Did anyone see the Sestak segment on Hardball last night?

[AndyA]

Something bothers me about his phone interview.

Tweety asked Sestak about his Navy record, and if he were planning to release documents about it.

Sestak said no, that his record in the Navy was just being used to divert attention away from the real issues.

It seems to me that releasing the records would put an end to it right away, instead of letting it continue on as an issue. Tweety mentioned John Kerry not addressing the Swift Boaters, and how that didn't work out so well.

Something about Sestak's answer set my Bullshit Meter off. Why wouldn't he deal with this and kill it as an issue now? Is there something he doesn't want people to know about?

Of course, releasing Obama's birth certificate hasn't made the birthers go away, but I didn't like Sestak's answer to Tweety's question. It didn't make sense.

[mucifer]

1. 31 years would be a loooong time for a flawless record.

There might be something in there from years and years ago that he regrets. But, there might not be. I think we can all say there are things we have done in the past 31 years that we regret.

[AndyA]

2. I'm sure that's true, but it seems like it's going to come out anyway.

As the election gets closer, this is going to escalate, not evaporate.

If there's something there, it would seem Sestak's opponent is already aware of it. I think he should deal with it and get it out of the way, instead of allowing it to erode his campaign. :shrug:

[skipos]

3. Whatever Sestak did or didn't do, it will be interesting too see if it is as bad as

working to elect Bush & Cheney, or McCaim and Palin. Probably not.

[msongs]

4. sestak's tv ad is fabulous - are u sure he's really a dem lol nt

[Scuba]

5. You don't get to be an Admiral if "there's something in your records"

[TwilightGardener]

6. I didn't know there was anything in his Navy career that was suspect.

You'd think that would have come out by now, after a while in politics.

[blm]

7. Tweety's repeating a MEDIA LIE - Kerry DID address the Swiftlies and NO NEWS NETWORKS would air his

speech to the Firefighters convention where he not only went after the swifts and their lies but, also challenged Bush to stop hiding behind their lies and come out publicly to debate their services.

Every news network REFUSED to carry the speech and few would even report that it occurred. Remember, news channels obtain talking points copy of major speeches. Suddenly they all decided to pass on the Dem nominee's speech to FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION during the first election post 9-11?

[karynnj]

8. I doubt releasing the records would put an end to it

John Kerry put his entire record, except medical reports, up on his website for over a year. The medical reports were open to press for a week or two. Yet, the RW claimed they were not complete. (They never said what they were missing - which was their imagined account of John Kerry doing anything wrong. It did not matter that you could look at the dates of fitness reports and see that they spanned the entire about 3 and a half years - and all were extremely positive.)

After the election, Kerry signed the form the right wanted singed (180) and three newspapers got his records - which they reported were identical to what Kerry posted (and showed them) in 2004. There are STILL accusations that Kerry never released his records in comments all over the blogosphere.

The Sestack story is more complicated. Where Kerry's service was 3 - 4 years as a very young man, Sestak was in the Navy for 31 years. This is the main job of his adult life. Kerry's main job was as a Senator - and before that as lt Gov and prosecutor.

In addition, Kerry's service record was genuinely 100% positive. There was nothing he was criticized on in any fitness record and much he was commended on. Whether people are angry with his politics or his protesting, he was a very highly decorated war hero, who really was an exceptional leader of the men reporting to him on all his assignments. Sestack obviously was considered to have done a great job or he would not have reached that level. It does appear though that at the end of his career there were some complaints. The complaint though appeared to be he worked people too hard. ( But, isn't it cw that being Senate staff is a long hours, burn out job - there that "problem" may be a virtue.)