Then I should be euphoric!
Posted on 08/14/2004 2:24:55 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Former Air Force pilot Scott O'Grady, a high-profile volunteer in President George W. Bush's campaign, accused Sen. John Kerry on Friday of committing "treason" in opposing the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and early '70s.
Speaking at a St. Paul news conference to announce a pro-Bush veterans group in Minnesota, O'Grady criticized Kerry for meeting with a Viet Cong emissary in Paris in the waning days of the Vietnam War and testifying before Congress about atrocities committed by U.S. troops.
A leader of a pro-Kerry veterans group denounced O'Grady's accusation and said it was outside the bounds of proper campaign dialogue.
"This is a despicable and obscene comment to call John Kerry a traitor and accuse him of treason," said Tom Kayser, a St. Paul lawyer and retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve who is supporting Kerry.
"John Kerry was in Vietnam," Kayser said. "He saw what was happening, and he made his comments based on what he saw."
Steve Schmidt, a national spokesman for the Bush campaign, said the comments by O'Grady, a retired Air Force captain from Dallas, were personal.
"Clearly what Captain O'Grady said today was not consistent with the campaign's position," Schmidt said.
Schmidt did not say if the Bush campaign would continue to invite O'Grady to speak at Bush-Cheney events. But he repeatedly said the campaign was pleased to have O'Grady as a volunteer.
O'Grady appeared on the cover of Time magazine after he parachuted to safety when his plane was shot down in Bosnia in 1995.
He has campaigned across the country on behalf of Bush, and Friday's news conference was not the first time he has accused Kerry of treason publicly.
The news conference was evidence of the high-stakes competition between Bush and Kerry for the votes of America's military veterans. And O'Grady's comments reflected the raw nerve that Kerry's anti-war activities still represent for many veterans.
O'Grady leveled the charge at a news conference called by the Bush campaign to announce the formation of a Minnesota Veterans for Bush group. About 60 people, many of them veterans, attended the news conference.
When questioned about his charge, O'Grady said it was a personal opinion.
Other participants in the Republican news conference Friday accused Kerry of flip-flopping between supporting and opposing the current war in Iraq.
But their strongest criticism concerned Kerry's post-Vietnam years when he returned to the U.S. as a decorated combat veteran and took part in Vietnam Veterans Against the War activities.
Dan Weiberg, of St. Paul, a retired Internal Revenue Service agent who served in the Army in Vietnam at the same time Kerry did, said he agreed with O'Grady's characterization of Kerry's post-war actions as treasonous.
"John Kerry is the New England traitor, not the New England patriot," Weiberg said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patrick Sweeney covers state government and politics. He can be reached at 651-228-5253 or psweeney@pioneerpress.com.
You're so right. Just like 1992; just like 1996, but with I different result I hope and pray.
Kerry did not commit treason by opposing the war in Vietnam.
Kerry committed treason by perjuring himself in Senate testimony to give aid and comfort to the enemy. He also broke the law and committed treason by meeting with the North Vietnamese delegation at the Paris peace talks (assuming he isn't lying about that too).
The treason is in giving aid and comfort to the enemy. It was entirely possible to oppose the Vietnam war without committing treason. Millions did it. Kerry did not.
Then I should be euphoric!
He`s not accusing, he`s just stating a fact.
"John Kerry was in Vietnam," Kayser said. "He saw what was happening, and he made his comments based on what he saw."John was a busy little beaver wasn't he? Lets see...3 purple hearts and not one hospitalization...anyone want to guess the odds of that occurring? Visits to Cambodia(on varying dates depending upon the day of the week) which were evidently "seared" then just recently "re-seared" into his memory. Nothing wrong with this man...feh.
I am speechless.
They know a traitor when they see one.
Not to mention film making.
Scott O'Grady gets to where the rubber meets the road. As an officer in the US Navy, one serves at the pleasure of the President, i.e., he was never are totally out of the service just not on active duty. It would have been impolitic to recall Lt Doody and then try him.
Add that to his soiree with the Vietcoms in Paris, his accusations of massive war-crimes by our military while expounding his service record and you have a seditious opportunist devoid of character.
Many Americans today like those qualities in a presidential candidate.
Then again, many Americans today aren't worth a pitcher of warm piss.
So when did John Kerry "see" all of these things? Did he "Run through the Jungle" on one-man missions? Did the Swift Boat Vets on his boat see these things, too? Was there some secret reconaissance missions Kerry was sent on to gather data regarding the atrocities he says were committed?
I thought it was Kerry's meeting in Detroit, long after he returned from Vietnam, that gave him the info regarding atrocities.
Do I smell a flip-flop once again?
Is Jane fonda's picture there too?
No, you don't say?!?
Good One!
Yes.
Two that come to mind.
"Kerry committed treason by perjuring himself in Senate testimony to give aid and comfort to the enemy. He also broke the law and committed treason by meeting with the North Vietnamese delegation at the Paris peace talks (assuming he isn't lying about that too)."
Kerry's false testimony before Congress, in itself, disqualifies Kerry from holding any public office. He knew that his testimony was false at the time and knew that the VVAW leadership was composed of imposters. Kerry cannot dispute the fact that he lied to Congress and the American people.
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