Fudging Breaks Out:

Slate ^ | 08/23/04 | Mickey Kaus

[Pikamax]

Fudging Breaks Out: Alert reader A.F. notes close reading reveals that the pro-Kerry eyewitness account of Pat Runyon--like the pro-Kerry eyewitness account of William Rood--contains some seemingly clever wording. In Runyon's case, it fudges the issue of whether Kerry was actually under fire in the incident for which he won his first Purple Heart:

Runyon said Kerry was wounded after one vessel tried to avoid an inspection.

"Lt. Kerry said, 'I'm going to pop a flare, and when I do, I want that engine started,' " Runyon said. But the outboard would not crank. Meanwhile, the sampan's crew steered it to the riverbank, and people started running on the shore. Runyon said shooting broke out.

Somehow, Kerry's weapon stopped firing. Runyon thinks he ran out of ammunition. He said Kerry bent down to pick up another gun and got hit in the arm.

"It wasn't a serious wound," Runyon said, and Kerry was able to start shooting again. When the firefight was over, Runyon said Kerry told him all he felt was a "burning sensation." [Emph. added]

"Shooting broke out"? Shooting by the people on the riverbank, or shooting only by Kerry and his crew? The story leaves the impression there was a two-sided firefight, but it doesn't quite say that, does it? ... Again, the ambiguity may be inadvertent. Or not! ... P.S.: According to the Swifties, the Boston Globe's Kerry book has Runyon saying "I can't say for sure that we got return fire or how [Kerry] got nicked." [Why not check the Globe book yourself?--ed I'm in Richfield, Utah and it's the middle of the night is why. I'm sure they have a fine local bookstore but not a 24-hour bookstore.] 11:18.A.M.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Runyon said shooting broke out.

It depends on what the meaning of is "shooting" is.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Fudging Breaks Out:

Call Gov. McGreevey. He'll see that it's packed back in.

[wideawake]

"Fudging Breaks Out"

Must have started with that McGreevey press conference.

[wideawake]

So close.

[pierrem15]

Kerry's in real trouble if Kaus in Slate is now suggesting his defenders are fudging the facts.

[Fierce Allegiance]

[rebel_yell2]

Ok, but please leave Kerry's gerbil (or was it a hamster) out of this fudge-fest.

You know, the one he did mouth-to-mouth on.

[The_Victor]

Runyon said Kerry told him all he felt was a "burning sensation."

Doctors usually prescribe an antibiotic for that.

[TomGuy]

Notice how these reports are vaguely detailed.

They give impressions, not substance. (Typical of Kerry's stump speeches.)

Somehow [fate? providence?], Kerry's weapon stopped firing [it did it on its own?]. Runyon thinks he ran out of ammunition [conveniently providing cover/excuse based on conjecture but no supporting data]. He said Kerry bent down to pick up another gun and got hit in the arm [hit by??? shrapnel? bullet? rice patty?].

[ghost of nixon]

I'm glad the fudging by Kerry eyewitnesses & supporters is being noticed - it is screaming to me that Kerry wants to avoid closer scrutiny of these medal-earning events

[NavySEAL F-16]

The lead title has been changed to "Clintonism breaks out".

Just too funny.

It sounds like even old Mickey is starting to realize the errors of his $300 not being well spent on the Kerry campaign.