Dole Weighs In

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Dole Weighs In
2
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 7:58pm

WAR HERO DOLE SAYS KERRY IS TO BLAME FOR SCRUTINY OF HIS VIETNAM RECORD


(08-22-2004) - Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole suggested Sunday that John Kerry apologize for past testimony before Congress about alleged atrocities during the Vietnam War and joined critics of the Democratic presidential candidate who say he received an early exit from combat for "superficial wounds."

Dole also called on Kerry to release all the records of his service in Vietnam...Dole told CNN's "Late Edition" that he warned Kerry months ago about going "too far" and that the Democrat may have himself to blame for the current situation, in which polls show him losing support among veterans.

"One day he's saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads, throwing away his medals or his ribbons," Dole said. "The next day he's standing there, `I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.

"Maybe he should apologize to all the other 2.5 million veterans who served. He wasn't the only one in Vietnam," said Dole, whose World War II wounds left him without the use of his right arm.

Dole added: "And here's, you know, a good guy, a good friend. I respect his record. But three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds. Three Purple Hearts and you're out." 

http://www.kfmb.com/printstory.php?storyID=28463

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 12:23am

Guess who telephoned Bob...


Dole Defends Swiftees in Call From Kerry

Presidential candidate John Kerry telephoned former Sen. Bob Dole this morning to complain about Dole's demand a day earlier that he apologize to Vietnam veterans for protesting the war, the one-time Republican presidential candidate revealed Monday afternoon.

"John Kerry called me this morning, which surprised me," Dole told radio host Sean Hannity.


"He said he was very disappointed, we'd been friends. I said John, we're still friends, but have First Amendment rights, just as your people have First Amendment rights.


Dole told Kerry, "I'm not trying to stir anything up, but I don't believe every one of these people who have talked about what happened are Republican liars.

"And very frankly, Bush is my guy, and I'm tired of people on your side calling him everything from a coward to a traitor to everything - a deserter."

Dole said he urged Kerry, "Why don't you call George Bush today and say, 'Mr. President, let's stop all this stuff about the National Guard and Vietnam - and let's talk about the issues."

Dole said Kerry responded, "I haven't spent one dime attacking President Bush."

But the Republican war hero shot back, "You don't have to. You've got all the so-called mainstream media, plus you've got MoveOn.org and all these other groups that have spent millions and millions of dollars trying to tarnish Bush's image."

"Don't tell me you don't know what some of these people are doing," he told Kerry.

"Everybody likes quiet heroes," Dole added, saying he told Kerry, "John, everybody knows you were in Vietnam and the less you say about it, the better."

Dole said he tried to end the tense conversation cordially by telling Kerry, "I wish you good luck, up to a point."

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2004
In reply to: cl_wrhen
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 7:33am
Bob Dole is an outstanding veteran who has served this country well. His comments here are right on target. Kerry and the Liberals have been attacking Bush through MoveOn.org for over a year now. But what is even worse was the Fund Raiser in New York where Whoopi Goldberg made a fool of herself and John Kerry praised her comments. Now he has the audacity to say that he has never been party to any negative campaigning against Bush? Get real!

As for the SwiftBoat Vets, these are privaye citizens. If they feel strongly enough about their dislike of John Kerry to spend their own money to put out the truth they have the right of free speech and Kerry is way out of line to ask anyone to force them to stop. If he will attempt to surpress First Amendment rights now what would he do if elected president?