McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads, calls on White House to follow suit

Boston Globe ^ | 5 August 2004 | Ron Fournier

[Question_Assumptions]

I might agree with McCain if Kerry hadn't decided to make his service in Vietnam a major campaign issue by using at part of his qualifications for office. If he wants to urge people to vote for him on the basis of his service in Vietnam, then it's fair game to take a good close look at what he did and tell the public what others who served with him didn't like.

[mwl1]

If McCain doesn't shut up, he puts his own political fortunes at risk in Arizona this year. His margin of victory may dissipate in a hurry.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Here is the truth.

First Down Kerry




This is how I flew above, the jungles there in Nam.
I held the skid and fired my gun, bam bam bam bam bam.
We approached the landing zone, I was the first man down.
“First Down Kerry”, I was called, Air Cav had come to town.
I designed the Huey, the Cobra, the Jolly Green.
Still I went to fight VC, I was a lean machine.
Swift boats, choppers, bombers too, ah yes I did it all.
For four months I was busy, but still I took the call.
I served with honor, brave, and true, saved so many men.
Viet Nam is safer now, I would go back again.

Conspiracy Guy aka DIF 8/5/2004

[veronica]

Why can't he just shut up?

On the other hand, he's upping the public profile of this story. ;) It's a good thing!

[snarkytart]

I agree.
Let him tell the vets who put this ad out to be quiet.
They have no affiliation with the Bush campaign.
What, are they not allowed to have an opinion?

Kerry made his service an issue now he needs to take the heat for it.

[Don Simmons]

Thanks John....the image of you giving jfqeery a wet, sloppy hummer ruined my desire for a hearty lunch.

Turncoat panty-waist.

[Just mythoughts]

Hey isn't the lying crooked looser McCain up for reelection this year, might be a grand idea to flood his air waves with this ad and McCain's reaction!!!!

[indubitably]

"McCain said that's all in the past to him, but he's speaking out against the anti-Kerry ad because he believes it's bad for the political system. ''It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal,'' he said."


John Kerry opened all the old wounds of the Vietnam War. Period.

[bluecollarman]

Exactly right...Kerry was the one that wrapped himself in the Flag and Vietnam.

[cardinal4]

McCain can no longer be counted as an ally..

[altura]

Maybe his invitations to appear on the Sunday shows are slowing down.

This should rev them up again, McCain.

Congrats!

[ElkGroveDan]

...and there are people who want to see this yutz in the VP slot? Geez Louise.

[cricket]

Do you think McCain got a SOS phone call from his friend John?

[Badeye]

"I find it odd McCain apparently believes the only Vietnam Veterans that should be allowed to speak are himself and Kerry."

"You know, you are exactly right about this. Who appointed Kerry or McCain the Official and Only Spokesman for Vietnam Veterans? Another poster also said what I was thinking... I must have missed McCain's condemnation of Kerry for all the "AWOL" stuff and attacks on President Bush's service. In my opinion, McCain just uses this Vietnam controversy (and the media's Pavlovian tendency to turn to him for a comment every time it arises) to keep his own Vietnam service in the spotlight. He's cut from the same cloth as Kerry in that regard. I wish he'd just keep his mouth shut for once."

This is no different than the Widows of 9/11 for the Democratic Party at the Commission Hearings.

We regret what happened to them, and do what we can for them.

However, their travails don't put them on the right side of any given issue, doesn't make them "experts" on any given subject.

And yep, it is rather amusing McCain speaks out about this, but has never objected to Micheal Moores' movie, or the Kerry Campaigns incessant attacks on the President's service record. McCain knows you don't "casually" become a fighter pilot, as both he and the President did.

At the end of the day, its obvious McCain still believes the media hyping of himself from the spring of 2000. Now, as then, it was a figament of the media's imagination.

[Tallguy]

Somebody just walked on McCain's (political) grave. What McCain see's here is the potential for other POW's to criticize him in the same manner. Some have already suggested that McCain cooperated with his NV captors. I don't know if this is true, but I suspect that it has a lot to do with the definition of "cooperate."

McCain sees that these political tactics must be declared "out-of-bounds", or he might be the next victim.

[hoosiermama]

1. President Bush nor the Republican party has anything to do with this ad....Neither endorsed it....

2. We all have the right to free speech and to express our own opinions. The people making the ad were there. They have a right to tell their side of the story.

3. If Kerry wants to dispute these challenges he should produce ALL of his records....Set the records straight.

4. Mc Cain needs to but out. It's not his dog.

[little jeremiah]

Self centered people always get it wrong. The more self centered; the more wrong.

[ClintonBeGone]

Figures. He's never late to a party which condemns the President. Wait until Joe Swartz arrives in Washington, Bush will get it from both houses of congress.

[RexBeach]

I used to admire this guy. Not anymore. He's a whiner.

[Holicheese]

What is MCCain's angle?