Ex-Swift boat skipper praises Kerry (sKerry Mafia shakedown alert!)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | August 24, 2004 | Milan Simonich

[buzzyboop]

For 35 years, Rich Baker seldom talked about Vietnam, Swift boats or John Kerry's ability as a young naval officer.

But now, with Republican partisans challenging Kerry's wartime record, Baker said he feels compelled to strike back.

"Every Swift boat officer gave his all in Vietnam, but Kerry stood above the rest of us," said Baker, 61, of Scott, a former Navy lieutenant and Swift boat commander. "He was number one as far as courageousness and aggressiveness. He set the tone."

Campaign aides to Kerry, the Democratic candidate for president, yesterday asked Baker to speak out publicly to counter television ads attacking Kerry's military record.

Baker, who ran a bakery after coming home from Vietnam, complied. He granted a handful of interviews and agreed to appear today at a Pittsburgh news conference organized by the Kerry campaign.

A registered Democrat, Baker voted for Republican George W. Bush for president in 2000. But this time, Baker said, he is supporting Kerry for two reasons.

For one, Baker said, he considers Kerry better qualified than Bush to be commander in chief.

Second, Baker said, he is perturbed that Kerry is being criticized for his service in Vietnam while Bush's activities during wartime receive almost no scrutiny.

"George Bush has two silver dental fillings in his teeth to show what he did during the Vietnam War," Baker said. "John Kerry has a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts."

Bush was in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam era, an assignment that kept him stateside.

[buzzyboop]

"Sellout" all over this. There are three other skippers in the original "Band of Brothers" picture who are listed as "not involved". I wonder how much pressure the sKerry Mafia is putting on them??

[Texasforever]

This guy is a liar

HURLEY: It‘s not true, Joe. I don‘t have the picture. I can‘t see it in front of me. But I can tell you there‘s a gentleman in there named Rich Baker and Rich Baker is quite upset that he‘s being portrayed as neutral in this. He has come out, and he has supported John Kerry. He has done it. He lives in Pennsylvania. He has been there. He has been campaigning with John Kerry.

[Mo1]

Kerry sure is busy making phone calls these days

[ProudVet77]

Rich Baker is listed as the OIC of the PCF47 and as OIC of the 82. He shows departing the 82 on 1/69.
Neither boat was involved in the contested actions.

[FesterUSMC]

ya right! how much did Kery pay him to say this! HAHAHA!

[COEXERJ145]

A registered Democrat, Baker voted for Republican George W. Bush for president in 2000. But this time, Baker said, he is supporting Kerry for two reasons.

For one, Baker said, he considers Kerry better qualified than Bush to be commander in chief.

Second, Baker said, he is perturbed that Kerry is being criticized for his service in Vietnam while Bush's activities during wartime receive almost no scrutiny.

I don't believe him for one second that he voted for Bush in 2000.

[sevry]

This is the one guy who was KNOWN to back Kerry. The Swifties show that group photo, which Kerry at one time claimed was his 'band o brahs'. And they show only one supported Kerry - Baker.

As for Podesta/Davis/Baker BITCHIN about Bush, well:

There's this.

[vbmoneyspender]

I wonder if anyone in the media is going to ask this guy what he thought about Kerry calling him a war criminal?

[sevry]

Oh, wait, I got Barker mixed up with Baker. My mistake.

[Bogey78O]

Steve Gardner spent more time with Kerry.

[COEXERJ145]

Actually Baker is right next to Barker in the picture and both are listed as supporting Lurch.

[vbmoneyspender]

"George Bush has two silver dental fillings in his teeth to show what he did during the Vietnam War," Baker said. "John Kerry has a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts."

I'm with you on that. If someone's service in Vietnam was so important to this guy, then presumably he would have voted for Gore over Bush given that Gore served in Vietnam.

[calenel]

"George Bush has two silver dental fillings in his teeth to show what he did during the Vietnam War," Baker said. "John Kerry has a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts."

Parroting the DNC talking points.

[birbear]

From the article:
Kerry, Baker said, was in peril many times. "John Kerry should not be alive today," Baker said. "He was aggressive -- more aggressive than the rest of us. That was his nature, and everybody who was there knows it."

And they call Bush a "cowboy" and mean it in a derogatory way. Just what I want in a president, somebody who is so aggressive they are in "peril" many times.

Not a winning recommendation in my mind.

[Mo1]

Kerry served about four months in Vietnam, and, Baker said, he made a habit of putting himself in harm's way.

Is this comment suppose to help Kerry?

[Bogey78O]

Baker Barker and Mcann all support Kerry. Three men who probably only knew him back in his days pretending he was in Cambodia.

[Texasforever]

GW spent 2 years active duty with a jet propelled flying "ROCK" strapped to his butt. Bush spent more time in uniform than Kerry did.

[dc-zoo]

I guess Baker chooses to go down with Kerry and the NY Slimes when kerry's proven to be a serial yarnspinner.

[rineaux]

Has anyone heard about Bernique or Imbrie? These are the two listed as NA. If they support JK will the media sell this as overwhelming support for kerry?
So just the 12 guys are liars now because the others support Kerry? Is that the media and dnc's take on it? smear the one's who speak out and coddle the ones who are for.

[faithincowboys]

How much money did it take?

Barker should be ashamed of himself!!!!