Posted on 08/08/2004 10:54:18 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Former Iraq war commander Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday that Sen. John Kerry is qualified to be commander-in-chief, rejecting criticism from more than 200 Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry and say he's unfit for command.
"I'm not a fan of hyperbole whether it is for or against Sen. Kerry," Gen. Franks told ABC's "This Week."
Asked specifically about allegations that Kerry fabricated some of his combat record, Franks said, "Yeah, I think it is hyperbole."
"For some reason we've fallen pray to a notion that says there has to be vitriol on order to simply say, I support Sen. Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years."
Asked point blank if Kerry was qualified to be Commander-in-Chief, Franks said, "Absolutely."
The Iraq war chief was adressing allegations by Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, a group of Vietnam Veterans who served with Kerry who have chronicled evidence of his misconduct as a swiftboat commander in the new bestselling book, "Unfit for Command."
Gen. Franks said he was proud of being "fiercely independent" in his politics, but he told "This Week" that he's leaning towards supporting President Bush and acknowledged he's in talks with GOP planners for a possible address to the Republican Convention on Aug. 29.
I'm not suggesting that they come off as too polished or pro speakers. I am saying they come in prepared for the combativeness they got.
To me, clearly they weren't. I'm not expecting them to be professional speaker quality. I do expect them to be ready for the combativness and communicate well. Just a few days coachig would make a huge difference.
I agree with everything you said. But I do repeat, that it's not an excuse.
They know their message will be greeted with combativeness. They jknow the media won't get their message out and obfuscate. If they don't know this, they should have known it.
All I am saying is they should have been ready. It is clear after a few days that they were not. Any way you cut it, that isn't good.
It's apparently gotten to the point where if you're NOT a "rank amateurs instead of polished, professional media p###ants who have had years of experience at destroying the credibility of anyone who would dare challenge the veracity and qualifications of someone they have annointed for public office", anything you say, no matter how true, will be used to destroy you.
As an example, witness President Bush and the "Smoking Gun", "Hasn't Made the Case Against Iraq" ploy used very effectively against him by the left. Though WMD (but not "stockpils) have been found, and an al Qaeda link established, the media has succeeded in convining the public that "Bush Lied".
Hopefully, you're in the majority. Yes a few days coaching would help. However I'm giving an important cavieat : I know the left and can predict them as well as Rush claims he can, and I'm warning everyone the left will attempt to use any coaching against the speaker (because he's against Kerry). Caution is needed. At this point, they're probably better off continuing off the cuff, as they are. As long as they're persistant and the media keeps asking various present and retired military THEIR opinion of the swift boat vets' charges, the case will remain out there and open.
We don't always lose. As a matter of fact we have many substantial victories over the past couple of decades, despite the fact that the media is hostile to our cause and gives ten dollars in freebies to the liberals, for every dollar's worth of air time our side buys.
I believe that a large portion of Amercan's are seeing the media bias and reacting negatively toward the liberals in response.
The way the media and the Dimocrats are abusing these troops, for telling the truth about Kerry, is not going unnoticed by the voters of these United States.
Ah, but by the Kerry Kampaign's OWN AWOL criteria (nothing less then an eyewitness to Bush's presence at the base until an eyewitness actually comes forward) Kerry is guilty.
These ARE eyewitnesses, charging that Kerry and his little tiny Band of Brothers ® are lying about what really happened. This is a group of many, charging a few. A fact that we expect the media to ignore, but wouldn't normally expect so many of the public to ignore.
Spoken like a man with a book to sell ...trying not to alienate 1/2 market.
I see what you are saying. I guess we just respectfully disagree on that minor point of coaching.
If we are going to be blasted no matter what we do, the way I see it, we may as well put our best foot forward and be a little more persuasive.
John Kerry : "war hero" or a "war criminal"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1186991/posts
Answer the question Kerry!
Did you lie about your "heroics" or the "war crimes"?
Can't have it both ways!
RELEASE ALL YOUR MILITARY RECORDS
INCLUDING YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS
THAT INCLUDE THE TREATMENT
FOR THE 3 PURPLE HEARTS.
BEFORE NOV 2nd!
(Bush never said he had all his military records
BUT you did.)
Unless you are hiding something?
Are you?
It's now Aug, where are ALL the records that were promised in April?
PS A "summary" is NOT what you promised.
WASHINGTON, April 21 /U.S. Newswire/ --
The Kerry Campaign announced today that online at
http://www.johnkerry.com
are the official Naval records and the after-action combat reports
that are part of the public record at the Naval Historical Center,
Operational Archives Branch in Washington, DC.
What follows is a summary list of the pages on the website
and a summary of the after-action combat reports.
The direct address for the official Naval records is:
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/military_records.html
I don't recall any of those, and I've tried to keep up.
Could you help me with some links?
Well I was going to buy his book. But not now.
Hannity got "hood winked"!
I am not talking about the TV show, I am talking about the conversation (on Hannity's Radio Show) that General Franks and Sean had the afternoon of his TV appearence. Review that show, and you will hear the exact words that I reported.
LLS
General Franks seems to be spinning his remarks according to the audience. On Hannity's radio show, he was much more supportive of President Bush; and he said some very critical things about Senator Kerry. On Stephanopoulos' show, he was bending over backward not to alienate any Kerry supporters. After hearing him on Hannity, I couldn't believe my ears when I heard him on Stephanopoulos. Definitely a cagey character. I was going to buy his book after his performance on Hannity, but now I have decided to wait. He is not the only one who can weigh options.
Oh Lord.
I love how the Belgians insist on stirring the pot.
Or appoint him Sec. of Defense...
What makes Kerry unfit for command, other than his Vietnam lies, is his 20 year record of doing what is in HIS best interest in the senate. THAT is the record that needs to be pounded home.
We need more generals like Patton-One's who have to be restained like a mad dog on a leash.
Kerry is an F'in traitor and you call him qualified? At the least, he betrayed every soldier in Vietnam by what he did after the war. If he were in my family, he would have been disowned.
>>>> He has very cautious views on the war, for a general. Not unlike Powell, except probably leaning back even more.
Then what in the world was he doing with his position?!
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