Kerry slams 'refusal to serve'

http://www.theaustralian.news.com ^ | 04sep04 = 07 October 2004 rerun reprint ? | AP, AFP old status quo {ghost author}

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Kerry slams 'refusal to serve'
AP, AFP
04sep04

NEW YORK: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry declared he had taken enough "incoming" yesterday and blasted back at his Republican antagonists by suggesting George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney were draft dodgers.

In his toughest counter-punch of the campaign, the decorated war hero said he was not going to have his military qualifications questioned by "those who refused to serve" in the Vietnam War.

"For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief ... well, here's my answer," Senator Kerry said in Ohio.

"I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq.

"Let me tell you in no uncertain terms what makes someone unfit for office and unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead our country.

"Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this country. Letting 45 million Americans go without health care for four years makes you unfit to lead this country.

"Letting the Saudi royal family control the price of oil for Americans makes you unfit to lead this country."

Mr Bush spent the Vietnam War in the Texas Air National Guard, and had faced accusations that even then he was absent without leave for long periods. Mr Cheney received five deferments and once explained that he had "other priorities".

[aruanan]

In his toughest counter-punch of the campaign, the decorated war hero said he was not going to have his military qualifications questioned by "those who refused to serve" in the Vietnam War.

Gee, let's just take it as a given for the sake of argument that Dubya and Dick Cheney "refused" to serve and ask, "Which is worse, to "refuse to serve" or to burn villages, shoot livestock, commit war atrocities, collaborate with the enemy, have your security clearance revoked, and get some sort of dishonorable discharge until a nitwit hack of a peanut farmer president could rehabilitate you by fiat?"

[cricket]

Have read this before. .. somewhere. . .maybe Winter Soldier. . .

Get the feeling the RNC/Bush team just decided NOT to go to Kerry's Service record; too bad. Frustrating to hear that a 'senior spokesman' for Bush was unaware of some critical details re Kerry's service.

Again, the 'white glove' wins - as a strategy; not the strategy itself.

[gridlock]

This sort of BS should disqualify John F. Kerry to be President in the mind of every tinking person. Unfortunately, thinking people seem to make up only about 50% of the electorate...

[mrtysmm]

"..."The Vice-President even called me unfit for office last night. I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments make someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty..."

I get really angry when a statement like this goes unchallenged. Cheney got 5 deferments...Kerry got 4 looking for his 5th for Paris which was denied...THEN Kerry volunteered. AND...TWO TOURS of duty?? Lets add up the time, shall we???

[RottiBiz]

From "Unfit For Command," p. 198.

February 18, 1966: Kerry enlists in the U.S. Naval Reserves, status 'inactive' after request for deferment is denied.

[mrtysmm]

AMEN!

[Saundra Duffy]

Kerry looked really creepy in the last debate. He's perfect for Halloween, ghoulish.

[LibLieSlayer]

Amen!

LLS

[mrtysmm]

"... how come we never see you in swim trunks?..."

Hey, let's be thankful for small favors!

[johnb838]

Ain't no use in going home,

Jody got yo' girl and gone.

:)

[Salamander]

Check this out:

http://www.signform180.com/

[johnb838]

Military is for Bush at least 75:25. The other 25% are probably Clinton appointees who slipped under Rumsfeld's radar last time around.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

Kerry is really starting to panic. They are showing just how low they can go. Nothing matters to them but winning. This is going to turn some voters off. The more ranting Kerry does, the bigger my smile. :>)

[RetSignman]

LOL, That's just as good.

[isthisnickcool]

Kerry was born to wealth and things European that would make even Richy Rich envy. Basically, Kerry has been spoiled rotten since he was a child. As a man he expects to be provided what he wants. Without question.

Kerry is not only a liar he is a thief. He has taken money from the taxpayers for not doing his senate job. This tells me a lot about the man. No integrity, integrity, integrity.....

Besides all of this, I think that Kerry has serious head problems. That's why he fit right in with the Kennedy klan when he was "a kid".

Kerry is a sad case. What's even more sad is the Democrats attempt to polish the stinking turd Kerry is.

[finnigan2]

From the straws in the wind and hints that I have been reading this past week or two, I suspect that someone (Hitlery?/ O'Neil?) has their hands on and is about to release documentary evidence that Kerry's original discharge was somewhat less than honorable. If so, this should come out sometime next week to gain the maximum "October Surprise" effect.
As for Kerry's current outburst, it's probably caused by a combination of the Sinclair Networks decision to go with the Stolen Valor documentary plus the latest Swiftie ads which are really devastating plus slippage in the polls, plus heat from the Mary Cheney debacle. He's starting to lose it.

[johnb838]

YEs, I have seen that sadness. I think a lot of voters react to that positively as they see it as the effect of the heavy load that he must bear and eyes that have seen too much (Barf!).

The truth may be that the hang-dog look says "Hey, this isn't really me... I'm just doing this because I have to. I'm really a good person deep down, ok? Please like me."

[carlyaxt]

Did anyone ever see Kerry's discharge ?

[MarkL]

There's only one problem here...

We've got Kerry himself now calling President Bush and VP Cheney "draft dodgers," and saying that they're not qualified to question his military service, and the MSM dutifully ("Reporting for Duty" to the dems?) picking up and trumpeting his accusations.

There's only one problem... To the best of my knowledge, neither the President or Vice President have ever commented unfavorably on Kerry's service! In fact, they've been quite generous in their praise of his "patriotism!"

Although Kerry is slandering the President and Vice President for the attacks, those who are actually criticizing Kerry ARE Viet Nam combat veterans and POWs. Funny how Kerry (and his MSM enablers) can't say the same thing about them, so they never mention the fact...

Mark

[Unam Sanctam]

What a slap in the face of the brave National Guardsmen serving in Iraq!