Debate on Kerry's Military Record Rages

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/26/04 | Mary Dalrymple - AP

[NormsRevenge]

ANOKA, Minn. - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) on Thursday lashed out at "the lie that's been put out there" about his Vietnam War service as Republicans and Democrats fiercely debated his military record, sensing a political advantage in keeping the issue alive.

The debate started when a group of critics, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, raised questions about the Democratic presidential candidate's command during the Vietnam War. It has escalated into a tit-for-tat advertising war amid accusations from each campaign that the other side is improperly using independent groups to front their attacks.

Responding to a question at a forum, Kerry said, "All the guys who were with me on my boat, all the guys who were with me in the specific action where they could see it and do it, absolutely document what I said. And as you've seen in the last few days, you're now learning about the lie that's been put out there and how it's been put out there.'

Kerry pointed out that the Navy documented his actions 35 years ago, compared to the recollections of veterans decades later. "Those documents stand, and I am absolutely telling you the God's honest truth about what happened and what took place over there. And so are the other people who've laid it out correctly over the last couple days," he said.

In a television ad, Kerry's campaign hit President Bush (news - web sites) for waging a "smear" campaign by failing to denounce the Swift Boat Veterans' accusations that Kerry didn't deserve his five Vietnam medals.

Bush's 2000 primary campaign rival, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., was the star of the Democrats' new ad, which shows the senator telling Bush in 2000 "you should be ashamed" for standing by as a "fringe veterans group" questioned McCain's patriotism.

McCain, who supports Bush's re-election, said Thursday that he didn't want the Democrats using his old statements against the president — and the Kerry campaign pulled the ad. But McCain isn't happy about the swift boat veterans' anti-Kerry ads, either.

McCain had called on Bush to condemn those ads.

Kerry and running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) have accused Bush of being behind "lies and smears" by the group. Bush's campaign has denied being behind the swift boat group, whose major financial backer is a Texas Republican with ties to Bush aides.

As the claims of improper coordination flew, one of Bush's top lawyers resigned from the Bush campaign Wednesday, a day after disclosing that he had given legal advice to the Swift Boat Veterans. At the same time, Republicans raised questions about Democratic lawyers working for other organizations.

The Bush-Cheney campaign hit back at Kerry in a sharply worded letter that criticized Kerry's actions after he returned from war, including his testimony before Congress that U.S. soldiers were committing atrocities in Vietnam.

"You accused your fellow veterans of terrible atrocities and, to this day, you have never apologized," said the letter, drafted by the campaign and signed by several veterans. "Even last night, you claimed to be proud of your postwar condemnation of our actions."

Bush has criticized the Swift Boat Veterans group's first commercial and all other outside group attack ads — many of which have targeted his own re-election. But Democrats want him to explicitly condemn the Swift Boat Veterans ad.

At Bush's ranch Wednesday near Crawford, Texas, former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., who lost three limbs in Vietnam, tried but failed to deliver a letter to the president from nine Senate Democrats that asked Bush to "recognize this blatant attempt at character assassination and publicly condemn it."

The Bush-Cheney campaign Wednesday chastised Kerry for saying all military service should be held above reproach, while he questions Bush's military record.

"You said in 1992, 'We do not need to divide America over who served and how.' Yet you and your surrogates continue to criticize President Bush for his service as a fighter pilot in the National Guard," the campaign said.

The current stage of the battle may have negated any advantage accrued by either side, Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said.

Newhouse said Bush had the advantage when the debate centered on Kerry's actions in Vietnam because the questions raised doubts about Kerry's credibility. Now that the debate has shifted to questions about campaign tactics and political insiders, Newhouse said, Bush lost his advantage.

"Bush gained early, now it's a wash," he said.

William Benoit, professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said McCain, who was a prisoner of war during Vietnam, erased any early advantage that Bush might have had.

McCain has called the anti-Kerry advertisement "dishonest" and "dishonorable."

"When Senator McCain comes out and says he's a hero ... how many Republicans are going to reject it?" Benoit said. "I just think Senator McCain has neutralized that issue in large part."

[NormsRevenge]

Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (D-MA) speaks during a campaign stop at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota, August 26, 2004. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION

[NavySEAL F-16]

"When Senator McCain comes out and says he's a hero ... how many Republicans are going to reject it?" Benoit said. "I just think Senator McCain has neutralized that issue in large part."

With all due respect to Benoit, what world is he living in?

[NormsRevenge]

DubyaVision :-)

U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) speaks at a campaign rally in Las Cruces, New Mexico, August 26, 2004. Bush was introduced to speak here by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque US ELECTION

[Prost1]

"John Kerry, I've known real Heroes and you John Kerry are no Hero!"

[DustyMoment]

The debate started when a group of critics, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, raised questions about the Democratic presidential candidate's command during the Vietnam War.

WRONG!!!! The debate started when Kerry made his fraudulent service in Vietnam the cornerstone of his presidential campaign.

[sgtbono2002]

I repeat once again , Look out for Mccain, he cant be trusted. He helped write the the Bill allowing 527's.

McCain is playing both sides of this fence.

Kerry complians of the lies put out there, We have to decide who is lying. I vote with the Swiftee's

[Republican Red]

Responding to a question at a forum, Kerry said, "All the guys who were with me on my boat, all the guys who were with me in the specific action where they could see it and do it, absolutely document what I said. And as you've seen in the last few days, you're now learning about the lie that's been put out there and how it's been put out there.'

Liar. Steve Gardner was on the boat with Kerry and is out in full force today to dispute everything about Kerry's war record.

[NavySEAL F-16]

I agree about McCain.

If you notice, McCain will not ever discuss specifics about his involvement in the Savings and Loan debacle with Keating and the Keating Five.

I'm waiting for the book from Charlie if Charlie ever writes his side.

[jerry639]

"When Senator McCain comes out and says he's a hero ... how many Republicans are going to reject it?"

Here is one Republican that rejects it. Senator McCain does not have much credibility as far as I am concerned.

[Leroy S. Mort]

The Bush-Cheney campaign hit back at Kerry in a sharply worded letter that criticized Kerry's actions after he returned from war, including his testimony before Congress that U.S. soldiers were committing atrocities in Vietnam. "You accused your fellow veterans of terrible atrocities and, to this day, you have never apologized," said the letter, drafted by the campaign and signed by several veterans. "Even last night, you claimed to be proud of your postwar condemnation of our actions."

Well this is interesting. First time I've seen this from the Bush Campaign itself. If Kerry was, as rumored, planning to get air time on 60 minutes to "apologize", this makes it look like he's bending to their demand. Smart...

[EQAndyBuzz]

mcCains problem is McCain. He wrote the bill that caused this mess and he wants the President to fix it. bush should tell McCain to chill out, go on TV and tell the nation that the Demorats have so prostituted this bill that as a standing Senator he can no longer support this piece of crap legislation.

He should then ask the President to sign a bill repealing this.

[Mike Bates]

[fortheDeclaration]

"William Benoit, professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said McCain, who was a prisoner of war during Vietnam, erased any early advantage that Bush might have had.
McCain has called the anti-Kerry advertisement "dishonest" and "dishonorable."
"When Senator McCain comes out and says he's a hero ... how many Republicans are going to reject it?" Benoit said. "I just think Senator McCain has neutralized that issue in large part."

What world are these guys living in? They think because the media love McCain the GOP does!
They just keep hoping that this story is going to go away but it isn't!

[pointsal]

...W speaking: My dad's a real war hero. John Kerry, you're no war hero.

[NormsRevenge]

[Prost1]

I don't believe John Kerry ever fought on our side!

He may have worn a uniform, he may have shown up, but he was always out for John F. Kerry as evidenced by his phony record and petition for discharge from Viet Nam and the service.

[BushisTheMan]

Perhaps we should write to McCain and DEMAND that he ask Kerry to have the 527 remove the ad about him/Bush.

[Republic]

I Do NOT BELIEVE that JOHN KERRY EVER FOUGHT ON OUR SIDE, EITHER.

There is NO WAY that any man, especially ANY COMMANDER in our service would lie in order to win medals, shorten his tour or duty in doing so, and return home to crush the spirit of those who served alongside him.

MAKE KERRY GIVE OUT THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO RAPED AND CUT OFF HEADS.

MAKE KERRY ANNOUNCED PUBLICALLY THAT HE WANTS HIS PICTURE THAT HANGS IN THE COMMUNIST MUSEUM OF HISTORY< WHEREIN HE IS CALLED A HERO TO THE COMMUNISTS FOR HIS ANTI-WAR ACTIVITIES< demand THAT THE COMMUNIST GOVENMENT OF VIETNAM TAKE THAT PICTURE DOWN!

MAKE KERRY EXPLAIN WHY HE ATTENDED A MEETING WHEREIN THE ASSASINATION OF AMERICAN SENATORS (and I believe, Henry Kissinger, as well) WAS DISCUSSED.

AND MAKE KERRY DISAVOW that he TOOK LAUNDERED MONEY FROM THE COMMUNIST CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR HIS LAST SENATE RACE.

MAKE KERRY DENOUNCE COMMUNIST CHINA.

MAKE KERRY DENOUNCE THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT.

MAKE KERRY STATE THAT COMMUNISM IS A DEVASTATING FORM OF GOVERNING ANY PEOPLES.

Otherwise...I stand with you, FReeper Prost1, Kerry did not fight for us, instead, HE USED OUR MILITARY SERVICE TO ADVANCE HIS OWN PERSONAL RESUME.

Fess up KERRY----Is it POSSIBLE (judging now from the votes in your entire senate career), ARE YOU A COMMUNIST? And if you say NO, EXPLAIN what you DISLIKE about communism.

[hershey]

RATs are whistling past Kerry's graveyard. Just because Kerry says Bush is smearing him...when Bush has nothing to do with the Swift Boat vets...who were Kerry's band of warriors thirty years ago...Kerry doesn't gain the high ground. This analysis is ludicrous and for the RATs...a last ditch effort to change the subject away from Kerry's career of lies, ineptness, and waffling. The man is weak and has no integrity, no core set of beliefs. God forbid he should ever be President.