Kerry calls critics of his war record 'petty'

Boston Globe ^ | August 25, 2004 | Glen Johnson,

[Cincinatus' Wife]

PHILADELPHIA -- After a day in which he worked to both shine a light on his political agenda and cast doubt on the Republicans' upcoming convention, John F. Kerry last night diverted from his script and instead took on critics of his Vietnam War record.

The Democratic presidential nominee, standing before a statue of Benjamin Franklin at the Franklin Institute, recalled for a crowd attending a party fund-raiser that a local congressman had just told him he ''is hearing these commentators, Republicans, all of them, saying, 'Well, John Kerry was only in Vietnam for four months, blah, blah, blah.' "

That criticism, as well as questions about whether he deserved the three Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, and Silver Star he received, have been raised in a new book and television ad produced by members of The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a Republican-backed organization. Its members also complain about Kerry's decision to oppose the war upon returning from Vietnam, as well as declarations at the time that, under terms of the Geneva Conventions, servicemen had committed atrocities during the war.

''Well, I was there for longer than that, number one," Kerry said, offering his rebuttal. ''Number two, I served two tours. Number three, they thought enough of my service to make me an aide to an admiral [upon leaving Vietnam], and the Navy 35 years ago made the awards that it made, through the normal process that they make, and I'm proud of them and I'm proud of my service and I'm proud that I stood up against the war when I came home, because it was the right thing to do."

Kerry labeled his critics ''so petty it's almost pathetic."

[faithincowboys]

He is such a liar. he sounds awfully unrepentant to me. He was in combat for only 4 months. It is so Clintonian for him to leave people with the imoression that he served two combat tours--- he only served a third of a single tour. God, Kerry is an unlikable dude.

[Jeff Chandler]

Although he thinks John Edwards is "pretty".

[faithincowboys]

If this jerk is so proud of standing up against the war and slandering a generation of heroes, why didn't he go into it at his convention?

Instead, he tried to act like a gung ho Lieutenant.

This guy is a real POS.

[dennisw]

''Well, I was there for longer than that, number one," Kerry said, offering his rebuttal. ''Number two, I served two tours.

An outright lie. 4 months in Vietnam is not a full one year tour. And of those 4 months in country, 3 weeks seem to have been spent in training.

[ladyinred]

SHOVE IT, John Kerry, you WERE only in Viet Nam for 4 months.

[goldstategop]

But he refuses to release ALL his records. Now THAT's petty and pathetic. Is more name calling all you can do John?

[dennisw]

http://home.nycap.rr.com/pwcarter/the%20kerry%20page.html

How long was J Kerry on the USS Gridley?

[Texasforever]

Number three, they thought enough of my service to make me an aide to an admiral

Brass love ass kissers John.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

How long was J Kerry on the USS Gridley?

And how long was it near Vietnam - 5 weeks?

[montag813]

He is such a liar. he sounds awfully unrepentant to me

As Steve Malzberg is saying at this moment, Kerry is a "fantasist", who disturbingly shapes his life of lies based on who he wishes he could be. From his JFK fixation, and forming his life based on him, to the fantasy of praising H.W. Bush's Iraq War by saying"he knew how to build a coalition" to the reality that Kerry actually voted against Bush 41, stating his then-displeasure with that same coalition. Malzberg rightly states how disturbing Kerry's lies, distortions and public fantasies are, and how since he refuses to release any but 6 pages of his military records, we do not even know if he still suffers from the violent flashbacks he once claimed he had. Do Americans really want to even consider such a man for Commander-in-Chief???

[faithincowboys]

You nail it. This guy has no core. He is charmless and convictionless. Who in the Hell are the Kerry voters anyway? I can't understand it...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

To borrow a phrase I read earlier today, "When you're explaining, you're losing.

[Mo1]

'Well, John Kerry was only in Vietnam for four months, blah, blah, blah.' "

And he hung around with the likes of Jane Fonda longer then he served in Vietnam

[Belisaurius]

John F. Kerry last night diverted from his script and instead took on critics of his Vietnam War record.

Something bad happens to John Kerry whenever he does that.

[wai-ming]

The Democratic presidential nominee, standing before a statue of Benjamin Franklin

Kerry is sending a not-so-subtle message to his supporters: Send more money!

Yesterday, he stood in front of a statue of Lincoln (whose face is on the five dollar bill). Today it's Franklin (who is on the one hundred dollar bill.) Kerry's getting desperate. He skipped over Hamilton, Jackson and Grant.

[Belisaurius]

a local congressman had just told him he ''is hearing these commentators, Republicans, all of them, saying, 'Well, John Kerry was only in Vietnam for four months, blah, blah, blah.' "

So I said, "You know, when I was in Vietnam, yada yada yada....."

[Mo1]

Number three, they thought enough of my service to make me an aide to an admiral [upon leaving Vietnam],

And if I recall correctly

He BAILED OUT OF THAT EARLY ALSO!!!

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

We're proud of you too, John. That's why we need you to release all of your military and medical records, as well as your personal war journal and any data you might have related to your anti-war activities so we can be as proud of your record as you are.

[philetus]

Number three, they thought enough of my service to make me an aide to an admiral