Posted on 04/15/2007 3:02:41 AM PDT by Liz
.... Rudy Giuliani carries a lot of baggage - but it's his draft-dodging past that may prove the biggest drag, prominent veterans tell New York magazine in tomorrow's issue. Speaking about terrorism and the Iraq war last week, Giuliani boasted, "It is something I understand better than anyone else running for president." But it was draft deferments that kept Giuliani, 62, out of Vietnam while he attended law school. He was granted a 2-A occupational deferment for his job as a law clerk in 1969 after his boss, the late Manhattan federal Judge Lloyd MacMahon, wrote a letter to the local draft board - a move criticized years later as rare and questionable. Law clerks were not on the 1968 list of critical jobs that qualified for occupational deferments. Giuliani "has made it clear that if he had been called up, he would have served," Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson told New York magazine. He was opposed to the war in Vietnam on "strategic and tactical" grounds," she added, although she wouldn't offer specifics.
"If Giuliani is the nominee, we're going to hammer him with ads, and it's going to be easy because the issue is simple: He's a draft dodger," Jon Soltz, an Iraq vet who served as a captain and runs VoteVets.org, a left-leaning version of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth .......a sense that a candidate can handle the role of commander-in-chief remains important to most Americans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Its still BS that Bush dodged the draft! He flew fighter jets and twice volunteered for Vietnam. Draft dodging glory hounds sign up as journalists (Gore) or as Navy men during a non Navy war, who bring along video cameras (Kerry).
Allowing this to be an issue damages all Republican candidates who didn't serve, and it also allows the left to dictate the debate. If we follow this line, from now on the left will shout "hypocrisy" on any candidate who isn't pure as the driven snow, and the Republicans will jump to their bidding.
We should choose candidates based on the issues and their demonstrated character. LOTS of people didn't serve in Viet Nam; some people spent the war serving with the military in Europe, some got deferrments, some were never drafted, some served in the Guard, and some never left the US. MOST women didn't serve, for heavens sake!
As far as I am concerned, if someone didn't burn his draft card and go to Canada, or spit on military coming home, or agitate against the war like Kerry, then that is sufficient. Those days were a different time, and trying to establish some benchmark for acceptable service is simply going down a path we shouldn't follow.
Would you say that Rudy’s experiences as a law clerk made him an excellent attorney?
Or at least assisted him on becoming one?
How many people do you think were in the Guard during the 60's and 70's? 2,000 fortunate sons? You believe the hype.
What about Duncan Hunter, a Marine, as was his father, and is his son. A veteran, plus his stand on all the issues is outstanding. Why do people keep trying to feed us spam when we can have steak?
Rooty, reporting for dooty.
ROTFLMAO
The notion that National Guard and Reserve Units are filled with rich kids is ridiculous and childish on its face.
And regarding President Bush... I’m disappointed in that his “compassionate conservative” claim turned out to be more compassionate and much less conservative. This is kind of the same thing Rudy is trying. Playing himself off as having conservative positions on judges and fiscal policies. I just don’t buy it.Bush's problem was that he tried to appease to many different bases. If he had just stuck to one coherent policy instead of trying to give everybody something(the pro-business crowd, the national security crowd etc...) he would have been a much better president. Ditching Rumsfeld the minute he picked a fight with Shinseki would have done wonders too. Rudy doesn't seem to have the backing of the defense establishment so I can't see him being an effective president.
Is that because you didn't serve?
I did.
I've always believed every male should serve a minimum of two years in uniform and NO woman should be assigned to a combat job. The WAC needs to be reinstituted!
No. it wouldn't. And using this as an issue to attack Guiliani is poor political strategy. This is one of the reasons Webb got elected over George Allen. I daresay there are few on FR who would think that Webb is a better senator than Allen. Allowing this to be an issue damages all Republican candidates who didn't serve, and it also allows the left to dictate the debate. If we follow this line, from now on the left will shout "hypocrisy" on any candidate who isn't pure as the driven snow, and the Republicans will jump to their bidding. We should choose candidates based on the issues and their demonstrated character. LOTS of people didn't serve in Viet Nam; some people spent the war serving with the military in Europe, some got deferrments, some were never drafted, some served in the Guard, and some never left the US. MOST women didn't serve, for heavens sake! As far as I am concerned, if someone didn't burn his draft card and go to Canada, or spit on military coming home, or agitate against the war like Kerry, then that is sufficient. Those days were a different time, and trying to establish some benchmark for acceptable service is simply going down a path we shouldn't follow.Wow... you just said everything I was trying(and failing) to. My hat's off to you.
He needs to raise $100 million to be a viable candidate. How’s he doing so far?
Is that because you didn't serve? I did. I've always believed every male should serve a minimum of two years in uniform and NO woman should be assigned to a combat job. The WAC needs to be reinstituted!I agree. You'll find that I advocate national service. Mandatory service would do a lot to clean up America. Especially in teaching the people who don't have the discipline to make it in society now.
Heh I was Air Force (non-flying), but my job in 67 along the Mekong River was no picnic.
The guy who chose "Born Fighting" as his campaign slogan proved it by disrespecting the C-I-C upon meeting him and telling others he wanted to punch him out.
The anti-Rudy people are using some bad tactics, in my opinion. I don't have any candidate I am supporting, but I DO have an interest in this forum arguing intelligently and not sounding like a cross between DU and high school gossip.
Bush's mistake was (and still is) thinking he can work with the Dem leadership.
Would you say that Rudy’s experiences as a law clerk made him an excellent attorney? Or at least assisted him on becoming one?Well the issue I was bringing up was the draft issue more than anything particular to Rudy. Tokoro de, sign mitteta kedo, nihongo dekimasuka? nihon no dochira ni sunde imashitaka?
It would do wonders for the elimination of our drug and crime problem, but the NCOs and officers would have to have a lot more authority than they now have.
“Ditching Rumsfeld the minute he picked a fight with Shinseki”
He should have ditched Shinseki, who never should have been promoted above captain—and wouldn’t have, if he had been white.
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