I didn't say the criticisms were warranted. That's a whole different discussion. But at least with Kennedy, he could claim to want a strong defense and be credible. The guys who betrayed their country and voted against every single pro-defense bill ever put before them have no way to claim that they will be tougher on terrorists than Bush.
Yes, John Kennedy was a genuine hawk on defense.
Such animals ceased to exist in the Democrat Party when
the McGovern/Carter/Tedkennedy liberals took over; Kerry was in that crowd, touting the UN in 1971 and being anti-vietnam war.
Then the Democrat's last hawk Scoop Jackson retired and his neocon underlings (like Richard Perle) migrated to the Republican side.
The Democrats behavior since 9/11 only proves they are still the weak-on-defense mcgovernite party.