Conason's Big Lies On John Kerry

[DrFunkenstein]

From the "Male Cheerleaders and Chicken Hawks" chapter, talking about the popular myth that conservatives truly love America and support the armed forces, while liberals are unpatriotic draft dodgers:

It was John Kerry, not Daschle, who addressed the Republican leaders in the manner they deserved. At a Democratic dinner in New Hampshire, the senator from Massachusetts stood up and said, "Let me be clear tonight to Senator Lott and to Tom Delay. One of the lessons that I learned in Vietnam - a war they did not have to endure - and one of the basic vows of commitment that I made to myself, was that if I ever reached a position of responsibility, I would never stop asking question that make a democracy strong...Those who try to stifle the vibrancy of our democracy and shield policies from scrutiny behind a false cloak of patriotism miss the real value of what our troops defend and how we best defend our troops."

Kerry recieved a standing ovation from the New Hampshire Democrats. Thus encouraged, he repeated his roasting of the Republican leaders at a press conference the following day. As a Vietnam combat veteran who earned three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver star in two Navy tours - and who later led Vietnam Veterans Against the War - Kerry has ample stature to challenge the character assassins.

What the Daschle episode revealed was how routinely Republicans and conservatives resort to the kind of hyperbole that was once heard only from extremists and bigots. The Kerry speech electrified his audience because, like so many liberals, they were tired of listening to conservatives blast away at their patriotism unanswered. At long last, someone had fired back.

[displacedvermoter]

1. Mark Shields addressed this at the time it took place

and mentioned as well that Tim Johnson (SD) was the only member of Congress who had a son or daughter in the active duty military in a combat role. Not only did the chickenhawks keep themselves safe, they have also generally kept their kids safe as well.

This event led me to consider Kerry one of my two or three favorites for the nomination. Certainly electrified me when I read about it.

[DrGonzoLives]

2. If Kerry gets nominated

I would LOVE for him to slap Bush upside the head with something like that during a debate...

[DrFunkenstein]

3. Something Like This?

Two days before the (2000) election Senator Kerry tried to raise the AWOL questions again on NBC's Meet the Press.

http://www.monitor.net/monitor/0011a/election2000.html

<>

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Umm the article

mis-spells Bob Kerrey's name as Kerry.

[Fabio]

5. Sure.

Kick Dr. F when he is down...
:-)

[DrFunkenstein]

6. That's Unclear - How Bout This?

(Senator John) Kerry, a decorated Navy veteran of Vietnam, said Bush should be scrutinized because he ends every speech by raising his hand, taking a mock oath of office, and pledging to restore honor and integrity to the White House. ''How is it that someone who's supposedly serving on active duty, having supposedly taken that oath, can miss a whole year of service without explaining where it went?'' Kerry asked the crowd.

Democrats launch attack on Bush, charge dereliction of military duties in '70s, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 4

http://democrats.com/display.cfm?id=132

They get the names straight on that one!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. In the post 9/11 world it's going to be a bigger issue than in 2000

[blm]

11. That's unfortunate, but, true. On Keillor's show today

with Al Franken, you can tell these guys are chomping at the bit for Bush to have go toe to toe with Kerry.

[JI7]

8. not sure what you are referring to

but the part on the original post does refer to john kerry as i remember john kerry saying those things.

[sandnsea]

7. kerrey resigned Jan 2000

He couldn't have been a Senator at this time, although I'd guess he would still be referred to as a Senator. Although maybe former Senator. They've mixed them up before, would be interesting to see if they had again.

[Octafish]

9. A friendly reminder of who the real Democrats are.

Kerry has fought the good fight his entire adult life. Can your candidate claim the same? If not, you might want to learn about him, rather than rely on what Joe Trippi and his minions smear.

EDIT: The whole durn thing.