Posted on 08/05/2004 7:57:11 AM PDT by demlosers
Edited on 08/05/2004 8:28:31 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable'' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.
''It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me,'' McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
excellent point!
How come every time I hear about something McCain did, he'd done it to a fellow Republican? This guy's an ugly Republican.
McCain issuing this comment will allow the President to make a "taking the high road " statement, much as Laura Bush did when questioned about Theresa's comments.
DING DING DING! And we have a winnah! :)
From the Bush campaign, this A.M.: Steve Schmidt, a spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said Kerry's record and statements on the war on terrorism -- not his service in Vietnam -- are fair game. "The Bush campaign never has and will never question John Kerry's service in Vietnam," he said.
Many talk show hosts who didn't serve in Vietnam are loathe to allow this conversation. But this is a case, I think, where those who didn't serve have nothing to say, but shouldn't try stopping those who did from expressing themselves. Obviously, many vets are ticked with John Kerry. Their voices should not be squelched by squeamish non-vet Republicans.
Well said ... (just to let you know that didn't fall on deaf ears) ;)
Not just you.
I can't tell anything about McCain anymore.
In the meantime, the swing voters will be quietly taking note.
I wouldn't worry too much - the testimony of Kerry's former comrades is bound to have an effect on any reasonable undecided voter, in spite of the usual tap dance by the press.
argh. I will not vote for McCain again! I will not vote for that position, or I will vote for the democrat. At least I'll know what I'm getting.
Guess we know why Kerry kept McCain so close by.
Good point, he is giving the story more play time.
Probably why McCain is defending Kerry. He knows what it feel likes to have your "auspicious", or is that "suspicious" military record put into question.
McCain just needs to join with the 'Rats already.
Knew it! Even RINOS will be against these ads. Amazing, we all know what this NEWS would be like if it the tables were reversed. It is all so plainly obvious! The MSM, the LEFTISTS and the RINOS are gearing up to THWART anything these honorable Swifty Vets do.
Bear with me on this.
If Bush says nothing, the media will do their damndest to ignore the ad. Chances are that not many people will see it anyway. If Bush condemns it, he will call major attention to it, and the media will have to discuss it. Handled properly, it could ignite a major controversy. This will generate free play in the media, and attract more donations, which will allow more of the ads to be run, and so on, and so on.
At the same time, Bush will distance himself from any negative connotations of the attack against Kerry. The press won't be able to Willie-Hortonize the issue. Win-win.
As soon as Kerry disavows the MoveOn, ACT and other ads, the White House can think about disavowing this.
These guys know Kerry, they observed him in Vietnam and have a right to express their opinions. Right now, the public is being misled to believe that Kerry volunteered to serve, not with the draft hanging over his head, that he served with distinction, and that those who were with him believe in him.
He could, of course, answer a lot of these questions by releasing his medical and military records, but he won't.
You're too kind.
Seriously.
McManchurian is pretending he's captain of a submarine. He's gonna do his best to torpedo the Bush campaign.
And (insert generic "*sigh*") I am resigned to the likelihood of Bush doing a three-monkey deal in response to the guy's treachery, and "play nice".
God save us from "knows how to play nice" leaders.
The RATs always go for the jugular. Our guys always go for the tattered copy of Miss Manners. The older, wiser sages may reach for their copy of the Marquis of Queensbury rules, but only when it gets really serious.
It's almost as if they get to the countryclub and have pounded into their heads the notion that "God loves a good loser", and they make that their prime directive.
Step one: "lose".
Step two"...
Once more, we enter the "I hope I'm wrong, but..." zone.
I don't think I can bear to watch.
Someone wake me when it's over (which will be after the judges explain why we once again didn't need to count the military votes, and this time, to be fair, we should install the RAT, since "we let the other guy win last time")
Argh...
With respect to Sen. McCain that went through a lot for what he believed in I say this. Sen. McCain, I think it is now time for you as well to get off the horse you have been riding since you have come home from Viet Nam. I have up until now given you a lot of slack because of what you have went through, but don't try to shut people up just because you don't like what they say, isn't that what we fight for? Every time someone says something bad about John Kerry's service record you jump in with both feet. You did not do this as far as I know with Pres. G.W. Bush or his father. There were other prisoners in Viet Nam that took great punishment because of Jane Fonda and John Kerry. So now I say to you sir to just let it go, it's the other Vets turn to have a say now.
They have no special or personal knowledge of the President's leadership and moral qualities. They do have personal knowledge of John F Kerry's.
F'ing McCain--listen to him parrot Kerry spin. The AP dug into the Bush AWOL stuff for weeks--and he didn't base his entire campaign on his war record. Unbelievable that they would let Kerry off the hook without answering the substance of these charges. Ask Kerry to describe his wounds in Nam? Ask for his medical records? The DNC asked for Bush's, so why the hell not? The Kerry camp knows these Vets are telling the truth otherwise they would have released this stuff along time ago to show what a hero John-John is.
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