Backpedaling Kerry

Washington Times ^ | 5/01/04

[kattracks]

Sen. John Kerry has a problem with saying what he means and meaning what he says. This is hardly news, but it's surprising that Mr. Kerry has not amended this peculiar trait since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate.

On April 23, 1971, after tossing a handful of ribbons and medals over the Capitol fence, Mr. Kerry spoke to a gathering of veterans. "This [Nixon] administration forced us to return our medals," he said. Later that year, he told a Washington television interviewer: "I gave back ... six, seven, eight, nine medals," including, he added, his Bronze and Silver Stars, as well as his Purple Hearts. Except that he didn't.

[samtheman]

Mr. Kerry's medals, and what they stand for, have been recklessly abused by blatant opportunism.

In Kerry's case, the above sentence should probably read:

Mr. Kerry's medals, and whatever they stand for...

[BigSkyFreeper]

C'mon Kerrey, just admit that you and the rest of the Democrats in this dog and pony show aren't all that seriously interested in getting to the crux of the issue at hand.

[BigSkyFreeper]

HAH! Whoops, wrong Kerry. Damn

[BigSkyFreeper]

Kerry's Candidacy Driving Off Clinton's Bridge To The 21st Century

[binger]

[highlander_UW]

"I never implied that I did it," he said.

He's been taking lying lessons from bubba...he didn't imply it, he flat out stated it.

[dawn53]

This is hardly news, but it's surprising that Mr. Kerry has not amended this peculiar trait since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate.

Interesting thing about liars, they are so caught in the habit, they can't change because they aren't even aware of when they're about to tell a lie. It has become a "way of life" for Kerry, as it was for Clinton, and he won't be able to keep from telling lies.

[skinkinthegrass]

HAH! Whoops, wrong Kerry.

no worry...still an stinkin' liberal.

[Jeff Gordon]

The Silicon Valley model of John Kerry...

The JK Flip Flop.

[RottiBiz]

Excellent Washington Times editorial.

[TomGuy]

Some people engage in 'situational ethics.'

John Kerry engages in 'situational truths,' telling whatever 'truth' fits the current 'situation.'
[a.k.a. spin and lie.]

[KarlInOhio]

One thing I have never seen is a question about what does returning the medals/ribbons really mean. If you return an engagement ring, you aren't just giving back a piece of gold and diamond - you are canceling the engagement. If you go to a US embassy in another country and return your passport and renounce your citizenship, the little blue book with an ugly picture of yourself isn't the primary action - renouncing your citizenship is.

When Kerry returned the medals/ribbons, he was renouncing them. He was saying to the government and the public "I reject the war and everything positive I received from it. They are no longer mine." No matter what the physical representation of what he returned was (even if he had to borrow the medals from someone else), he renounced his awards for valor in combat. Later when he hung up those same awards in his Senate office he renounced his previous renunciation - a flip-flop. However, unless he can claim he was under some type of duress or impairment during his protest in Washington, he can no longer claim that the medals are his - even if he kept his actual medals.

[rmgatto]

Someone wrote earlier this week: if ribbons and medals are interchangeable, how come no one calls it the Congressional Ribbon of Honor? And why was Rambo John Kerry wearing ribbons/medals on his fatigues all the time? Besides looking stupid, it sends a mixed message (never mind, I answered my own question).

[Fresh Wind]

The JK Flip Flop.

Ah, yes. The classic bistable multivibrator. Al gore invented it, I think.

[jackbill]

When Kerry returned the medals/ribbons, he was renouncing them. He was saying to the government and the public "I reject the war and everything positive I received from it. They are no longer mine." No matter what the physical representation of what he returned was (even if he had to borrow the medals from someone else), he renounced his awards for valor in combat. Later when he hung up those same awards in his Senate office he renounced his previous renunciation - a flip-flop. However, unless he can claim he was under some type of duress or impairment during his protest in Washington, he can no longer claim that the medals are his - even if he kept his actual medals.

Exactly. But we all know that the SOB is a craven hypocrite. And we all know that Partisan Media will never question him on this inconsistency.

[chainsaw]

Mule train, flippity flop'n along.

[DustyMoment]

For a technoweenie like me - that's TOO Funny!!! I haven't seen a J-K in many years and had forgotten about them.

[cookcounty]

"And why was Rambo John Kerry wearing ribbons/medals on his fatigues all the time?"

I thought this was odd, too. For Army people, this is totally out of regs, and almost clownish in its "Look at me" aspect. I had assumed that maybe for Navy people it was appropriate.

[Barn Owl]

Mule train, flippity flop'n plop, plop, plop'n along.

Barn Owl