With all the truly legit criticisms of Kerry -- the Cambodia fabrications, the testimony before Congress, etc., adding this kind of misleading, petty stuff just detracts from the weight of the legit criticisms.
Yep. In a field of lies, this is a little one. This subject, FWIW, was covered today on another thread ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201664/posts <-- clinical analysis
What about the added language to the text of the citation?
Replacement Certificates almost twenty-years later normally do not have different language. If this was a replacement certificate, it should be generated from the original in his service record. The fact that there are three different citations, all with different language and no record of a request for a replacement citation, makes Lehman's lack of knowledge important.
I can guarantee you that if a sitting Senator wanted a new citation with new wording, he would have done more than call BUPERS and ask for a copy. Of course, the SECNAV doesn't personally, sign these things, but the question this really raises is who did? Altering the wording on a citation isn't something that would be done by a duty YN at the Navy archives.
Kerry MIGHT have asked for a replacement.
Are not the "replacement" certificates done up identical to the original ones, including the "autopen" signatures? That is why the auto pen exists. That way the certificate is truly a "replacement" and time frame signed.
What is more telling to me isn't the fact that this MIGHT be a "replacement" certificate.
Lehman says he didn't ADD THE EXTRA NOTES, which praise Kerry. This is a smoking gun, to me. Someone didn't just put together a "replacement" certificate. They embellished the new one to make Kerry look even better. This has all the hallmarks of Kerry and his MO. He always has to put frosting on his cakes.
Kerry has been building this story, brick by brick since late 60's. Now the story is unraveling, and he is blaming everyone for pointing out the flaws in his house of cards. He isn't taking any blame for building the house of cards in the first place.
Kind reminds me of the 3 little pigs, with the houses getting blown down.
I don't feel one bit sorry for Kerry. I want this story to get fleshed out and the details of when he asked for the replacement and WHO handled it brought to the light of day.
Why doesn't Kerry just say this then?
I will say that a couple weeks ago, Lehman said Kerry asked for a replacement. Apparently, with his latest comments, he is not so sure if that is even true or he would have just said that instead of wondering who signed the docs.
Why ask for a replacement of the citation??
Why not just request a copy of the original??
And why are there 3 different documents??
Normally, when you request a copy of your citation, that's what you get....a copy. This one was not only re-issued, verbage was added to it.