Posted on 08/27/2004 6:03:48 PM PDT by quidnunc
After a month of charges and countercharges about John Kerry's record in Vietnam, his critics have not come up with documented proof to back up their primary charges. It's a tangled case of conflicting memories, and lingering questions.
There's a new challenge from Adm. William Schachte (USN, ret.), who contributed to two Bush campaigns. Schachte raises questions about Kerry's first Purple Heart.
"I was in command of those missions and I was in the boat that night," he says.
In an interview with NBC News, Schachte claims Kerry was not wounded in combat, but accidentally hurt himself when he fired a grenade launcher too close to the boat and a piece of shrapnel came back and hit his arm.
"I'm saying that he did not deserve the first Purple Heart from what I saw," says Schachte.
Lisa Myers: There was no enemy fire involved?
Adm. William Schachte: None.
Myers: You're absolutely certain.
Schachte: Yes.
Myers: 36 years later?
Schachte: Hey, listen, when (laughter) somebody's shooting at you, you know it."
No after action report has been found. Schachte says as officer in charge he did not write one because there was no combat.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
How come the media don't ask for Kerry to execute a SF 180? I know, it contradicts the party line there's no evidence...
Gawd, I had'nt seen Lisa Myers in a long time...SHE got chunky!
The media hasn't asked Kerry anything. Nothing, zilch, nada, squat.
I was pleasantly surprised by Lisa's report.
Admiral Schachte looked and acted very credible.
Bill Zaldonis, defending Kerry looked shifty and unsure of his facts.
Even chunky she looks better and does a fairer interview than most of their newsbabes.
So, Lisa, has John Kerry come up with documented proof to refute them?
And why aren't you focusing on the ad which is irrefutable - John Kerry in his own words, selling out his military comrades.
Yeah, it seems she somehow disappeared after she interviewed Juanita Broddrick.
re: "his critics have not come up with documented proof to back up their primary charges. "
That's what happens when the records necessary to clear up confusion on matter are under the control of the Feds and they are not about to release them. I would like to see the Republicans make more of the issue that Kerry won't release his full record and settle this once and for all. As far as I'm concerned, his refusal to provide the info needed to solve the puzzle is evidence that he knows what's in there and he can't afford to have it made public.
How come employees of the mainstream media (newsholes) don't point out the Bush critics who contributed to Democrat candidates?
Bump.
Lisa's slipping....I expect more from her. I actually thought she was one of the last remaining "investigative journalists" left in the msm.
I guess they've got to her too.
Bill O'Reilly was urging Kerry to give a press conference on the issue during the convention.. maybe he'll do that...
Journalism's new first law is that something can't have happened the way someone says it happened unless it was written down. I guess this is their version of "First there was the word."
Was this on the nightly news??
If so-It's a dent in the MS Media attempt to cover this up.
Thanks for the transcript. This is the complete interview.
Honey, the primary charges are the very-well-documented antics of flower-child Kerry AFTER his harrowing 4 months in the Nam.
Makes me think that Clinton is a true champion of the American way of Life. (/sarcasm)
Yeah, when is the MSM going to demand all of Kerry's military records? They have no credible objectivity. I remember Tim Russert allowing John Kerry to get off the hook when he said all "... all my military records have been released..." -- this was on a "Meet the Press" interview. Tim must know by now that he was snowed. Will Tim hold Kerry to account for it? When? I guess I should not hold my breath.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.