[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"I got one Purple Heart. I lost an eye, part of my jaw and got hit in the arm. This guy's got three scratches and he's making a big deal out of it. It doesn't seem right."

Kerry's fuss about his Vietnam service, and his implication if not outright claim that Bush is a coward for choosing service in the National Guard, is insulting.

• It is an insult to every veteran who has more greivious wounds and/or more impressive medals than Kerry. One thinks of Oliver North, but surely the name of such people (almost all men) must be legion.
• It is an insult to every man of military age who did not volunteer to go to Vietnam after Kerry himself told them not to
  • by swearing that US military officers were criminals, and
  • by indicating with his famous demonstration with medals/ribbons at the White House that there was no honor in fighting in Vietnam.
• it is an insult to men who decided not to volunteer for military service before LBJ made Vietnam hot.
• And it is especially insulting to every present and former member of the National Guard, especially those called to active duty or who volunteered for dangerous specialties such as fighter pilot.

And that insult comes on top of the insult Senator Kerry heaped on all Vietnam veterans.

Nominating or voting for John Kerry is just plain rude.

[kinsman redeemer]

I read this article with astonishment!

I never heard that John Kerry was a Viet Nam veteran. When did THIS little tid-bit come out? Just yesterday?

I would think the press would be all over this revelation.. What about the timing? It seems suspicious to me (i.e. THE day before his self-defining speech...) Do you think he will mention his military record tonight? Huh? Do you?

Did Bush know about this? Is he to blame?

Is Daschle saddened?

Do the cheese-eating surrender monkeys know?

Should we all head for the shower?

[beachn4fun]

Let me give you a quote from Kerry from a Reader's Digest story printed in their August 2004 edition (page 83)............

Prelude....Kerry is watching CNN. The story is Kerry and Vietnam and the ribbons he earned.....and threw away.....he then says, "This is absurd, what's going on." "I'm not going to let the President's campaign and this President - - who still cannot prove that he showed up for duty in the National Guard in Alabama -- diminish my service, and my choice to oppose the war, and to do with my medals what I want to do."

My emphasis on "this President." I wanted to point out that Bush again gets the blame.

I will not be voting based on a military record. Many of our Presidents have had no military experience, so to me that is not a deciding factor. However, I will be voting on who is bold enough to protect our country, and doesn't seek approval to do it.

[Toidylop]

fair and balanced view...

---

Wed Jul 28, 9:05 PM ET
Vietnam veteran Reg Cornelia, of East Hampton, N.Y., shouts during Vietnam Veterans against Kerry rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Wed Jul 28, 8:23 PM ET
A Vietnam veteran who is anti Kerry, Cuc Foshee (left) of Orlando, Fla., yells at Kerry supporter Evita Cheuib of Tampa, Fla., during a rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Wed Jul 28, 8:21 PM ET
Vietnam Veterans against Kerry gather during a rally held in the free speech zone outside of the Fleet Center Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Boston, Ma. Boston site of the first national political convention since the Sept. 11 attacks took on the look of an armed camp with razor wire, metal barricades and phalanxes of police punctuating the city landscape. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

[F.J. Mitchell]

Weasley Clark exposes his contempt for his subordinates in this dismissal of these vets. He reminds me of Major Frank Burns on Mash.

THe liberal media are showing no respect for these Veterans, by ignoring their legitimate exposure of Kerry's many, many faults and fakery that render him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief. The media are treating these Heroic Patriots just as badly as they treated them thirty years ago.

The media are active members of the Kerry-Edwards Campaign. The media are worthy of nothing but contempt.

[The Wizard]

bttt

[BushisTheMan]

My letter to the editor:

'Hanoi John' Gets Unwelcome Reception From Veterans

Thank you for writing and covering the story about the Swift Boat Vets and other Vietnam veterans. I am not a veteran - I am someone who kept my mouth closed during the Vietnam era days and let people like John Kerry and his ilk dishonor these warriors.

I am ashamed for my silence 30 years ago. I am speaking out now and I hope to do everything I can to see that John Kerry NEVER becomes commander in chief over our military.

This topic deserves more coverage and I thank you for writing about it.

[MEGoody]

"Kerry's repeated mention of Vietnam in his presidential bid has irked some veterans because of the anti-war positions he took once he returned from his four-month tour of duty."

That's exactly it. He wants to play the hero now, but he tried to make all the soldiers look cruel and evil back then. He doesn't deserve to be commander in chief.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Just got off the phone with talk show host Lars Larson out of Oregon.
I believe he is carried in some other areas nationally.

I told Lars I was there Oct'68-Apr'69 on the USS CORRY DD 817 as a GMG 3
(Gunners Mate 3rd Class)
And that we operated in North and South Vietnam
and in the Mekong Delta supplying supplied PCF's and PBR's

What I asked him was if Kerry could make films while he was in Viet Nam for 4 months
where were his films with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War
for 2 + years when he came home.
Where was footage of them marching with the Viet Cong flag.
Where were his films of Jane Fonda.

Lars Larson then started talking about the Swift Boat Vets AGAINST Kerry.
I then told him Bob Elder was on Laura Ingram today saying what a phony Kerry was.
Specifically how 2 of his Purple Hearts were phony.
And how his "rescue of a Army Captain" was fake.
Kerry took no fire, what so ever.

We all know by now TV and Cable newsrooms WILL NOT TELL THE TRUTH.
I urge everyone to hit the radio talk shows and the internet.

[wingnutx]

Ping!

[Nancee]

Hi kattracks!!

So, what did he expect?

Nancee

[NYCop]

The more I read about him, the worse I want to see him go down in flames on Election Day. Thanks Tonk, I consider you the resident authority on Veterans issues here on FR, and appreciate being on your ping list.

[skinkinthegrass]

bttt...and to think this S***H**D feels he's ENTITLED to be C-in-C...rem: its' takes only two generations to destroy a civilization from the inside :((

[Libloather]

The protest was designed to counter Kerry's use of Vietnam, including his war medals, as a campaign issue. Even before Kerry's arrival in Boston with 13 veterans Wednesday, the Democrat had routinely enlisted some of his former comrades to boost his presidential campaign. "They're in the minority,"

On today's radio show, Laura Ingraham interviewed someone from Swift Boat Veterans For Truth. He stated that the close Navy buds Effin' Kerry is hanging around with are PAID - by being on the Kerry campaign payroll.

[spodefly]

"We know he's a phony," Booth said. "You don't get two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star in 21 days. You don't do it, no way. I was at Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] for 18 months. I got one Purple Heart. I lost an eye, part of my jaw and got hit in the arm. This guy's got three scratches and he's making a big deal out of it. It doesn't seem right."

BTTT

[Chu Gary]

To all interested parties, check swiftvets.com for definitive opinions of J F'n Kerry's heroism.

One question: if you're the captain of a swift boat, the senior guy, who recommends you for medals?