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."
I don't know how anyone can doubt that he flipped the bird to Sampley. Afterall he had been over heard once using the "f" word, and remember when he thought no one would hear him and he called Hannity and Rush crooks, and when he yelled at one voter in Minnesota ? ( I think it was Minnesota)
Exactly. I've had serious doubts about the truth of this story since NewsMax first reported it. IMO, Limbaugh and others should have waited for another eye witness before running with the story. It'd be outstanding if it's true and verified. If not, it hurts the credibility of those who repeat it.
Oh really? After Slick Willie, flipping the bird would be considered small potatoes to our media friends. Kerry already been caught saying the F word to a large group of people which is about the most vulgar thing a candidate can say and is certainly worse than flipping off someone. And the F word was on his web site and then removed.
I don't think anything short of indictment for murder could bring down Kerry or keep dems from rallying around him like some union boss.
bubbas I.Q.
This guy is FUBAR, and someone should have kicked his ass a long time ago.
Note to Secret Service monitors: I am not advocating it now because of his protected status, but someone should have done it 35 years ago, and maybe he wouldn't be the self absorbed pretentious prick that he is.
Given the opportunity I would do the country a favor, but only to make his lip and nose bleed a little.
In God We Trust…..Semper Fi!
In what way? Democrats consider disrespecting and disgracing the military to be their greatest calling. Just look at how they beamed over Clinton's "Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell" nonsense.
I've been out a few days and I was wondering if there was a thread where I could find the pics of former Pres. Bush pushing Clinton at the WWII dedication? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
I bet The New York Post would print it.
Remember during the 2000 Presidential race, Bush allegedly said "Ass-hole" during a speech? Well, we heard about THAT. The media covered it, covered what he was talking about, covered what he meant.
Kerry does something much much worse, and we hear diddly squat.
Just another example ....
BTTT
He did say it, it was recorded and shown by the media dogs.
Kerry, never happen even if it exists.
Oh pleeeeeazzzeee let there be a photo!
"If a bona fide photo ever does show up, Lurch is toast and Hillary will be the nominee."
For the last 12 years, we conservatives have always hoped for a lynch pin moment like this with Clinton, Kennedy, Byrd, Kerry and all the rest of the rats. But even when it happens, nothing happens. The rats get full coverage or no coverage of every event, depending on how the lib media sees fit. Where are the photos of Kerry falling off the bike? They exist, but they are self-censored by the lib media.
Even if the photo shows up, it will be claimed as a "photoshoped, just like the Kerry-Hanoi Jane AP photo".
We will have to defeat his stupid ass at the polls.
Bush did call Clymer an a-hole & Cheney said "Big Time".
That is how we got the term CLYMER for A-hole.
I plan to yell:
"Hey, where's your HUSBAND"?
Two critical differences between the Slick Willie thing and such a photo:
1) For those who do not take the time to know what is going on (including swing voters), photos have much more impact then words.
2) Swing voters tend to be more turned off a scandal in the context of firing a sitting President rather then evaluating a candidate for President.
The dims will vote for the rats no matter what, the reasonable and well informed will vote for the pubbies. But, the perception of the largely ignorant swing voter makes the difference.
I hear what you're saying, but I don't think flipping the bird at the military -- heckler or no -- goes over the same in a post-9/11 world.
Look how much damage the Democratic Party did to itself from 1992-2000 by overestimating Bill Clinton's appeal. They never realized that the nation was sick and tired of him by the time the 2000 election rolled around. And even since he left office, every single Democratic candidate that Bill Clinton publicly supported lost against a GOP opponent -- including California governor Gray Davis, who suffered the incredible ignominy of being tossed out of office in a recall election.
My guess is that Ralph Nader would have been a stronger candidate in 2000 if Clinton were the Democratic candidate instead of Gore, because at least Gore had his idiotic "Earth in the Balance" persona to enhance his left-wing credentials.
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