Posted on 09/24/2004 5:23:42 PM PDT by blogblogginaway
NEW YORK Stung by a quote attributed to him in Friday's New York Times, author and historian Douglas Brinkley issued an unusual clarification this afternoon.
In a news analysis titled "Truth Be Told, the Vietnam Crossfire Hurts Kerry More," Jodi Wilgoren quoted Brinkley commenting on recent attacks against both Kerry and Bush relating to their Vietnam era service: "Every American now knows that there's something really screwy about George Bush and the National Guard, and they know that John Kerry was not the war hero we thought he was."
This "not the hero we thought he was" had to raise eyebrows, as Brinkley recently wrote a very favorable biography of Kerry centering on his Vietnam years. It certainly caught the attention of Matt Drudge, who highlighted it on his popular Web site.
Brinkley then issued this statement via U.S. Newswire, and paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004:
(Excerpt) Read more at 199.249.170.220 ...
I believed him, before I decided not to believe him.
What a schmuck this guy is!
But he's an independent historian, right? Gimme a break.
They got to him...
So many people are throwing away their lives and careers for this guy.Its truly breathtaking
you beat me to it. what a lightweight. a little pressure and he folds!
and he's worth every penny.
Both of them.
Mr. Brinkley, we thought perhaps you were developing a conscience, or at least a sense of shame -- but thank you for setting the record straight.
Clear as mud!!!!
"Every American now knows that there's something really screwy about George Bush and the National Guard, and they know that John Kerry was not the war hero we thought he was," said Douglas Brinkley, the historian and author of a friendly biography of Mr. Kerry's war years, acknowledging that Mr. Kerry's opponents had succeeded in raising questions about his service.
But the NYT is sticking to it's story?
Kerry, threatening to sue his official biographer, ......
Will John Kerry be the last man to die "in" Vietnam?
Dan Rather is "dead anchor walking."
Brinkely is "dead author writing."
who else will "die in Vietnam" in John Kerry's kamikaze flame out?
Seriously - the next time you see a panel with Brinkley, Kearns-Goodwin, Bechschloss, et. al. - you have to ask: Who ever suggested that these few folks had a unique or particularly valuable perspective on the Presidency? And why should we place inordinate faith in their observations?
Sir, you presume it was "figuratively", not actually.
You may have a point there.
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