Swift boat veterans leader continues to attack Kerry

Fort Worth News Star-Telegram ^ | Jan. 16, 2005 | Jack Douglas Jr.

[bitt]

FORT WORTH - Vietnam War veterans angry over Sen. John Kerry's protest of the war in the early 1970s met in Fort Worth this weekend to celebrate his loss in the presidential election.

John O'Neill, a former Swift boat commander in Vietnam and co-author of an anti-Kerry Book, Unfit for Command, was a special guest at the gathering Saturday night at Billy Bob's Texas of about 100 veterans from throughout the United States.

Introduced as "the man who torpedoed John F. Kerry's candidacy," O'Neill said that his group, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, raised $28 million to help defeat the Democrat.

"How could you ever elect to the presidency of the United States a man who claimed we were involved in all of those atrocities?" O'Neill said. "How could you let a guy like that be in control of our children's future?"

[bitt]

Criticism of Kerry's war honors as a Swift boat commander in Vietnam, and of his anti-war statements in 1971 after he returned to this country, is believed to have helped derail his challenge against President Bush.

Larry Bailey, founder and president of a group calling itself Vietnam Vets for the Truth, said his group joined with O'Neill's organization in lambasting Kerry's criticism of the Vietnam War and in questioning whether Kerry should have received honors for his military service in the conflict.

"We never mentioned once the name George W. Bush," he said.

State Rep. Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, said he was surprised that former Vietnam War soldiers would toast Bush's victory, noting that the president, a Texas Air National Guard veteran, never served in Vietnam.

"It's a little ironic they're celebrating Kerry's defeat at the polls," Burnam said. "The only Vietnam War veteran in the race was John Kerry."

Jack Douglas Jr., (817) 390-7700 jld@star-telegram.com

[snopercod]

Hey, John, when you gonna' sign that Form 180?

[keithtoo]

John O'Neill is a true American hero. God bless the swifties.

[rocksblues]

Burnam said. "The only Vietnam War veteran Traitor in the race was John Kerry."

[BillyCrockett]

I hope O'Neil and all of the other guys keep at the media to make sure sKerry never has the slightest chance of being senator, much less president again.

[bitt]

from a european site..

[hershey]

Hope they got their invite to the White House. Just a small sit down or barbeque would be nice, or maybe the same at Crawford sometime?

[Samwise]

"It's a little ironic they're celebrating Kerry's defeat at the polls," Burnam said. "The only Vietnam War veteran in the race was John Kerry."

The reason is simple:

The only Vietnam War-era traitor in the race was John Kerry.

[Conspiracy Guy]

State Rep. Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, said he was surprised that former Vietnam War soldiers would toast Bush's victory, noting that the president, a Texas Air National Guard veteran, never served in Vietnam.

Doesn't get it.

[SkyPilot]

Interesting that the headline accuses the Swift Boat Vets of "attacking" Kerry, but when liberals go after GW Bush or the Swift Boat Vets, they are only "raising questions."

[shield]

ping

[Jet Jaguar]

Very good point.

[dirtboy]

State Rep. Lon Burnam, a Fort Worth Democrat, said he was surprised that former Vietnam War soldiers would toast Bush's victory, noting that the president, a Texas Air National Guard veteran, never served in Vietnam.

"It's a little ironic they're celebrating Kerry's defeat at the polls," Burnam said. "The only Vietnam War veteran in the race was John Kerry."

To the Dems, it doesn't matter what you did during Vietnam, it's what your views towards American were as a result of the war.

[stevio]

John O'Neill is a true American hero. God bless the swifties.

Dittos that!

[odoso]

Let the TRUTH be told!!!

[Ed_in_NJ]

Many of the rat talking heads are spreading the lie that the Swifties 'have been discredited.'

We and they should do everything possible to expose this claim as the lie that it is.

[zip]

One of The only few Vietnam War veterans in the race to receive a dishonorable discharge was John Kerry."

Yeah, that looks better.

[zip]

Burnam said. "The only Vietnam War veteran Traitor in the race was John Kerry."

Good post.

[AmericaUnited]

They should lay off Kerry till 07. We need "The Dork" healthy enough to make another try at it and help bleed resources from Hitlery.