Brinkley Jumping Ship?

Power Line ^ | 9/5/04 | John H. Hinderaker

[CT]

Douglas Brinkley, author of the John Kerry biography Tour of Duty, was on Steve Malzberg's radio show today. He called on John Kerry to release his military records, saying: "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."

Brinkley also said that if the Navy investigation reveals deception in connection with Kerry's medals, it "could be" the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign. Professing uncertainty about what to make about the Swift Boat Vets' claims, Brinkley said:

Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to.

While the piece linked to above provides only brief excerpts from the Brinkley interview, it sounds like he is trying to distance himself from Kerry, and has less than full confidence in Kerry's honesty. Considering that Brinkley's book has been termed a hagiography, and that until now he has been an unabashed advocate for Kerry, that's a striking development.

[John Lenin]

If Hildybeast comes in now, she gets hit with all the mud from the Dems being weak on terrorism. I don't think the Clintons are that stupid.<.i>

Hillary can NEVER run for National office, well she can but she will get creammed by a no name.

[mtntop3]

Douglas Brinkley is not a nonpartisan "scholar" who suddenly finds that Kerry may not have provided him the whole story. How can Brinkley find out something that he, himself, has already condoned?

Last Spring I heard Brinkley on NPR commenting on President Bush's ANG service - at the time the MSM was trying to dredge something up on this (they obviously have not ceased). Brinkley's comments against Bush were every bit as partisan - nasty and petty - as any Democrat politican.

What genuine scholar/researcher would permit the person or group who are the subjects of a study - Kerry - to have final say on what appears in the book (Tour of Duty)? And, knowingly, to permit the subject(s) to withhold essential information (in Kerry's case apparently at least 100 pages of his military/military medical records)?

Both are exactly what Brinkley did in (writing Kerry's biography) Tour of Duty. Kerry, seemingly, was the final editor of the book.

Perhaps Brinkley has done solid research on other projects, but Tour of Duty is not a good-faith search for truth. However, it ironically has provided some truth by being the source for certain Kerry material, which, when compared with other sources, has assisted the SwiftVets to show the falsity of Kerry's claims...

It was noted earlier on FR that Brinkley has appeared to enjoy being associated with the famous and powerful. So maybe he now is indeed distancing himself from Kerry...

Finally, in regard to the SF 180: as some of you know, I personally handed a SF 180 to (a surprised) James Rassmann when he was in Parkersburg, W.Va., on 02 Sep 04 at a Kerry-Edwards sponsored ANTI-SwiftVets rally. I first asked Rassmann why Kerry wouldn't sign one; Rassmann said he, Rassmann, had never heard of a SF 180; I proceeded to pull out a SF 180 and handed it to him. Silence.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Hillary can NEVER run for National office; well she can but she will get creamed by a no name.

Don't ever UNDERESTIMATE the Clintons.

[scannell]

BTW, Spent my 6 months in nam in 1969 & 1970 as well

[patriciamary]

Perhaps they want the focus on his service not on the traitorous acts he committed after he served

[afnamvet]

The fact that there is an investigation at all suggests that a preliminary review of the matter disclosed irregularities. For example, presumably it would be very simple matter for the responsible Navy officials to determine if Lehman's signature is bona fide and was properly obtained. I think this has already happened and something was not kosher.

Yes, I believe this also. I further believe that the Navy was also looking for an outside group or individual to ask for a formal investigation.

[Al Simmons]

Be VERY careful about Brinkley - he was briefly on the tube during the GOP convention (on the street) as a pro-Kerry commentator with someone else who was pro-Bush.

This could be a set-up, Klintoon-style...

[A CA Guy]

I think this is an attempt to get the eye off the ball.

The medals aren't where the action is, what he did when he came back from Nam is where the action is.

[landerwy]

Maybe he "knows" something....

[rock58seg]

Only the Captain need go down with the ship. A foolish custom in my estimation. I wish Mr. Kerry many years of regrets, for his treachery after Viet-nam.

BUSH/CHENEY IN 2004

[infowarrior]

Someone please tell John we prefer he not get despondent and end it all. e still has a job in the Senate for 4 years...

True, but after this fiasco, I expect that neither he, nor "Senator Submarine" will be seeking re-election (per orders of the DNC)...

the infowarrior

[ProudVet77]

You define what you want, if you happen to know the specific form. In my case I only wanted a copy of my DD214.
But I could have requested a copy of all my quarterly evals.
You can however request a copy of everything which I suspect is the most common request.

[Diddley]

Thanks for the info.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Yes, Vietnamese-Americans are going Republican in a Big Way this time around, NEVER turning back.

http://www.VanTran68.com

.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Brinkley's criticism was mentioned on Brit Hume tonight, so this got a little play at least.

I don't think there is any way we will ever see all of Kerry's records for obvious reasons. The Kerry people will ignore this and brazenly claim all the records are already out there.

Brinkley backing away like this will be bad for Kerry if it becomes generally noticed and he does not recant.