Calling John Kerry's military service into question is beyond the pale

Opinion Journal ^ | 8/7/04 | Al Hunt

[JimSEA]

Rather than back off on this, as Mr. Hunt and Mr. Kerry demand, I believe it is important to examine Kerry's testimony before the Senate in 1971. After all, as the Democrats chanted when examining Bush's National Guard service, character counts.

[JoeGar]

... the current effort by some Bush backers to focus attention on John Kerry's Vietnam War record ...

Er, isn't it Kerry who is doing this? In every campaign speech -- several times.

[Petronski]

Anyone know if Al Hunt is liberal?

Yes he is. Trivia: he's married to Judy Woodruff.

[cyncooper]

I don't expect the Swifties will fare any better setting the record straight about Kerry.

I do. Way better.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I don't expect the Swifties will fare any better setting the record straight about Kerry.

Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me!

The American people got a pig in a poke when they picked Bill Clinton after the Soviet Union fell.

Times are differeent now.

Preemption says that if there are doubts about Kerry's leadership skills or lack of them, show them now before it's too late.

Clinton merely brought disgrace and weakness to the US.

That's why our "allies" loved him!

We can't afford on the job training for someone whom the training might not stick to!

[justshutupandtakeit]

It is definitely beyond the pale to attack the RATs with the Truth. They shrink from the truth like a vampire from sunlight. Tough noogies and it seems as though these ads are creating great fear in RATdome.

[CurlyBill]

John Kerry on taxes: "During my service in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on partial birth abortion: "When I was in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on the economy: "While serving mu country in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on trade: "When I was in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on crime: "While in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on education: "When I was stationed in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on gay marriage: "When I served in Viet Nam..."

John Kerry on terrorism: "In Viet Nam, I learned... SENSITIVITY!"

[Bob]

I don't expect the Swifties will fare any better setting the record straight about Kerry.

I'd have to speculate that you've never known very many Navy officers. I've got a good suspicion that this whole thing is just barely getting started. :=)

[M-cubed]

"...<...Something Ive always questioned is of those 4 months, how long was he ACTUALLY in a combat situation on the swift boats???...It appears he spent the first month in training and in country processing at Cam Rahn Bay...http://swift1.he.net/~swiftvet/index.php?topic=KerryinVietnam ...Also...out processing took a week or more (at least for us army guys)...I doubt when he was finally assigned to his unit that he immediately took over a swift boat without some training ( a week at least id guess)...'spose he went on R and R?...if the truth were known Im guessing he probably wasn't in a combat command situation for more then 30-40 days!...Can anyone do some research on the ACTUAL time the "piker" served in a combat situation"?????

[hgro]

Al Hunt is Mr. Judy Woodruff. The Judy Woodruff who spreads propaganda for that notoriusly Dimocrat party minion CNN.

[jimbo123]

John Kerry's diplomacy in action.

[abclily]

Sorry, Al Hunt, your boy is a sorry, floppy, lying liberal. Nothing you can do to change that. You chose him, now you have to defend him. Don't blame honest people for your problem.

[ChuxsterS]

Questioning Jean Francois Kerry's military record is beyond the pale?

I would be willing to bet Al Hunt wasn't so fussed back when people claimed Bush had been AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard.

[Chode]

something like "Adm.Boorda committed sUIcidE for far less an offense."

[ken21]

al hunt's got a screw loose.

where was he in february when the dems were working dubya over for his national guard service?

if bush's record is open to question, then kerry's is too.

[WHBates]

I expect that what you say is true about the media.

However, most vets know how the military works and generally how decorations are awarded. I never question an enlisted mans decorations but always question an officers decorations. Not that most aren't valid, but I also know how the system works.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

That sounds about right.

Thanks for the reminder!

I remember it being some lummox like Craig Livingstone, though I'm not positive.

I also remember Rush playing that clip repeatedly at the time.

[sergeantdave]

Wow, the Kerry kennel is calling out the chief Marxist to twist the truth. The poodle has got to be in big trouble. Toss him some medals.

[malia]

" If Kerry is going to run on his Vietnam record...we have every right to question it. .

What does he say -- I served you in Vietnam and I will serve you as President.

I say we have the duty to question every thing this man has done.

McCain used to be a hero in our home - he is no longer. I say shame on McCain!!!

[livius]

Supposedly the veterans (the "Band of Brothers" that Kerry discovered) who are appearing on behalf of Kerry all got their medals thanks to him. That is, he was the one who put in for them; so clearly, if they acknowledged that his was false or obtained for something that didn't happen quite that way, they would probably be tacitly acknowledging this of their own, too.

Please note: this is just what I read on another post yesterday, and I don't know whether or not it is true that he was responsible for their medals. Maybe somebody else knows more about it?