Kerry's '72 Army comments mirror latest

Associated Press ^ | Nov. 02, 2006 | JOHN SOLOMON

[maggief]

WASHINGTON - During a Vietnam-era run for Congress three decades ago, John Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to "the perpetuation of war crimes."

(snip)

In 1972, as he ran for the House, he was less apologetic in his comments about the merits of a volunteer army. He declared in the questionnaire that he opposed the draft but considered a volunteer army "a greater anathema."

"I am convinced a volunteer army would be an army of the poor and the black and the brown," Kerry wrote. "We must not repeat the travesty of the inequities present during Vietnam. I also fear having a professional army that views the perpetuation of war crimes as simply 'doing its job.'

"Equally as important, a volunteer army with our present constitutional crisis takes accountability away from the president and put the people further from control over military activities," he wrote.

[maggief]

John Kerry, Democratic congressional campaigner in the Fifth District, speaks at a news conference Sept. 18, 1972 in Boston. During the Vietnam era, Kerry opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to 'the perpetuation of war crimes.' (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis)

[YaYa123]

thank you!!!! GREAT post

[NonValueAdded]

"Still crazy after all these years"

[YaYa123]

Solomon should have included all of Kerry's anti-military gaffes. like how soldiers terrorize Iraqi women and children in the middle of the night.

[jmaroneps37]

THIS is why Freerepublic is the site to go. We are the smartest wolves in the woods. I am sure this will be picked up by talkers on radio and it will keep this story on it's legs.

[John Carey]

Respect For Our Fighting Men and Women
By John E. Carey
Peace and Freedom
November 2, 2006

The morning after Senator Kerry slurred America’s fighting men and women with a clumsy insult, and then refused to immediately apologize to them, we attended a ceremony in Northern, Virginia.

Juxtaposed to Senator Kerry explaining lamely that he was only attacking the Commander In Chief in wartime (apparently Senator Kerry thinks it funny to make fun of the president’s intelligence); we witnessed this: A U.S. Army Colonel seated and waiting for the event.

Another U.S. Army Colonel of a different race came upon the scene and the two shook hands and then gleefully embraced.

This image of teamwork, camaraderie and loyalty so moved me that at the end of the ceremony we stopped to talk.

One Colonel told me the other was his son’s Godfather. These two have traveled some miles together in peace and war. And each has dedicated his life to the service of others. Twice. Both are Medical Doctors and also career U.S. Army officers.

These must be the people that Senator Kerry thinks are stupid.

I stopped another young officer, a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. I noticed he wore the ribbons of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart on his chest.

The first is for valor. The second means he was wounded.

I asked him what happened.

“Some terrorist got lucky, sir” he explained. “Hit close to me with an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). I’ll set off airport metal detectors the rest of my life.”Indeed, the Captain had many scars on one side of his face.

“Oh, this whole side of my body looks like I got penetrated by 1,000 pieces of metal,” he said. “But I’ll go back to Iraq. As soon as they’ll let me.”

He didn’t seem stupid to me. He seemed honorable, dedicated, professional and proud. And eager to do more for his country.

I asked about his family.“They understand my commitment. It is difficult. But it is what we were called to do,” the Marine Captain said to us.

He didn’t want his name in the newspaper. He said, “There are plenty of people that are doing more than me. Why should I deserve special mention?”

I stopped a Navy Captain who had with him his two small sons and his wife. His wife is obviously Chinese, and I noticed because I spent a few years living among the Chinese. And my bride is Vietnamese. I have a developed eye for Asian faces.

They thought Senator Kerry’s remarks didn’t matter much.

“Nobody should listen to politicians when they lose their cool in the heat of a political squabble. They stop thinking, generally,” said the Captain.

A one star U.S. Army General passed us wearing the wings of a helicopter pilot. “We have a tremendous number of young uniformed men and women fighting, dying and otherwise making sacrifices or giving their all. I have the utmost respect for them. In fact, I love them all and their families too.”

His remarks did not sound practiced. These words were heartfelt.

There is a special breed of men and women in our country that dedicate their lives, their careers and their families to duty, honor and country. You can see their sterling character in the gleam in their eye when you ask them about their service.

“Only about 1 percent of the American population is involved in this thing….One percent of the population is shouldering the burden,” said Retired Maj. Gen. John R. S. Batiste on September 25, 2006 while speaking before the Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate.

That makes every man and woman in uniform pretty special, I’d say. And maybe we Americans from the Senators and the members of the House of representatives on down owe them all a terrific debt of gratitude. Most of us live our lives in peaceful splendor and almost limitless weath while about 1 percent sacrifice for us. Every day.

On the way home from the ceremony my wife and I stopped at America’s newest monument: the U.S. Air Force Memorial. Four Air Force Blackhawk helicopters passed over head, reminding us of the airmen all over the world who protect us and keep the peace.

A Lieutenant Colonel wearing the wings of a command pilot sopped us.“I’d rather be in Iraq than here flying a desk at the Pentagon. But we all have our jobs to do. We all have our duty. I don’t complain. But I do sneak up here from time to time to reflect upon all the airmen lost in our nation’s wars,” he said.

To reflect upon and thank them for their service and for giving the ultimate sacrifice I thought.

Nothing stupid about this man. He seemed to have his life and his commitments in perfect order.

And I wish I could say the same about many of our politicians.

John E. Carey is a retired U.S. military officer and former president of International Defense Consultants, Inc.

---

Kerry's Thinking Isn't Working

By John E. Carey
November 2, 2006

“Only about 1 percent of the American population is involved in this thing….One percent of the population is shouldering the burden.” --Retired Maj. Gen. John R. S. Batiste, September 25, 2006; while speaking before the Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate.

"Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Senator Kerry seemed to be saying the other day that the one percent of Americans that is actually fighting this war against terror is actually the stupid one percent that didn’t study, apply itself and do their homework.

But he has since apologized so he is off the hook of course.

According to The Boston Globe, at Yale Senator Kerry got four Ds his freshman year - in geology, two history courses and political science.

Senator Kerry was in the U.S. Navy too. That would make him at the bottom, academically, of the “one percent,” we figure.

“I did not have sex with that woman” gained another famous American a pass.

It always amazes me that the “one percent’ are held to a very high standard. In fact, a man or woman in an American military uniform serves in a higher standard than our elected public officials. Say or do anything as deplorable as the two famous utterances referred to above and you’ll find yourself cashiered, if you are a man or women wearing an American military uniform. You’ll undoubtedly be out of that uniform real soon.

Senator Kerry and the other rich guy will continue to wear their expensive suits.

After all, these are the limo liberals. Limo as in limousine.

U.S. military officers “serve at the pleasure of the president.”

Our elected officials and pop stars serve at the pleasure of the people.

But do the people really appreciate elitism? Do the people generally support those that attack the Commander in Chief and the men and woman fighting and dying for us all in war?

There are a few dissident voices being heard these last few weeks at Barbara Streisand concerts. When Babs launched into her skit designed to mock and vilify the President of the United States, more than once there have been a few voices of a discordant nature. One paying guest threw a drink at the singing diva this week.

Babs is another limo liberal.

While we do not applaud or condone such unrest, as that at the babs concert, we do notice.

Many American support the “one percent” who are actually fighting and dying in this war and many Americans think that their president was put into a very difficult situation on September 11, 2001.

We often ask Democrats, “What would you do?”

Cut and run is not a strategy nor is it a solution.

And, to use the street lingo, "disrespecting" our men and women in uniform and the President of the United States is not working for me.

And it seems clear that Senator Kerry's thinking isn't working, either.

[maggief]

Ping.

[Siena Dreaming]

John Kerry has been deserving of having his past comments thoroughly examined for years now.

It didn't happen nearly enough in 2004; This week I see more of it happening. I think he apologized yesterday because he realized the Pandora's box from the past was beginning to open and he thought the apology might slam the lid shut.

Surprised to see this in the AP today. Looks like some are tired of defending him.

[Bahbah]

Well, we all knew that he meant exactly what he said. It's nice to have proof.

[maggief]

Try googling quotations from Kerry's writings. They are nowhere on the web and in news cited only in Soloman's article.

[Siena Dreaming]

Now that I think of it, I wonder if some media will continue this exposing of Kerry's past in order to weaken him for '08 in order to clear the way for the Queen Bee.

[plumcrazy]

And to think the Damocrats ran this person for President in 2004. What a jerk!

[Thermalseeker]

Looks like some are tired of defending him.

The real question is whether or not the voters of Massachusetts are tired of reelecting this putz. With such a history of repeatedly making anti-military and anti-American comments it makes me really wonder what is wrong with the voters up there.....

[Toespi]

Fabulous. Ok, so when do we set this ad.......

Camera panning famous faces of the DEM crowd at the 2004 convention, Pelosi, Dean, etc. cheering with admiration as John Kerry walks on stage "reporting for duty." Captioned, of course, with his statements regarding the military.

[Blueflag]

FR needs a paid subscription to Lexis/Nexis database and a link to the congressional record posted on the FR home page.

We could catch 'em that way.

But then again, Rush does this for us. ;-)

[F.J. Mitchell]

Still the blue nose gigolo snob, living royally off someone else' red ketchup green backs.

[Siena Dreaming]

I guess with his history of successful anti-war activism, he was the logical candidate for the Dems to run against Pres. Bush.

What's scary is how close he got to winning. I'm convinced the Swifties saved the day.

[Bahbah]

And, to use the street lingo, "disrespecting" our men and women in uniform and the President of the United States is not working for me.

I am encouraged by how few that disrespect is "working" for, but I want to point out as often as I can that the one group that can out in a full court press in defense of Kerry was the MSM (e.g., the White House press conference yesterday, Chris Matthews wondering why Kerry apologized to a group whom he had not really offended, and on and on). Please, people, get out and vote for every single Republican on your ballot. Send a message to the MSM, and to our President and the military, and to the terrorists as well. We will not give up and you will not beat us. And thank you, John Carey, for your service.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Interesting that the AP would run this. They are burying him politically for Hillary in 08.

Kerry can be a doddering old fool of a Senator like Ted Kennedy. It is not like Massachuetts would elect anything else.

[YaYa123]

Howard Fineman is very sad Harold Ford is down an average of 4 points.

Howard fineman personifies the coziness betwween the MSM elite and democrats. He tells Imus how fond he is of Kerry, because Kerry was so helpful to him last year when he was sick. That reminds me of Howard Fineman quietly advising the Clintons when they came to Washington, that they should send Chelsea to a private school if they wanted to. He said just because the Carters sent Amy to a public school, they could send Chelsea to that famously elite school in DC, where all politicians and MSM send their kids.