Posted on 08/27/2004 12:06:23 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
..........McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was among the first to condemn the veterans group for challenging Kerry's combat record and spoke out against the ad throughout his 90-minute luncheon interview. But he also said Kerry had invited scrutiny of his record by putting so much emphasis on Vietnam at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month.
"His critics are saying, 'Look, you made it fair game,' " McCain said. "I mean, that's very legitimate, and I think there's a risk that he took when he made it such a centerpiece. He may be paying a very heavy price."
McCain said that he urged Kerry sometime ago not to talk about Vietnam during his campaign. "I did advise John. I said, 'Look, you shouldn't talk about Vietnam because everybody else will. Let everybody else do it.' His advisers figured that was probably not enough, that he had to emphasize that in his campaign. In my campaign, as you know, I didn't talk about it because I didn't need to."
McCain also said he drew a distinction between the first anti-Kerry ad by the veterans group, which focused on Kerry's Vietnam service, and a second ad now airing that criticizes Kerry for his leadership in the antiwar movement after he returned from Vietnam. McCain condemned the first ad but not the second.
................He said neither Kerry nor Bush should have their service records challenged. ...........
Asked whether he is equally passionate in wanting to put Kerry's antiwar activities off-limits, he said, "I think his activities after the war open, and are subject to, any debate and discussion that they want to, .................. Everybody is accountable for what they do, and certainly John Kerry is accountable for what he did after the war, and people can make a judgment." .......
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Umm .. sorry Sen McCain .. ALL vets have a right to speak up
No kidding! FREEPERS are mad at him and many have stopped watching;I have.
I think McCain got the message, loud and clear.
McCain wanted payback from Bush for his losing the primary in 2000.
I guess he can now campaign for him in earnest.
We stopped watching him over two years ago. I caught a lot of flack for awhile but his "charm" has done him in.
I stopped watching him a while back.He's driving away his audience and doesn't care.
McCain didn't lose the primary because some criticized his service
McCain lost the primary because he pretty much insulted the religious right ..
Hey, if Kerry had been just some poor Boston working schmo, he would have gone to Vietnam, done his duty, and come home (assuming he was lucky enough), without pulling any of that Kerry kr@p, either about the medals or leaping into the antiwar movement. He'd probably have a useful job now.
Re: Post 17: I'm with you nopardons.
"His critics are saying, 'Look, you made it fair game,' " McCain said. "I mean, that's very legitimate, and I think there's a risk that he took when he made it such a centerpiece. He may be paying a very heavy price."
And I didn't know until reading this article that McCain had condemned that first Swift Boat ad but not the second.
HE can rest assured there will be two right wingers voting for the rat here in Arizona come November.
Memo to Senator McCain: STFU
McCain should join forces with the Libertarian Party or even the Green party. His beliefs seem to be in line with them. But then, he will not get all the funds that he craved for.
I don't like McCain, but I think he has backed into a strategery. It probably wasn't his intention, but he has sucked the press into worshipping him for his attack on the SwiftVets, then he has stabbed them in the heart by endorsing ad #2.
Ad #2 is more important in the long run.
There is no way the Dems will go along with anything that really limits the Soros-types.
Yes, this was trotted out and McCain-Finegold needs to go back to the barn.
Bump!
McCain doesnt want his own war records looked into too closely...
His X wife could tell us what McCain is really about though....especially in the area of LOYALTY
She waited for him....he dumps her when she becomes disabled for a younger woman
daughter of a wealthy man...
McCain has a lot in common with Kerry...a little peek into his military records might be good
information for informed voters to have prior to re-election time
TERM LIMITS...we have them on presidents...we should have them on Senators and Congresscritters to...
IMO
Yeah...tell McCain to put his Darth Vader 'hellmutt' back on...
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