Eric5273 said:
This is just my opinion, but I don't think military duty has any bearing on how qualified someone is to be president of the United States. Kerry's time in the Senate and Bush's time as Governor of TX (and his first term as President of course) matter much more than how each of them served in the military.
When you have a roll of leadership, such as Lt., your leadership qualities definetly do matter.
As everyone knows, Clinton dodged the draft entirely, and the American public did not seem to care as they elected him twice, both by healthy margins.
And he was elected by those that would have probably dodged the draft themselves
Oh, that and the pot-smoking, promiscous youth of America!
that whole statement was a joke...no flames
If I had been alive then, I'm sure I would have been against the war and would have probably found a way out of going to Vietnam as well -- perhaps even the same way Bush did.
Bush still served...don't kid yourself, but he was college educated (or in the process) and chose the smart route by volunteering for the ANG on his own. He did fly an F-102 for 6 years...
That said, this criticizing of Kerry's record is rediculous. First of all, there seems to be confusion between those that served WITH Kerry and those who simply served at the same time as him. Those who served WITH him were on stage at the Democratic Convention when he gave his acceptance speech. The guys who run this organization cited above, and who have made an anti-Kerry commercial are simply other Vietnam vetrans who served at the same time as Kerry, some even in the same area, but their interaction with him was little or in some cases, none.
Kerry served in a boat where there were SEVERAL soldiers around him at all times that weren't in his platoon. In fact, as mentioned, the guy he "saved" to win a Purple Heart was not only NOT in his platoon, but he wasn't even NAVY...he was Army if I read correctly. Kerry served beside Navy and Army soldiers alike.
The commercial is full of men who had little or no interaction with Kerry? Such as the medic that worked on him for one of his injuries? No contact there...I mean, he only diagnosed the cut as curable by band-aid
Not to say they were all in his group, but I'm sure they have a reason for speaking out against him and making accusations like they have.
Second, Republicans seem to think that if you change your mind about something, then you are a Flip-Floper. There is nothing wrong with someone who believed their government in the 1960s, joined the military and went to Vietnam, but then later on due to their experiences over there, and the fact that they were lied to, they no longer supported the war. That is called being intelligent. If when presented with new information, you stick to your old position regardless of the new information, then that is just being thickheaded.
Then you flip-flop against those MAKING the decisions and not those who are simply being paid or being forced to act on them. Kerry, the "all great war hero"
should have had more respect for his fellow comrades than to throw paint on them upon their return. Protest against the queen, not the worker ants.
And when he came back from Vietnam and reported war crimes, he and the other soldiers implicated should have been charged with war crimes and sentenced to jail time. However, instead of that happening, to avoid embarrassment, the military swept this entire episode under the carpet. A couple of people were tried and received slaps on the wrist and this was chalked up to being a couple small and isolated incidents.
He reported war crimes??? I thought he was too busy campaigning for a Purple Heart??? Anywho, there seems to be several discrepancies as to Mr. Kerry's allogations. I'm sure he'll change his mind eventually as to his side of the story though
