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Kerry Critic Displays Courage Under Fire
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 11, 2004 | Nat Hentoff

Posted on 11/16/2004 4:00:36 PM PST by Clodia Pulcher

Of all the targets of vitriol and attempted ambushes during the presidential campaign, I most admired John O'Neill of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth for his calm determination to stand his ground on his charges against John Kerry's Vietnam service in Unfit for Command, the book he co-authored.

O'Neill was called a ''liar'' to his face on a number of TV appearances, and, on an Oct. 14 ''Nightline,'' ABC-TV's Ted Koppel actually sent a crew to Vietnam to film alleged eyewitnesses in order to disprove one of the accounts -- how Kerry won his Silver Star -- in Unfit for Command. Casually, ABC news director Andrew Morse mentioned that ''the Vietnamese require an official minder to accompany journalists on reporting trips.'' The minder-censor from the Communist totalitarian state was there to ensure that the ''eyewitnesses'' stuck to the government script.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abcnews; hentoff; kerry; kerrydefeat; oneill; swiftboatveterans; swiftvets; unfitforcommand
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To: Norman Bates
Some famous writer (I forget who) used to call Hentoff "God's own liberal." He is thoroughly pro-life and usually reasonable. I never understood conservatives who embraced Christopher Hitchens (a despicable person who sometimes takes conservative stances). However, Hentoff is the real deal and deserves respect.
21 posted on 11/16/2004 5:11:08 PM PST by Timmy
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To: GovernmentShrinker
Well, there's the whole "Christmas in Cambodia" tale . . .

To be clearer, the Kerry camp hasn't offred any facts to counter anything said in "Unfit for Command" BUT in the two situations I mentioned.

Indeed, Kerry was never, never asked about any of the specific allegations except once - by TV Host John Stewart. Stewart asked him about Cambodia, Kerry literally did not give an answer. No words.

22 posted on 11/16/2004 5:15:22 PM PST by Shermy
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To: Timmy

You should invest your energies in "The marketplace of ideas"

When Christopher Hitchens supports a good idea with sound reasoning and articulation - respect that.

When Christopher Hitchens supports a stupid idea - you should hate him unequivocally.

See how easy it is!


23 posted on 11/16/2004 5:16:03 PM PST by highflight
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To: Clodia Pulcher
O'Neill is a real stand up guy.

He was unshakable under fire, because unlike the Kerry supporters, he is a man of conviction.

24 posted on 11/16/2004 5:24:22 PM PST by Jorge
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To: Beelzebubba

'O'Neill gets my vote for Time's Man of the Year.'

Let's pound Time's website with requests for him to be "considered"...

and offer GREAT THREATS if they even CONSIDER ARAFAT!!!!!!!!!!


25 posted on 11/16/2004 5:36:19 PM PST by bitt (I miss Teresa already.)
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To: Jorge
You're right.

I like Mr. Hentoff a lot, and say what you will, nearly everyone in the Country benefited from the expansion of Liberal ideas and ideals, and that includes Mr. Hentoff's particular brand.

26 posted on 11/16/2004 5:40:47 PM PST by AlbionGirl (+Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi.+)
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To: Timmy; hinckley buzzard; jackbill; Former Dodger; Carry_Okie

Is Hentoff a Zell??


27 posted on 11/16/2004 5:48:34 PM PST by Norman Bates (Game over. Bush wins.)
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To: Clodia Pulcher

I respect O'Neill for his courage and his public service for having enabled many Americans to look much more closely as John Kerry's presidential qualifications

Is it too late to nominate John O'Neill for Times "Man of the Year"?


28 posted on 11/16/2004 6:04:18 PM PST by oldbrowser (You lost the election.....................Get over it.)
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To: Norman Bates
No. Quite different.

You can read him at Jewish World Review quite often: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/.

29 posted on 11/16/2004 6:09:40 PM PST by Carry_Okie (The environment is too complex and too important to manage by politics.)
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To: Carry_Okie

O'Neill's natural grace and gentility forced the truth of the internal ugliness of the likes of Lawrence O'Donnel, Ted Koppel, and Chris Matthews. He showed us they were not journalist but simply jerks with mouthpieces.


30 posted on 11/16/2004 6:32:00 PM PST by outofhere2
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To: outofhere2
His patience was impressive.
31 posted on 11/16/2004 6:34:10 PM PST by Carry_Okie (The environment is too complex and too important to manage by politics.)
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To: Beelzebubba

how about starting a "Freerepublic Man of the Year". who needs Time?


32 posted on 11/16/2004 6:35:12 PM PST by tazannie
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To: Shermy; GovernmentShrinker
Facryinoutloud, can't a guy spend Christmas in Cambodia without everybody jumping on his story? Nixon said "Go to Cambodia." What was the poor guy to do, head for Phuket?Orders is orders.

Give him a break, He couldn't very well have met with the entire security council just to ask for permission. It would have gotten away from him just like the time he saw Bill Buckner lose that grounder. Or the time he attended the surrender sessions in Gulf War 1.

Sorry to rant, I just can't stand seeing a fellow Irishman attacked this way. It's racism, I tell you. If the guy's name were Munchausen instead of Kerry, you guys wouldn't dare.... VRWC B*&$#ds!

33 posted on 11/16/2004 7:11:06 PM PST by Kenny Bunk
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To: Norman Bates
I thought he was a thoroughly liberal man who hated W and wanted Kerry for President! Am I missing something here?

Hentoff represents a rare and increasingly endangered species: that of the honest, principled liberal.

Unsurprisingly, he had nothing but revulsion for Bill Clinton.

34 posted on 11/16/2004 7:29:37 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Clodia Pulcher

We love those Swifties!!!!!!!


35 posted on 11/16/2004 7:33:14 PM PST by sweetiepiezer (We stopped Kerry for our grandkids sake!!!!!!!! Thank you America!!!!!!)
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To: Timmy
Some famous writer (I forget who) used to call Hentoff "God's own liberal."

Ironic, in that Hentoff is also an atheist.

He is thoroughly pro-life and usually reasonable.

He believes that Roe v Wade is comparable to, and the worst Supreme Court decision since, Dred Scott.

36 posted on 11/16/2004 7:34:19 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Clodia Pulcher
John O'Neill is no conservative, nor does he pretend to be. This article is a damning observation regarding the MSM, by a liberal.

Nothing he says here is news to this forum, but it might be to the liberals who read that column.

37 posted on 11/16/2004 7:35:22 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: tazannie; Jim Robinson
how about starting a "Freerepublic Man of the Year". who needs Time?.........

Great idea!

Jim, how about invite him to the FR Inagural Ball as guest of honor?

38 posted on 11/16/2004 7:43:20 PM PST by MadelineZapeezda (If you right click on Keith Olberman's image, the word a$$hole should come up!)
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To: Timmy

People who don't like Hitchens or Hentoff have to remember that WE, the conservatives, are NOT the intended audience. They are trying to educate their fellow liberals on issues that are dear to them, and their sheer eloquence gives them powerful voices that even the left might someday understand. Hentoff is Clarence Thomas' biggest media cheerleader, since Thomas is the best 1st Amendment justice ever on the SCOTUS, in his opinion. Hitchens has been a powerful voice in support of the WOT. Personally, if the persuasion to see reason on Iraq and abortion has to come from the left, I would have it come from their voices. For us, the lefties stick their fingers in their ears and hum so they can't hear us; for them, they might listen. Plus, like Hentoff, I admire men who stand up for what they believe in even when all their friends and co-workers avoid them and spit on them for daring to think differently.


39 posted on 11/16/2004 7:55:07 PM PST by alwaysconservative (Addicted to FReeping and don't want to be cured.)
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To: MadelineZapeezda

Ok, great idea. Nominations are open.


40 posted on 11/16/2004 7:59:55 PM PST by Jim Robinson (No more obstructionist Senate! Sixty in 06!)
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