Chair Terry McAuliffe issued the following statement:

[cal04]

(I hope they address this again after last night)


Upon hearing of multiple news reports that GOP delegates are belittling the injuries soldiers sustained during service by wearing Band-Aids with purple hearts, DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe issued the following statement:

"It is inexcusable for a Republican delegate to mock anyone who has ever put on a soldier's uniform. It is inexcusable to mock service and sacrifice. Our service men and women put their lives on the line every day. If they are wounded in the line of duty it is because they are fighting on the frontlines for freedom. Anything but complete respect for their service is unacceptable.

"Mindful of the fact that over 3,700 purple hearts have been issued during the Iraq war so far and none of us know how high that number will climb, I call on John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, before they speak, to tell their delegates to disavow these tactics. I call on these two men to use the power of their positions to tell their delegates that service matters, sacrifice matters, and that no Republican delegate should ever mock the service of our soldiers."

http://www.democrats.org/blog/trackback/00010934.html

[livetohike]

1. The band aid stunt won't play well here in San Diego

Here is the headline in the San Diego Union Tribune this morning:

Bush: Can't win war on terrorism

Lots of vets live here, not to mention active duty military. The RNC is blowing it.

[Zynx]

4. "Bush: Can't win war on terrorism" Just remove the colon there.

Bush can't win the war on terrorism. ;-)

[livetohike]

12. Good one!

:-)

[Beetwasher]

2. The Question Is

Will the bandaid story get the PROPER attention...IOW, will the pundits merely giggle and chuckle "Aww isn't that funny, they're mocking Kerry?!" or will they give it the proper coverage of "Many feel this is degrading and insulting to ALL purple hearts recipients and an outrage and is further evidence of collusion and organaziation of Bush w/ the smear campaign"

[Bandit]

3. Yada yada yada.... too little too late

The deed is done. The impact has happened. Don't be begging McCain and Giuliani to mitigate it. Condemn it across the nation on every channel and every TV set and make them out to be the ghouls they are. Make them defend their actions. Go on offense, I'm tired of all this defensive action.

[seabeyond]

6. wear a silver star, three purple hearts, and when someone asks

or just tell.............to bring honor to these medals, that repugs have tainted with this election. across the nation. if..........we do nothing, then nothing happens

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Bandit's picture makes me sick to my stomach -- what have we come to?

[Zynx]

5. Just call the RNC scum and be done with it.

Don't use these kind of round-about attacks. Call these guys what they are. Scum.

[lonewolf0507]

7. This stunt has made up my mind for Kerry

In the end, I would have probably voted for Kerry. Looking at the goons pull this stunt on the purple heart band aids has made up my mind and Kerry has my support 100%. This is not an attack on John Kerry, it is an attack on every military member pass and present. It goes to note that it always seem to be people who have not worn the uniform are the first to disrespect the members of the armed forces.
What a sad country we are living in.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. ONLY 3,700 purple hearts so far? Seems too low.

Purple Hearts go to the dead too. I would think there would be easily 10,000 by now.

[seabeyond]

11. i agree n/t

[PA Democrat]

10. Gee, I wonder if CNN gave McAuliffe any air time

to make this statement. Anyone see him on CNN last night? I'll bet not.