kery faces some pretty spectacular speedbumps on his campaign trail. Between his blind support of the UN and that little assasination plot he has a problem big enough to throw a truckload of medals through.

[finnman69]

Official Naval Records John Forbes Kerry (Funny)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1127309/posts

[Phantom Lord]

Kerry served in Vietnam?

[JennysCool]

Good heavens! John Kerry was in Vietnam?

[ken5050]

Questio for ya..off topic..How do we get Kerry to release his college tranascripts?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Escalating?

How?

Is he now referring to his 120 days in Vietnam every other sentence, instead of every other paragraph?

[Phantom Lord]

How come military service was a nonissue when the Dems were running Clinton?

“Personal Reasons of Necessity” The self-serving senator

Back in February 1992, John Kerry stood up on the Senate floor, "driven by personal reasons of necessity." He professed to be saddened by then-Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey's criticism during the Democratic primaries of Bill Clinton's lack of service in Vietnam. "We do not need to divide America over who served and how," Kerry said. "I have personally always believed that many served in many different ways."

Why does the press ignore this double standard? (Rhetorical question.)

The press enforces the double standard.

[Phantom Lord]

It would be nice to elect a president without worrying about his/her veteran status, as you mentioned. But traditionally, it is thought that serving your country is a prerequisite to serving your country.

Quick question, and I don't know the answer. How many presidents have served in the military, and more importantly, in combat?

[Oblongata]

If Kerry is going to make Bush's NG record an issue, then Bush should come down like a ton of bricks on Kerry's record. Nothing in Kerry's record stands up to scrutiny, and I want to see his vietnam medical records pronto.

[Phantom Lord]

If you served in Vietnam and had a similar experience to Kerry's, perhaps you would have acted in a likewise fashion?

Such as calling your fellow soldiers "war criminals"?

[SJSAMPLE]

We've got an incumbent governer here in Indiana (our Governor died last year, so his LT took over) who starts EVERY commercial reminding everybody that he served in Vietnam. He was a Marine pilot who was a POW. Good on him. But, every commercial starts out,

"When I got back from Vietnam . . ."
"After serving in Vietnam . . ."

Please.

[NormsRevenge]

Welcome to FR.

[Spok]

And a question for veterans: Was every officer you served under presidential material? Ever serve under any who couldn't grab their butt with both hands? Where did FUBAR originate?