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04/21/2004 Archived Entry: "Are they sure they want to do this?"
Are they sure they want to do this?
Bush dodged a bullet (metaphorically - God knows he got nowhere near gunfire in the TANG) when the flap over his military records was let slide by the media back in February. Is his campaign really so stupid that they want to get into a comparison with John Kerry? This news report, bland as it is, shows that ThugCo really doesn't want to go there.
Ken Mehlman, President Bush's campaign manager, accused Kerry's campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign's position on Tuesday to release the records in "due diligence" is contrary to Kerry's comments on "Meet the Press" that the records would be made public immediately."Senator Kerry's record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters," Mehlman said.
Meehan responded, "Senator Kerry's record on the military is one we are running on, not running from. We are happy to compare Senator Kerry's record of service to anybody in the Bush campaign who has or has not served."
Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, but did not serve in combat. Bush released hundreds of pages of his Vietnam-era military records in February to counter Democrats' suggestions that he shirked his duty in the Texas Air National Guard.
The White House said the documents comprise his entire military record. The records did not provide evidence that Bush was in Alabama during a period when Democrats have questioned whether he reported for service.
Kerry on Friday questioned Republicans who avoided the war and now criticize him on national security, but he didn't mention Bush.
"I fought under that flag and I saw that flag draped over the coffins of friends," Kerry said. "I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid the chance to serve when they had the chance."
The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who are wounded or killed by enemy forces. The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action, and the Bronze Star is for heroic achievement.
Kerry received the Bronze Star for his actions after being wounded by the mine, which led to the third Purple Heart. According to his citation, one of Kerry's boatmates was thrown overboard and Kerry pulled him to safety with "his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety."
Replies: 5 people speak up
If Bush can make fun of Kerry's purple heart can Kerry make fun of Bush's purple liver?
Posted by George Johnston @ 04/21/2004 06:20 AM NY
Gee...the Kerry campaign says they are going to release the records...and then they released them? There must be some sort of new definition of 'flip-flop' that I'm not aware of, like how 'bad' meant 'good' in the 80s.
Posted by plucky punk @ 04/21/2004 06:49 AM NY
Kerryco did not release all the records, some yes, all no. None of this military crap is going to help either side. Its a given fact in this country the children of people of power or wealth generally do not serve. Did Kerry deserve his puple hearts? Who cares. History shows good/great military records do not make good/great presidents.
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/21/2004 07:27 AM NY
No Robin, good/great military records do not always make good/great presidents. But Kerry SERVED in BATTLE and Bush didn't. Kinda looks cowardly when you can send kids off to die when you didn't have the guts to risk your own life for "freedom".
Posted by Deadhead Scott @ 04/21/2004 08:14 AM NY
Questioning a purple heart really is beyond shitty, and it shows just how shallow and cynical BushCo's chickenhawk "support" for troops -- then, now and in the future -- really is. Don't think this doesn't resonate among military personnel and military families of any stripe.
The Preznit's AWOL past being the context to prancing down an aircraft carrier like a big pretend hero is startling for how phony and comical the moment, but it's not something a lot of people would base their votes on.
To disparage a vet's legitimate sacrifice just to make one's own chickenhawk candidate look better achieves a level of craven cowardice that insults all vets.
Posted by Peanut @ 04/21/2004 02:25 PM NY
