Wartime Dissent Is Part Of Patriotism, Kerry Says

Washington Post ^ | April 23, 2006 | Chris Cillizza

[West Coast Conservative]

Thirty-five years after Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry (D) appeared before a Senate committee to call for an end to the war in Vietnam, he defended that decision yesterday in a speech in his home town and linked it to his current insistence on an early drawdown of troops from Iraq.

Kerry, in remarks delivered in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace, cast dissent in wartime as a patriotic act -- a response to Republican critics who insist that questioning the conduct of the war in Iraq emboldens America's enemies.

"I believed then, just as I believe now, that it is profoundly wrong to think that fighting for your country overseas and fighting for your country's ideals at home are contradictory or even separate duties," he said. "They are, in fact, two sides of the very same patriotic coin."

Yesterday's address was the latest move in Kerry's shadow presidential campaign, launched in the aftermath of his 2004 defeat by President Bush. In a series of speeches, guest columns and television appearances, Kerry has sought to right what many Democrats regard as the defects of that race by outlining a clear exit strategy for Iraq and vowing to fight back against GOP attacks on his and other Democrats' patriotism. Kerry's aggressive attitude is also aimed at wooing liberal voters for a potential presidential bid in 2008.

Beginning last fall, Kerry has advocated setting a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Recently, he said that if an Iraqi government is not formed by May 15, the United States should immediately withdraw its forces.

"If Iraqis aren't willing to build a unity government in the five months since the election, they're probably not willing to build one at all," Kerry said.

[MaineVoter2002]

2) "Marriage" is the union of anyone to anything;

Well we now know that he practiced what he preaches on #2

[HEY4QDEMS]

Right John, will that be one of your 08 slogans? "One man's traitor, is another man's patriot" ???

[Sofa King]

"I believed then, just as I believe now, that it is profoundly wrong to think that fighting for your country overseas and fighting for your country's ideals at home are contradictory or even separate duties," he said. "They are, in fact, two sides of the very same patriotic coin."

Our countries "ideals" that they're fighting for:
-Everything that goes wrong in the world is America's fault
-People from other countries have every right to come over in
enormous numbers, break out laws, and take whatever they
want because it's unfair that we have it and they don't
-The UN having sovereignty over our government, a world
court have authority over our citizens, and world-wide
welfare state sponsored by our taxes
-Teaching children that traditional American values are
fascist and that "multiculturalism" is better

[silverleaf]

And Kerry has such a proven track record as a whiz at foreign policy....like when Mr "Winter Soldier" told Senator Fulbright et al that fighting communism was impossible, so why stay in Vietnam.

[silverleaf]

"If Iraqis aren't willing to build a unity government in the five months since the election, they're probably not willing to build one at all," Kerry said

Forgive me Senator but the Iraqis are doing a better job of building a unity government than has the US democrat party since election 2000.

[sono]

They used to be called ...

[cardinal4]

Given his "reflection" at The Wall, earlier in this month and this latest absurdity, I have to wonder if Rove doesnt have a mole among Kerry's advisors..

[AliVeritas]

Hey, I was going to post that.

Kerry is ninth circle material.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Wonder if Kerrys dad rooted for the NAZI's the same way he rooted for the N. Vietmanese?

That would be Ted Kennedy's dad.

[frankiep]

Isn't this the guy that was in Vietnam? I forget.

[RedMonqey]

I bet he did until Hitler turned on the Soviets and decided Poland should be part of Greater Germany.

Only when Stalin was betrayed did the Reds turn WW2 into the Great Patriotic War.
Just as the Reds in American who were anti War until this Backstabbing of 41.

[cardinal4]

Feel free to make additions....

Painting ones self orange to woo Florida voters..

[jimfree]

Kerry was a liar and traitor then. Does he claim the same status now?

[newnhdad]

why do Democrats think it's patriotic to hate your country and why do they keep repeating it?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I'm getting sick of the dissent is patriotism/isn't patriotism dichotomy.

Dissent, because you think that current government policy is leading to the failure of the nation will lead to failure is patriotic. However, dissent because you hope your nation will fail is not.

I leave it as an exercise to the reader to decide which type of dissent they think John Kerry and other, individual anti-war activists are engaged in, because it's often not a cut-and-dried determination

[Wormwood]

So, assume that I believe the Iraq War is a westeful expedicure of resources and lives. Am I:

1. Of a differing political opinion.
2. Misguided or misinformed.
3. Unpatriotic?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

1. Yes.
2. Maybe.
3. Probably not, but the devil's in the details.

[ClaireSolt]

These people mdon't believe in majority rule, the essence of which is that once we vote, the losers shut up and get on board. I am really worn out with this perpetual campaign. We have a Republic to spare us all of that.

[SandRat]

And GW should respond in the Lincoln model to it.

He rounded them up and put them in jail during the Civil War

[OldFriend]

No doubt the protesting generals are thrilled to be lumped in with the Winter Soldiers!!

Serves them right!