Dole: Kerry Should Apologize

AP via Washington Post ^ | 8/22/04

[ambrose]

Dole: Kerry Should Apologize

Former Senator Suggests Kerry Should Apologize for Congressional Testimony About Vietnam War Atrocities

By Pete Yost The Associated Press

Sunday, August 22, 2004; 4:42 PM

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole suggested Sunday that John Kerry apologize for past testimony before Congress about alleged atrocities during the Vietnam War and joined critics of the Democratic presidential candidate who say he received an early exit from combat for "superficial wounds."

Dole also called on Kerry to release all the records of his service in Vietnam.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Bob Dole doesn't have to "act Presidential" out on the stump for Bush either. You're right, he isn't running for re-election. He can pull all the stops out. People in fly-over country admire Bob Dole and all the sacrifices he made in WWII. Bob Dole has nothing to lose politically. The one thing he damn sure doesn't want to lose is his honor. The biggest mistake Kerry made was lumping his undeserved honor in with the deserved honor of Bob Dole. This isn't about Bob Dole the Senator or Presidential candidate, this was about Bob Dole the genuine WWII hero.

[Mo1]

While their at it .. they can apologize for the hit piece the Globe did on Dole

"This is the moment of truth for President Bush," Edwards said in North Carolina. "The American people have to hear directly that these ads need to come off the air." Kerry also fought back in another new ad.

As for Edwards ... They did try to deal with ALL 527's

Maybe Mr. Trial Lawyer has heard of McConnell v. FEC

[sissyjane]

The media may be-AND ARE --dishonest, but a lot of voters take everything that the media tells them as the truth.

[Casloy]

HAHAHAHAHA, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Kerry's campaign HQS. They must be FREAKING out. How in the world do you counter this one? You can't attack Dole, you can't dismiss him, you can't call him a right wing nut, you can't call him a liar.

Oh wait, these are dems, they can and will do all of the above.

[sissyjane]

Exactly---but if the SBVFT message isn't getting out to the public, then there is no way that we can fight the Kerry spin.

[Mo1]

How in the world do you counter this one? You can't attack Dole, you can't dismiss him, you can't call him a right wing nut, you can't call him a liar.

Betcha they will

[Casloy]

"This is big. Dole is a respected,known commodity and folks (older particularly) know of him and about him."

No, this isn't big, this is HUGE!!!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Give'm time, the Democrats will find a way to counter it.

[Casloy]

This reminds me of when Goldwater said that the whole "Watergate thing was a bucket of sh*&." He then told Nixon to resign. This was supposedly the straw that broke the camels back, and Nixon resigned soon after.

[BigSkyFreeper]

McConnell v. FEC

I wasn't aware of that USSC case, but you did prompt me to do a search on that one to get up to speed. :)

[Casloy]

I'm thinking this could move the issue over to what Kerry testified to before the Senate when he was the supreme leader of the VVAW. Once it goes there the Dems have no one to accuse of lying since Kerry's words speak for themselves. This move by Dole was brilliant. Kerry can't apologize for what he said or it will simply make the story too huge to handle. It also switches the focus from his vietnam vet status to vietnam protestor status. I am almost feeling sorry for Kerry. NOT

[Mo1]

If I recall correctly the USSC upheld the CFR bill and then they went to the FEC and the FEC said if there were changes to be made ... they weren't going to make any changes will after the election cycle was over

I'm sure other Freepers will know more of the details

But the bottom line .. Kerry and Edwards are LYING

[BigSkyFreeper]

...a lot of voters take everything that the media tells them as the truth.

I don't feel even a bit sorry for any one of those people. Most of these people are dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. It would be a waste of my time trying to convince them of what they do not know.

[utahagen]

I agree. The Dems would love Republicans to come out against Kerry's military service. By hanging back, the Republicans -- except for Dole, who, as a veteran, has every right to speak up -- make the Dems look desperate when they scream, "Politics!"

[willyboyishere]

When I heard this on the radio today I smiled to myself, and said "Go get em Bob!" I was proud of him---what he said and the way he said it was just right. But it was born today, and probably will die or already has, within the 24 hour news cycle.

[Christian4Bush]

bttt

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[BigSkyFreeper]

I agree. The ones who should really stay out of the fray is the White House.

As it stands now, Bob Dole is defending his service to this country in WWII. His honor has been smeared.

[FranklinsTower]

But it was born today, and probably will die or already has, within the 24 hour news cycle.

I disagree. It'll only die if Bob Dole chooses to let it die. This is far too serious an issue for him to let it die. Furthermore, Bob Dole is a heavy hitter with the mainstream media -- when he speaks, people listen as evidenced by this article and others.

He really upped the ante for the Kerry campaign! They really must be in a collective panic right now.

[willyboyishere]

Hope you're right---I would love nothing more for this Kerry-created issue to achieve fatal critical mass and become the Achilles Heel of his campaign. The one thing that does him in, that bites him on the leg and won't let go. He deserves it.