Quick Heads Up: Did I Hear Right? Hackworth Called Cheney a Draft Dodger?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

My ears might have deceived me. Did I hear correctly on the Sean Hannity Show? Did Hackworth call Cheney a draft dodger?

[MineralMan]

I agree. Military service is an important part of the education of our leaders. We note that George Washington was our first president....thus, in my opinion, setting what should be a precedent for all Presidents to come. That has, of course, not been the case, but I believe it should be.

When elected, they should be civilians, but I believe they should have served their nation in the military service at some point...enlisted or officer.

Personally, I'd go further and suggest that ALL citizens serve their nation in the military or some other similar capacity. It would go a great distance toward unifying the population and impressing the importance of service.

Patriotism is not something one can simply claim, in my opinion. Patriotism requires some sort of action.

There are those here who infer that I am some sort of DU denizen. I am not. I am one who holds strong opinions, though, and those opinions do not always mesh with those of some other folks.

I believe that all citizens owe service to their nation. I do not believe we can ask some citizens to serve, especially risking their lives, if all do not serve. To do so, in my opinion, is hypocrisy.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Well, as someone who served, I consider Cheney a dodger.

I served, but I am no more qualified to lead the nation than my garbage man.Does that make everyone that was drafted a hero? Does what you suggest make Chenney ineffective? And what is your point?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hack is a IDIOT. I would like to see his military records.

You don't have 1/100 of the necessary requirements to even hold his military records let alone get a peak.

Hackworth has done more for this country than you could even fantasize about.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I saw something several years ago where the Elvis draft had been engineered by Hoover, who genuinely feared the cultural influence of rock.

[Republic of Texas]

" Personally, I'd go further and suggest that ALL citizens serve their nation in the military or some other similar capacity. It would go a great distance toward unifying the population and impressing the importance of service. "

I agree with you there. But that ain't the law now, and it's not the way the founding Falthers wrote the Constitution. Apparently, your beef is with them.

[Mfkmmof4]

Why all the concern about his being an ex military man or not? Seems to me the Dems would love to see us fighting over this :)

[deport]

You are right. There was no draft call-up back when Cheney was 18. The volunteers were enough to fill the slots needed.

I bet the following would beg to differ with you regarding no draft call-up. Cheney was elgible for the draft until he was 26 or received some kind of permanent deferment.... So he was born in 1941 and was elgible until 1967...... That all said, I by no means believe Cheney was a draft dodger. It appears he was granted legal deferments without special considerations...

Selective Service

Year:		Number of Inductions
1957: 1958: 1959: 1960: 1961: 1962: 1963: 1964: 1965: 1966: 1967: 1968: 1969: 1970: 1971: 1972: 1973:	137,940 138,504 142,246 96,153 86,602 118,586 82,060 119,265 112,386 230,991 382,010 228,263 296,406 283,586 162,746 94,092 49,514  646

[SJackson]

Personally, I'd go further and suggest that ALL citizens serve their nation in the military or some other similar capacity....

Now you sound like Gary Hart. ;>)

I like that concept, but I've never seen an idea that was workable.

[AppyPappy]

Being drafted is like jury duty. Some feel obligated to do it because of a sense of loyalty and some feel there's something wrong with someone too stupid to avoid it.

Even if you do serve (like GW did), people will find fault with it. You are either a coward if you don't serve or a babykiller if you do.

[cynicom]

jer...

Not knowing anything or anyone, I went along with the crowd.

Those that could curry favor did so and stayed behind in one capacity or another. One friend signed with the Dodgers, got cut, entered college, deferred, got thrown out of college and then finally went for the draft, 4F, bad back. How they found a bad back is beyond me. Course it may have helped a mite that his Father was rich and had very important friends.

I think the opening that Bush got in the Guard had about 300 applicants, course he was the best qualified, some General said so.

[laconic]

"The whole country was dodging the draft back then?" Speak for yourself, nanrod. So am I to assume the several million who were drafted were not part of "the country"? If so, anyone about in the front lines of the apparently impending invasion of Iraq should think twice.

[Willie Green]

I saw something several years ago where the Elvis draft had been engineered by Hoover, who genuinely feared the cultural influence of rock.

I saw something just a few weeks ago on the History Channel about Elvis being drafted. He apparently was quite proud to serve and totally refused to take advantage of his celebrity for special treatment. Insisted on doing gruntwork just like everybody else. I don't remember exactly, but I think he was part of a tank crew. At least I think I remember something about him "drag-racing" with another tank. (The other tank won the race.)

[madison10]

There are draft-dodgers and then there are those who could not serve for home reasons, such as being the only able bodied son in a family, or being married, or having physical limitations.

Unless Hackworth has proof of some sort he's just hot air. (what war would Cheney have fought in anyway? Korea? Cheney is too old for Vietnam, isn't he?).

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Elvis was a true southern boy that way - doing his time and getting a real MOS.

I think you're right about him being a tanker.

[El Gato]

Cheney benefited from a grad school deferment, then a marriage deferment. He was born in 41, I thought those were gone by the mid 60’s, but I’m probably wrong.

You are. Cheney's last exmemption was a fatherhood exemption (III-A), not a marriage exemption.

Student deferments didn't go until the eviiiil Richard Nixon became President. In 1971 to be exact. The lottery was instutited earlier, in 1969 for 1970 (and later) inductions. (i.e. those born 1950 or earlier were subject to the '69 lottery, but if full time students they wouldn't be drafted until they finished school. After '71 they were only allowed to finish the semester). I should know, I went from student deferment (II-S) to AFROTC cadet (technically member of the reserve forces, I-D) in 1971 to active duty AF 2nd Lt (I-C) in 1973. My lottery number was 34 from that December '69 lottery. Does that make me a draft dodger?

[laconic]

Joe Namath was exempt from the draft for "bad knees" and went on to play in the Super Bowl that year. I've seen him spouting on some commercial about American values; perhaps he will be part of the Iraqi invasion force.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hack is a liar, fraud and an idiot. For instance, if he is as good as he claims, why is he not continuing to serve in some capacity?

First of all he's in his 70s for christ's sake. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

Besides all that he is still serving by being a messenger for active duty personell when they need to expose the crapola going on above them; like 12,000 dollar desks for a Col. and the enlisted barracks have just recently been de-condemnded so they can be used again.

[zook]

If, during time of war, Hackworth called the Vice President of the United States a draft dodger, then his military career is about as meaningful as Benedict Arnold's was before he turned traitor.