KERRY: 'WE WILL NOT READILY JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION' (get this to them before he speaks Wed.)

Kerry Spot/National Review ^ | August 30, 2004 | jim geraghty

[Cableguy]

As John Kerry gets ready to speak to the American Legion on Sept. 1, during the GOP Convention, it is worth recalling some of his earlier comments on that esteemed organization:

We will not quickly join those who march on Veterans' Day waving small flags, calling to memory those thousands who died for the "greater glory of the United States." We will not accept the rhetoric. We will not readily join the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars-in fact, we will find it hard to join anything at all and when we do, we will demand relevancy such as other organizations have recently been unable to provide. We will not take solace from the creation of monuments or the naming of parks after a select few of the thousands of dead Americans and Vietnamese. We will not uphold traditions which decorously memorialize that which was base and grim. It is from these things the New Soldier is asking America to turn. We are asking America to turn from false glory, hollow victory, fabricated foreign threats, fear which threatens us as a nation, shallow pride which feeds off fear, and mostly from the promises which have proven so deceiving these past ten years.

Those comments came in the epilogue to "The New Soldier," the book put out by Vietnam Veterans against the War. The book's cover features a group of not-particularly sober-looking antiwar protesters (vets, presumably) flying the American flag upside down, with the hygene associated with the protesters in New York City right now.

When the speech was announced August 18, Kerry's communications director, Stephanie Cutter, told reporters that Kerry is a member of the American Legion.

[L.N. Smithee]

In point of fact, Kerry did join the American Legion. It is listed on his Financial Disclosure forms. He also joined the VFW.

Another flip-flop!

[Soaring Feather]

Fire

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

legion@anch.net ; azlegion@mcleodusa.net ; alegion@swbell.net ; joan@calegion.org ; adjutant@coloradolegion.org ; ctlegion@rcn.com ; adjutant@delegion.org ; legiondc@starpower.net ; dfradj@yahoo.com ; amerlegga@bellsouth.net aldepthi@hawaii.rr.com ; idlegion@mindspring.com ; hdqs@illegion.org ; members@indlegion.org ; info@ialegion.org ; yunker@ksamlegion.org ; kylegion@bellsouth.net ; americanlegion@networktel.net ; legionme@me.acadia.net ; hdqtrs@mdlegion.org ; masslegion@verizon.net ; campani@prodigy.net.mx department@mnlegion.org ; info@michiganlegion.org ; legion27@aol.com ; info@missourilegion.org ; amlegmt@in-tch.com ; nebraska@legion.org ; taldon737@aol.com ; adjutantnh@amlegion.state.nh.us ; 7742043@msn.com <7742043@msn.com>; legionnm@osogrande.com ; info@nylegion.org ; nclegion@nc.rr.com ; adjutant@ndlegion.org ; ohlegion@iwaynet.net ; oklalegion@sbcglobal.net ; orlegion@aol.com ; hq@pa-legion.com ; a_legion@mail.philonline.com ; tdequattro@aol.com ; dept@aldsc.org ; sdlegion@dailypost.com ; tnamerle@bellsouth.net ; txlegion@txlegion.org ; utahlegion@aol.com ; alvt@adelphia.net ; eeccleston@valegion.org ; americanlegion@qwest.net ; wvlegion@aol.com ; info@wilegion.org ; wylegiondept@mcleodusa.net

[hispanarepublicana]

Has anyone emailed this yet?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I e-mailed all of them!

[hispanarepublicana]

Thanks very much!

[timestax]

bump

[VadeRetro]

We are asking America to turn from false glory, hollow victory, fabricated foreign threats, fear which threatens us as a nation, shallow pride which feeds off fear, and mostly from the promises which have proven so deceiving these past ten years.

"Fabricated foreign threats!!??" "Fabricated," my lily-white a**!!!!!

This guy's whole career is more boldly anti-USA than any carefully emplaced Soviet mole's would have been. The latter would have been far more careful not to expose himself.

[snooker]

I hope you have connections to get this over the the American Legion before Kerry arrives. They have aright to know who is speaking to them.

[hershey]

Well, he did go windsurfing over the weekend, but he's seen the poll numbers and is busy firing everybody in sight. That speech before the American Legion is his last chance to stop the slide. He's a dead man walking.

[RottiBiz]

Enthusiastic bump!

[Smartass]

Want to join in the fun? Click the logo to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[PhilDragoo]

[Grampa Dave]

[JulieRNR21]

I sent it to the national commander of the Legion.....BUMP

[radu]

I don't think sKerry will get the warm reception he expects. The Nashville vets did a straw poll Friday and 70% had chosen Pres. Bush at the time of the evening news report. heh heh heh!

With luck, a lot of vets have already seen this quote in the past......they seem to have nice, long memories. :-)

[happygrl]

I also pray that multitudes of these brave servicemen stand up and turn their backs to him the entire time he is speaking.

That would be chickens coming home to roost, as that is, and was, a favorite tactic of the Left and those of Kerry's ilk.

When you're 27 years old, and full of yourself, it seems oh-so-cool to flip it back to The Man.

Now, Kerry's The Man and is getting his Just Desserts.

What Goes Around, Comes Around.

[Redleg Duke]

Rounds Complete, Over!

[nicmarlo]

bttt