Posted on 08/24/2004 10:12:24 AM PDT by kattracks
Vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who avoided service in Vietnam, had wisely stayed out of the debate over John Kerry's Vietnam war record - until this past weekend, when he started depicting Swiftboat veterans who have criticized Kerry as "liars."
"They are saying that John Kerry's service in Vietnam was not honorable. That's a lie," Edwards told a town hall meeting in West Virginia on Saturday. On Sunday he repeated the allegation, saying in a conference call to reporters, "First, the claim that John Kerry didn't serve his country honorably is a lie. Second, those attacks are being financed by friends of George Bush."At a Monday campaign stop in Virginia, Edwards picked up the theme again, charging, "The argument and the claim that John Kerry did not serve this country honorably and proudly and courageously is a lie."
Not a difference of opinion from men who also served honorably in Vietnam. Not a conflicting account. Not a disputed version. But a lie.
Of course, Edwards himself hasn't always been forthright about his own military record - or rather, lack thereof.
In April, NBC "Today Show" host Katie Couric asked him where he was during Vietnam. The exchange went like this:
COURIC: Your military service, before we go?
EDWARDS: I - I did not serve in the military.
COURIC: You had a high lottery number, is that right?
EDWARDS: I did, and I came after - after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery, Katie. I'm 50 years old. And because at the time I came along and graduated from high school and then - and then went to college, I was not drafted. [END OF EXCERPT]
A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards' number was lower than more than half of those picked.
And what about the claim that he "came after the time that they were actually drafting from the lottery."
That's not strictly true either. The year Edwards became eligible for the draft, the military drafted 49,514 men, according to Selective Service records - tapping draftees who had lottery numbers as high as 95. The draft was abolished in July 1973.
But even that year, 646 young men born the same year as Edwards were inducted into the military.
His draft availability aside, Edwards could have enlisted in the military, following the example of the men he now calls liars. Or sign up for the National Guard, the way George Bush did.
John Edwards, however, did neither, enlisting instead in Clemson University, where, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri, "He had a little fun . . . drinking beer with buddies . . . smoking marijuana a few times."
"His campaign would not provide more specifics other than to say Edwards' occasional marijuana use continued through law school but stopped after that," the Charlotte Observer reported in July.
To at least one Democratic consultant, the failure to serve in Vietnam constitutes a betrayal of America.
"He betrayed them when he didn't fight in Vietnam," Democratic strategist Maryanne Marsh said Monday night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." "When he had a chance to serve his country, he didn't."
Of course, Marsh was talking about George Bush, not John Edwards.
I'm wondering the same thing. Kerry and his campaign are acting so incredibly stupid that I almost suspect that they have something up their sleeves.
Hmmmm. I'm 51, and I was drafted in October 1971, my first week of college.
A high lottery number? Not exactly. Pulling number 178 in the February 1972 Selective Service lottery drawing, Edwards' number was lower than more than half of those picked.
This is a bunch of BS and a pretty stupid statement! I had number 27 in 1972 and my memory was that they got to number 19 that year (will be glad to be corrected on this) I remember only being slightly worried about being drafted. If I was drafted, I would have gone. What I am starting to see through hindsight is that I was being lied to by people like John Kerry. In hindsite I wish I had gone, would have done me some good.
'Rats - they can dish it out, but they can't take it...
This coming from a trial lawyer. LOL! Yeah in your dreams extortionist.
Wasn't it John who asked us to "spend 3 minutes" with those who served with Kerry?
LOL, now all of the sudden they're liars.
I noticed that also. Clearly, the author is getting numbers mixed up. Nobody with a draft number higher than 178 was drafted in Feb 1972 and certainly not "more than half." The highest number in the previous draft was 95. This is a moot point anyway, since nobody drafted in Feb. 1972 was ever called up.
Ah, Johnny Boy,
It was only two months ago that you were calling Kerry and the other candidates "pond scum",
But now that you have sucked face with Kerry for a month, you are now qualified to determine who's telling the truth??
Sit down and STFU, let the Jr. Senator from Mass. dig his own grave!
According to the Selective Service historical records, RESULTS FROM LOTTERY FOR MEN FACING THE DRAFT IN 1973 - The lottery drawing held February 2, 1972, determined the order in which men born in 1953 were called to report for induction into the military...
This lottery was conducted for men who would have been called in 1973; however, no new draft orders were issued after 1972.
So, if I am reading this chart correctly, my number was 161 and John Edwards' number was 178.
No, none of those drafted had higher numbers. The author's just saying that Edwards' lottery number wasn't all that high.
Over half of the total number of people in the lottery had numbers higher than he did. Half of the 366 birthdays in a year puts the midpoint at 183. He was slightly below that at 178.
All of the people actually drafted had numbers lower than he did (1 - 95) but Edwards wasn't all that safe if more people had been needed that year.
The number of donors are now over 24,000.
Donate to irk little John/John:
https://www.swiftvets.com/swift/ccdonation.php?op=donate&site=SwiftVets
If I recall correctly, I had a 40 in '73 and received a letter from the Selective Service saying, in essence, "Uncle Sam doesn't want you" and my classification remained 1-H.
"Vietnam Avoider John Edwards Calls Swiftvets 'Liars' "
In a related development, John Edwards called his wife "svelt"......(grin)
Hannity Should address that Betrayal Comment tonight and point out Edward's NON SERVICE....
So 178 was high enough.
Edwards is just another yellow coward who didn't have the balls to enlist
___
Seems to me that club would include 3 of the 4 men at the top of the major party tickets. One of the 4 did.
I'm sure I've missed your point - cuz I know you're no DU troll trying to call Bush and Cheney yellow cowards (or are you?)
Question: Was a student deferment automatic if you were an undergraduate student? Or did you have to apply for a deferment to receive one? I.e., did John Edwards apply for that deferment?
Since Maryanne has a chance to volunteer right now to join the army - and has not done so - I guess that means she too is betraying her country.
"So, if I am reading this chart correctly, my number was 161 and John Edwards' number was 178."
Hmmm. Mine was less than half of his. I wonder why I didn't get tagged?
(I do remember that I avoided the mailbox like crazy for awhile. My late brother had been a door gunner and was sending home chilling letters).
Hey Johnny Reed .. Care to tell us all HOW YOUR SCHOLORSHIP FELL THROUGH AFTER YOU GOT INTO COLLEGE????
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