Posted on 06/02/2004 1:52:23 PM PDT by areafiftyone
Former Green Beret Ted Sampley, who confronted Sen. John Kerry at Washington, D.C.'s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Monday, said today that photographers were in the vicinity and may have captured Kerry "flipping the bird" to him.
"There were some cameras," Sampley told WTN-Nashville radio host Steve Gill. "A reporter came up to me and asked me my name."
"I assume it was a reporter. It may have been somebody from the Kerry campaign," added Sampley, who heads up the group Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry.
As reported Monday by NewsMax.com's John Leboutillier, the veterans advocate approached the top Democrat that morning and told him, "I am here to escort you away from the Wall because you do not belong here."
When Kerry turned away and began to talk to a group of schoolchildren, Sampley opened his jacket to uncover a T-shirt reading "Hanoi John."
"Kerry does not belong at the Wall because he betrayed the brave soldiers who fought in Vietnam," Sampley told the children.
At that point the presidential candidate allegedly flashed "the bird" at the ex-Green Beret.
Though Kerry's visit to the Wall was widely covered, Sampley said that he didn't think the insulting hand gesture was captured any of the TV new crews on hand. "I did not see any big television cameras," he told Gill.
NewsMax.com has been unable to determine whether the still photographers nearby were press, private citizens or were part of the top Democrat's publicity team. So far, no photograph of the incident has surfaced.
Sampley said the confrontation was inadvertent, explaining that he was there with the veterans motorcycle group "Rolling Thunder," when "someone called to me and told me, 'Kerry's over at the Wall.'"
"Our organization [VVAK], we're advocating that any veteran who encounters Kerry anywhere should challenge him," he told Gill. "Since I'm leading the organization, I had to lead by example."
Sampley said that Kerry initially managed to keep his cool during the confrontation, but blew a gasket after a crowd started to gather.
"He looked around and some more vets were starting to show up," Sampley told Gill. "They heard the commotion. A few more started to heckle him a bit."
As Kerry turned to leave, said Sampley, "he walked by me - he was about 40-50 feet from the kids and maybe 15-20 feet from me - he turned around and after all that coolness and calmness, I guess he just couldn't hold it in anymore."
After flipping the bird Kerry ended the confrontation with a terse, "See ya, Ted" - to which Sampley replied, "See ya, John."
They don't have to -- that is the power of the Internet. All it has to do is show up and *everyone* will see it. Also, I bet that several foreign newspapers would print it.
Was he flipping the bird or choking it!
Hold your phone calls folks, WE HAVE A WINNER HERE!!
Line of the day is yours, my FRiend!
The protestors should have had their own cameras rolling.
So, do we have a pic yet?
Didn't he have his prostate removed last year?
For those who are unaware... No Prostate = LIMPY
So he is a flop in the bedroom as well! This guy is a TOTAL LOSER!
Hey Hanoi John, do ya need this...
John F. Kerry is no John F. Kennedy.
He is just b-a-r-e-l-y hanging on.
We WANT Kerry to be the nominee.
We chose him, just like the DEMO(N)cRATS chose Bob Dole for us in 1996.
Thank you kind sir.
I saw the picture of your 51 Pontiac.
My great uncle had one when I was little kid. I can still remember the yellow Indian head on the hood. Very cool!
I think a freeper got a shot of it via the TV. Its on the original speech thread. I think it just shows Bush with his hands on Clinton.
I appreciate your comments about my old Pontiac. My next door neighbor had one when I was a kid, (born at the end of '52). I too, loved the lighted hood ornament and shiny chrome grille, so when I found this one, I bought it!
So far, I have replaced the grille and the bumpers and bumper guards to the tune of $2200. FReep mail me your reg email and I'll send you pics of it.
I'm hoping that some supporter of the President caught it on film!
Well good, because this isn't true to some freepers unless they see the movie! (sheesh)
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