The Swift Boat Blues by Bill O'Reilly {Barf Alert)

BillOReilly.com ^ | Bill O'Reilly

[Jenya]

The Swift Boat Blues

The partisans are running wild over this Swift Boat business, talk radio is crazy with it and the smell of blood is in the air. John Kerry has made a major deal of his Vietnam War record and now his opponents have opened fire on the Senator's experiences. It's all tawdry and distasteful of course, but let's examine things unemotionally.

First off, I believe Jim Rassmann when he says that Kerry saved his life by pulling him out of a Vietnam river while under fire. Rassmann is a former Green Beret, a former police officer and a long time registered Republican until earlier this year. If he says John Kerry is a hero, nobody should doubt it. Rassmann has earned the right to be trusted and insulting his testimony is way out of line.

But I also believe Steve Gardner, a former Navy gunner who was also present on one of Kerry's Swift Boats. He says the Senator wrote up a false report, neglecting to inform the Navy that he, Gardner, had accidentally shot a Vietnamese child during a firefight. This is a tough one. Gardner is implicating himself and has no reason to do so. But perhaps Kerry was looking out for him by not reporting the incident. Only Kerry knows.

It is very possible to perform heroically on some occasions and do less than admirable things on others. All human beings are flawed and we are capable of both valor and deceit. That's what I think happened here. John Kerry was brave, but was also calculating. His heroism impressed most of his Swift Boat mates, but his civilian anti-war activities and perceived grandstanding also alienated many other Vietnam Vets. And so the battle lines are drawn.

What should we, on the sidelines, make of all this? Well, it's a judgment call. It is absolutely wrong for Americans to condemn Kerry's war record because he demonstrated provable valor. However, those who distrust him do deserve to be heard although facts not emotion should be demanded.

I think the Swift Boat political advertisement calling Kerry a charlatan is in poor taste, and if this kind of thing continues it might well backfire on the Kerry haters. Most Americans are fair minded, and bitter personal attacks do not go down well with folks who are not driven by partisanship. Remember, General Wesley Clark was knocked out of the Presidential sweepstakes when he would not disown Michael Moore's insane remark that President Bush was a "deserter." Mr. Bush received an honorable discharge from the National Guard. Admiral Elmo Zumwalt pinned a medal on John Kerry's chest. The record is the record, unless rock solid proof refutes it.

The lesson here is that blind partisanship is not an attribute. No person or candidate is all good or all bad. In America today, with both sides peddling lies and defamation and spin, it is alarmingly difficult just to get simple facts on which to base a responsible vote.

Somewhere Jack Webb is weeping.

[VaBthang4]

Yeah...eitherway, it's pretty gay. You should prolly just walk away from it. Find a new saying...I dont know..."climb the tree"...or "sit in the chair"...or how about "pick the lock"....something else.

[Jenya]

Yeah...eitherway, it's pretty gay. You should prolly just walk away from it. Find a new saying...I dont know..."climb the tree"...or "sit in the chair"...or how about "pick the lock"....something else.

Here's one for you, "Take a hike".

Who asked for your opinion. I don't allow others to choose what I say, so find someone else to dump your control issues on.

[VaBthang4]

Oi Vey...dont get your panties in a bunch there Terayza.

"Uptight, Bitter, Projection, Lifetime Channel Chic Alert"

~grin~

[festus]

Is the rumor true about Oral Bill and McGreevy ????

[leprechaun9]

"I think the Swift Boat political advertisement calling Kerry a charlatan is in poor taste."

Barf O'Reilly is hardly anyone to measure taste!

[deadeye2]

Back in the 70's I once fell off my ski down at Tablerock Lake.My buddies circled the boat around and picked me up. Later that day I presented the driver of the boat with a Silver Bullet(several in fact). That evening I discovered I had received a purple bruise.

[Jenya]

Oi Vey...dont get your panties in a bunch there Terayza. "Uptight, Bitter, Projection, Lifetime Channel Chic Alert" ~grin~

Take me off your insane radar screen. Otherwise, I'm reporting you.

[Nam Vet]

Even though I disagree on some of O'Reilly's thoughts I've NEVER seen him so off base and full of cr*p as he is on this. I lost a boatload of respect for him since the first night he covered this aspect.

The 'Factor' used to be a must see for me ...... it is no longer. It seems like he and all of his staff have done absolutely NO research on the subject. He has NOT ONCE thought of wondering why Kerry-boy refuses to release ALL of his records instead of just a selected document here and there. Nor does he scrutinize dates, etc. He 's learned NOTHING of PCF tactics etc. He is SO sucked into the Kerry SPIN of "He didn't serve on Kerry's boat". Bill is lost.

By the way ..... I've read many of your posts and wanted to extend a special welcome here, Sweet new Freeper.

Nam Vet

[Jenya]

By the way ..... I've read many of your posts and wanted to extend a special welcome here, Sweet new Freeper.

Thanks so much. I'm in the process of changing my username, but I'll keep Jenya in my tag for a while. I've found that having a female username is often detrimental. Should be the case, but often is.

[VaBthang4]

"Otherwise, I'm reporting you."

WOOO NO! Not that. /eyeroll

[wardaddy]

My feelings precisely.

His Jump The Shark moment.....his ratings will fall...I guarantee it.

Do you agree?

[Happy2BMe]

QUOTE:

"According to the Kerry for President campaign, News Corp. President and chief operating officer Peter Chernin has endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. News Corp. owns Fox News Channel."

"That would put Chernin in the ranks of some other Kerry-supporting media executives, including Barry Diller, Kirk Kerkorian (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.) and Harvey and Robert Weinstein, who backed the release of Michael Moore's controversial anti-Bush documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11.

____________

"News Corp. owns Fox News Channel." . . and Bill O'Reilly, and Hannity and Colmes. Is it any wonder direct posting from FoxNews is on the "No-No" list?

____________

That 'splains this . .

The Questions Bill O' Reilly Failed To Ask Michael Moore

* *

CNN - The Name You CANNOT Trust

[F.J. Mitchell]

All our Media are belong to the liberals.

It's always the grass roots who elect Republicans.

It's always powerful secial interest groups, that shove the democrats down our throats.

[Casloy]

"because he demonstrated provable valor"

O'Reilly, why don't you listen for once, instead of spending all your time thinking about what profound thing you are going to say next? His so called "provable valor" is exactly what is in question here. It is not provable at all, and that is the point.

[JLO]

Well said!

[nutmeg]

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