Why is he afraid?
Find a Conversation
| Thu, 08-19-2004 - 10:16pm |
By Kevin D. Korenthal
Aug 20, 2004
The Democratic Nominee, Senator John F. Kerry was among those that bullied the president into signing a release to have all of his Air National Guard service records released to the public. You remember the assault: The media went non-stop quoting this Democrat and that Democrat calling on Bush to prove that he did not go Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from the Guard where he served, stateside as a pilot. Democrats that had never served in any branch of the military like DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe were among those screeching the loudest for Bush to release the records but John Kerry; the decorated Vietnam Veteran was over on the side agreeing Bush is not being forthcoming. Not that this issue even matters against the issues. Nonetheless, Bush complied.
Fast forward to today. Senator Kerry’s medals from Vietnam are being challenged by a group of veterans that served with Mr. Kerry in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Among the allegations Mr. Kerry has not fully answered are those that challenge the severity of and the circumstances surrounding 2 of Kerry’s 3 purple hearts, the commendation to those who are significantly wounded in battle. John E. O'Neill who leads the Swift Boat Vets For Truth and is the co-author of Unfit For Duty insists he's only trying to spread the truth about a man who has used his combat record as the centerpiece of his presidential bid. Based on Mr. O’Neill’s words and actions and on his critical comments of Kerry dating all the way back to 1972, we have reason to believe the allegations against Mr. Kerry do have merit.
The need for answers does not stop there. This week the Bush Campaign came out with a television add that blasts the Democrat nominee for missing almost all of the Senate Intelligence Committee meetings while just 2 weeks ago claiming he would “rebuild our intelligence community†after the failures of 9/11 and Iraq. Specifically the Bush ad claims John Kerry missed 70 meetings in a row following the 1st WTC attack in 1993. Today the Kerry campaign in it’s usual spin says that Kerry did indeed miss the PUBLIC meetings but went to the entire closed-door Intelligence Committee meetings throughout his time on that committee. The records from the open committee meetings are a matter of public record and cannot be disputed. But the records of attendance to the closed-door meetings cannot be released on a specific member w/out that member’s authorization. The Head of The Senate Intelligence Committee has said that upon receiving such authorization from Mr. Kerry he would produce the records.
You have heard the Democrats convict the Bush Administration of being “the most secretive administration in historyâ€. The Democrats as we have discussed have had no compunction about demanding The President be 100% forthcoming. But where are the calls from the top Democrats for Kerry to release his Vietnam Medical records that would describe the nature and severity of the wounds he used to obtain 3 purple hearts and thus an early ticket home from Vietnam? Why aren’t the talking heads from CNN, ABC, MSNBC, CBS as well as the editorial writers of The New York & Los Angeles Times calling for John Kerry to give permission for the Chairman of the Select Intelligence Committee to release his attendance records?

Pages
Actually, the way I understood it was as long as the injury occured while engaging the enemy (as opposed to a training excersise or accident) even if the shrapnel was from his own grenade he would still qualify for the purple heart. But I can't find where I read that.
What would be really pathetic would be if Kerry spent all of his time on the defensive trying to clear up ridiculous charges being made almost daily against him. He can't file a lawsuit everytime Bush and Cheney shoot a spitball at him.
OH!
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
I'm going to have to get that book soon :)
Renee ~~~
Renee ~~~
Just curious, why is Kerry's word regarding his military service so darn sacrosanct, but the doznes of men who served with him are all liars bought by slime oil money? I suppose we only need to have respect for the service of those we agree with. These men have a right to speak their opinions, whether they support Bush or Kerry or no one. If Kerry chooses to prove them liars by laying out his military record, he is free to do so. It is not the President's responsibility to curb the free speech rights of these decorated veterans. I wonder where all the righteous indignation is toward Micheal Moore's slanderous propagnada film-it is well accepted that film is full oflies and half truths, but I don't hear anyone demanding that Kerry condemn it or move to halt it's viewing.
(a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.
(b) Heat stroke.
(c) Food poisoning not caused by enemy agents.
(d) Chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy.
(e) Battle fatigue.
(f) Disease not directly caused by enemy agents.
(g) Accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action.
(h) Self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle, and not involving gross negligence.
(i) Post traumatic stress disorders.
(j) Jump injuries not caused by enemy action.
Renee ~~~
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Pages