Cleland backs Kerry in run for president

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 6/11/03 | Melanie Eversley

[LdSentinal]

WASHINGTON -- Veterans' advocate and former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia said Tuesday he is endorsing Sen. John Kerry, a fellow Democrat, for president.

Cleland, who now teaches at American University in Washington, said he believes Kerry, of Massachusetts, is the kind of person who can bring the country through its current troubles.

"He's my fellow Vietnam veteran," Cleland said in a telephone interview from his university office. "He and I bled and almost died on the same battlefield and he's got the qualities we want in a president with our country threatened from terrorists abroad and with the economy."

Speaking through an aide, Kerry said he was gratified by Cleland's support. Cleland is slated to sign a national fund-raising letter for Kerry.

"Max Cleland is one of my dearest friends," Kerry said. "His life and his service to this country are an inspiration to me and to everyone who knows him. I am flattered by and enormously appreciative of his support in our campaign to make America stronger, safer and more secure . . ."

In addition, Cleland, a former Georgia secretary of state and head of the Veterans' Administration under President Jimmy Carter, will visit Atlanta on Saturday to make a speech to the national meeting of the Young Democrats of America.

The 11:30 a.m. speech at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta will be one of his first since he lost his bid for re-election last November.

[fieldmarshaldj]

This one speaks for itself *ping*

[fieldmarshaldj]

This one speaks for itself *ping*

[rmmcdaniell]

A one-term former senator, who hardly known out of his own state, endorses a presidential candidate and we are supposed to care?

[Impy]

"he's got the qualities we want in a president "

Is it any wonder you lost Max?

[Jay D. Dyson]

And here we have Kerry showing his "soldierly" side...

Hmmm...seems oddly familiar, no? ;)

-Jay

[Right_in_Virginia]

ROFL ;^D

[alwaysconservative]

C'mon! Is he implying, no, outright saying, that Kerry is a VietNam vet? Get outta town! No way! What? It's true? Kerry is a VietNam vet? How come we've never heard this before? Why oh why can't he bring himself to talk about this? A candidate for President should disclose these things, ya know. (/sarcasm)

[nyconse]

Cleland was a terrible senator. I live in Georgia. He lied to get elected (moderate Dem) then he voted with Teddy Kennedy constantly. He was among those who reduced President Bush's first tax cut. He voted against homeland security. Max thought he would be re-elected because he was a Vietnam vet. However, we got rid of him. You should have heard the whining. How dare Chambliss question Max's patriotism? The Atlanta papers printed letters from outraged Democrats for over a month! I enjoyed reading all of them! Saxby didn't question Max's patriotism. He merely reported that Max had voted against homeland security (the truth). Also, Cleland did serve his country, but he lost his limbs when he accidently set off a grenade. He did fall on the grenade in order to protect soldiers who were close. That is certainly brave. However, it was an accident: not combat. If Kerry thinks, he will be elected based only on his military service, he should think again. Everyone knows that Kerry became a war protester and actually pretended to throw his medals away at some protest. Of course, he kept the real medals. He threw somebody else's medals away: what a liar!