Kerry blasts 'phony controversy' over medals

[Dionysos]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...als/index.html

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 Posted: 9:15 AM EDT (1315 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John Kerry on Monday rejected as a "phony controversy" questions about whether he had misled people about a symbolic Vietnam War protest he participated in 33 years ago.

"I'm not going to stand for it," Kerry told ABC's "Good Morning America." "I'm not going to stand for it."

The presumptive Democratic nominee, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, said Republicans were behind the latest questions and pointed out that they coincide with new GOP television ads that attack Kerry on national defense.

At the end of the interview, as he unclipped his microphone, Kerry, apparently not realizing the camera was still on, turned to someone and muttered, "God, they're doing the work of the Republican National Committee."

At issue is Kerry's participation in a 1971 protest at which several veterans discarded their medals in protest of the Vietnam War.

Kerry threw away the ribbons from his medals, along with the actual medals of two veterans who were not able to attend the ceremony, according to the candidate's Web site.

When he returned from the war, Kerry became an active opponent of the conflict and was a leader in Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Karen Hughes, a campaign adviser to President Bush, described herself as "very troubled" by the fact that Kerry only throw away his ribbons -- not the medals themselves.

"He only pretended to throw his," she charged Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

"Now, I can understand if out of conscience you take a principled stand and you would decide that you were so opposed to this that you would actually throw your medals. But to pretend to do so, I think that's very revealing." (Hughes blasts Kerry's Vietnam comments)

And an article in Monday's New York Times says that Kerry gave a 1971 television interview in which he appeared to suggest that he had given his own medals back.

The New York Times describes the transcript of that television interview -- which it says was archived by President Nixon's communications office and held by the National Archives -- this way:

An interviewer asks Kerry, "How many did you give back, John?"

Kerry responds, "I gave back, I can't remember, six, seven, eight, nine."

The interviewer then notes that Kerry had won the Purple Hearts and Bronze and Silver stars. Kerry says, "Well, and above that, I gave my others."

Pressed Monday about whether he had ever misled people on what he threw away, Kerry rejected the charge. He said there was "no distinction" between medals and ribbons, and stressed the symbolic nature of the protest.

"We threw away the symbols of the war," Kerry told ABC Monday from a campaign stop in West Virginia. "I'm proud I stood up and fought against it. Proud I took on Richard Nixon. And I think to this day, there's no distinction between the two."

Kerry has said he did not throw away his own medals because he did not have them with him.

Monday, Kerry also questioned Bush's military service during the Vietnam War, something -- up till now -- he has generally avoided.

"This is a phony controversy," Kerry said of the questions about his anti-Vietnam War protest. "... This comes from a president who can't even show or prove that he showed up for duty in the National Guard."

In February, the White House released Bush's military records amid questions about whether Bush reported for duty during a year he spent in Alabama while working on the Senate campaign of a friend.

A review of those records by retired USAF Maj. Gen. Don Shepperd, a military analyst for CNN, found that those records appeared to be in order and that Bush was paid during the time period in question.

But the records didn't specify the nature of his duties or where they were performed.

Kerry's actions as a Vietnam War protester have come under new scrutiny during the campaign.

He recently expressed regret for saying in 1971 that he and other soldiers had committed "atrocities" in Vietnam.
(LINK: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...nam/index.html )

Kerry said his use of the term "atrocity" was "inappropriate" and some of his language was "over the top."

He also said he never intended to cast a negative light on the soldiers with whom he served.

[matt]

this whole thing is just gay to me. they are grasping at straws here. who cares if he only threw away the ribbons, he still was man enough to earn multiple medals in the war, including the purple heart.

i just think this is so petty.

[Ryan]

Of course it's petty. Although I am not a big fan of Kerry (though I will vote for him), you have to give him some credit for the way he is campaigning compared to Bush. He has been very forward about asking Bush to openly debate the issues and Bush continues to ignore him. And nearly all the criticism he has put on Bush has been about actual issues. He has questioned the President's strategy in Iraq, the President's spending record, and his radical social agenda - all of which are issues in this election. At the same time, he has virtually ignored the controversy about Bush's military record or his shady past as an alcoholic, probable drug-abuser, and shady business man, all of which are irrelevant to what is happening in America today.

The Bush camp, on the other hand, is running a multi-million dollar smear campaign trying to absolutely destroy the man's image as a person. I'm amazed that they even have the audacity to question his patriotism and service record from 30 years ago considering Bush's military record is far from stellar. They tried to fabricate some BS about him having an affair and forcing the woman to leave the country, all the while she was saying it was a load of crap. They criticize him for being born into wealth and privilege while Bush has never worked for anything in his life without the help of his extremely affluent family. They even go as far as to attack the man for the kind of car his wife drives.

The whole thing shows the lack of substance of the incompetent Bush and his corrupt administration. I can sorta understand their strategy, though. If I were Bush, I would certainly be doing everything possible to divert attention away from my own record.

[mc E]

did anyone read about the $1,000 haircut kerry supposedly got before his appearance on meet the press. I LOL'd after reading that. (drudgereport)

all this mudslinging just makes both candidates look really bad IMO, and its only gonna get soooo much worse as the summer progresses

p.s -- i think ryan is right for once, lets get on with debate about real issues ... i'm really looking forward to the debates

So Kerry did not toss his medals.

Is it not true that he's carried on the past 30+ years as if he had done so?

I'd tend to agree with those who say that the Viet Nam issue is without merit.

[SenseOfCommons]

What? Can you not see beyond the veil of smoke? It bares no inkling of credible criticism. Tossing the actual "medals" or not, atleast he was in the thick of things, and at the end had a strong message to portray. He's someone who has been through the real tragedies of man and who isn't afraid to take on the current leadership in a fashion WAY too many of us are too pussy to do.

How trivial can a campaign slam be? The Vietnam issue without merit, indeed.

I for one, have always been a supporter of, and WILL be voting for John Kerry this year.

Oh, and as per this article.. that Karen Hughes sounds like some damn 2nd grade cry-baby trying to turn the tables....

Karen Hughes, a campaign adviser to President Bush, described herself as "very troubled" by the fact that Kerry only throw away his ribbons -- not the medals themselves.

"He only pretended to throw his," she charged Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

What type of pussy shit is that?????


HA HA HA

sickening.

Originally posted by SenseOfCommons
What? Can you not see beyond the veil of smoke? It bares no inkling of credible criticism. Tossing the actual "medals" or not, atleast he was in the thick of things, and at the end had a strong message to portray.

regardless of whether or he did (or didn't do) what he said he did huh?

I guess we shouldn't let any factual accuracy interfere with a good takling point.

Originally posted by SenseOfCommons
He's someone who has been through the real tragedies of man and who isn't afraid to take on the current leadership in a fashion WAY too many of us are too pussy to do.

How trivial can a campaign slam be? The Vietnam issue without merit, indeed.

I for one, have always been a supporter of, and WILL be voting for John Kerry this year.

Oh, and as per this article.. that Karen Hughes sounds like some damn 2nd grade cry-baby trying to turn the tables....





What type of pussy shit is that?????


HA HA HA

sickening.

[Ash]

Originally posted by matt
this whole thing is just gay to me. they are grasping at straws here. who cares if he only threw away the ribbons, he still was man enough to earn multiple medals in the war, including the purple heart for bravery.

i just think this is so petty.

just nitpicking, but the purple heart is awarded to those wounded in combat. carry on.

[matt]

Originally posted by Ash
just nitpicking, but the purple heart is awarded to those wounded in combat. carry on.

my bad, thanks for the heads up!! as you can see i have never served in the military!

[Element4040]

I'm with Ryan on this one, except for voting for Kerry

I'm not voting for Bush either. I'm voting for Nader, cause this country needs a shakeup. Of course if Nader can't make the ballot in Texas, I will vote for Kerry by default even though I don't really think he's what America needs. I think we need Bush less.