Posted on 10/16/2004 1:43:19 AM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK
Kerry slams 'refusal to serve' "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".
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
poor Baby cant take the heat anymore
Please include me in your "meeting".
Bush's response should be: "I served my country and I did so hororably. I released all my militqary records unlike John Kerry and I'm called a draft dodger. If I had served, I would have been accused of rape, cutting off ears and heads of civilians, yet if I loathesd the military and participated in anti-war demonstrations like Bill Clinton, John Kerry would be calling me a patriot!"
Yeah, I read something on here about America's most decorated Vietnam vet, CMH winner, Col. Bud Day, calling Kerry America's Benedict Arnold. That draft dodger stuff is not gonna fly there.
I don't suppose Kerry was talking about these people:
Army probes if GIs refused dangerous Iraqi mission
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/15/unit.investigation.ap/index.html
The Navy had the least amount of boots on the ground in Vietnam. It was seen as a last ditch option to avoid Vietnam without going to canada. this was the theory at least, it was hardly fool proof. I'd Imagine that the navy reserves were just as hard to get into as the other reservs components.
Thanks for the ping!
Once again Yaawn insults those who protect our borders, the National Guard!
And if by this he means Cheney who had several deferrals (because he was in school, a married man, and a father) -- Kerry had about the same number of deferrals.
Shhh. We're supposed to pretend that Babyface Johnnie Edwards was too young to serve in Vietnam.
I don't understand the date on this article. Oh well...it's still ticks me off!
I have always said, serving one's country in a time of war encompasses those who served in whatever capacity. To even belittle those who sat home and wrapped the bandaides is wrong. Clinton dodged. The freaks who ran to Canada dodged. Those who were given rightful deferments were deferred...they did not dodge.
Yes, you are right. He has a blind eye to the vets who do not agree with him. He really has a major character flaw.
So he's saying, what? That the Swift Boat Vets didn't serve in Vietnam?
Bush and Cheney have never questioned Kerry's Service, so it isn't possible that he's talking aout them.
OMG...I just get so frustrated when I realize how limited the view of some people is because they watch the MSM or read the liberal news. You are right....many people are still unaware.
Edwards DOB: 10 Jun 53
Cheney DOB : 31 Jan 40
Edwards turned 18 in 1971.
Cheney turned 18 in 1958.
John Edwards COULD have served during Vietnam BUT didn't.
Instead he went to college from '70-'74
He enrolled at Clemson University
but dropped out in his first year,
after a football scholarship fell through
"...A proud product of public schools, John became the first person in his family to attend college.
He worked his way through North Carolina State University where he graduated with high honors in 1974,
and then earned a law degree with honors in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. .."
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/john_edwards.asp
John Kerry's Discharge - He won't sign Form 180 - What is he hiding?
http://acuf.org/issues/issue21/040929pol.asp
What a young man did more than 30 years ago should not be a primary criteria in determining his qualifications to be President of the United States. George Bush has had almost 4 years now as Commander and Chief of the World"s largest military force and he should be judged on how well he has done. Yet John Kerry and the Democratic left won"t give it up. On almost a daily basis he says I served this country honorably as a young man in Vietnam (4 months/12 days) and I will serve this country honorably as Commander and Chief. Then the Left yells that George Bush got preferential treatment in getting into the National Guard and even failed to complete his guard obligations; even forging documents to prove their point.
The facts are that George Bush served honorably in the National Guard obtaining service points far in excess of the 50 annual service points required to meet his obligation. Records show that in 1968/69 he accumulated 253 points, 340 in 1969/70, 137 in 1970/71, 112 in 1971/72, 56 in 1972/73 and 56 in 1973/74. Points far in excess of the service agreed to and that required to meets his obligation and be Honorably Discharged. George Bush has never made his National Guard service a qualification to lead this country, nor has he ever questioned the service of John Kerry.
While the Left and the mainstream media have never questioned the Vietnam era service of John Kerry, they seem to feel that the record of George Bush 30 years ago should be of concern to voters in November. But what about John Kerry's record? We are told that he was a decorated veteran. We are also told that he was deeply involved in anti-war activities on his return from Vietnam in violation of his oath as an officer in the US Navy. By his own account of his actions and protests, he violated the UCMJ, the Geneva Conventions and the U.S. Code while serving as a Navy officer. Further he met, on two occasions, with North Vietnamese negotiators in 1970 and 1971, while a Reserve Officer, willingly placing himself in violation of Article three, Section three of the U.S. Constitution, which defines treason as "giving aid and comfort" to the enemy in time of warfare.
From here the record of John Kerry becomes unclear and the mainstream press won't demand that John Kerry sign a Department of Defense (DOD) form 180 that would release all of his military records. Records released by his campaign are confusing. There are indications that he was Honorably Discharged on Jan. 3, 1970, Feb 16, 1978, July 13, 1978 and even lately Mar. 12, 2001. Why the confusion on a relatively simple service event. Could it be that John Kerry received a less than honorable discharge in the early 70"s because of his anti-war activities? And then was pardoned for those activities when then President Jimmy Carter on January 21, 1978 ( Proclamation 4483) granted a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all persons who may have committed any offense between August 4, 1964 and March 28, 1973 in violation of the Military Selective Service Act or any rule or regulation promulgated there under.
Did John Kerry request that his service be granted an Honorable Discharge and it was finally granted in 1978? Only a complete release of his military records will show what actually happened during this period. And, to date John Kerry has refused to sign the necessary DOD form 180 which would allow for this release. If the Democratic Party, the media, and the Bush critics are going to demand, as they do on almost a daily basis, that George Bush release all of his records, should they not do the same for John Kerry?
Michael Ashbury is a noted researcher and author, and the author of ''Who is the REAL John Kerry?'' (Booksurge.com 2004). His website is at http://www.whoistherealjohnkerry.com
How many times is he "not gonna" do something?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.