# John Kerry and Vietnam **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 4, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262 "2004-08-04T11:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 45
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/881 "2004-08-27T11:42:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Q McCain says he’s fed up with these Swift Boat ads. Is the President willing to go any further than what he said the other day? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, thank you for bringing that up. The President, also, on board Air Force One, called Senator McCain this morning. **And the President said he wanted to work together to pursue court action to shut down all the ads and activity by these shadowy 527 groups.** And the President said if the court action doesn’t work, then he would be willing to pursue legislative action and work with Senator McCain on that. > > Q Which groups does he want to shut down? > > MR. McCLELLAN: **It’s all the unregulated soft money activity by these 527 groups.** The President thought we got rid of all of this kind of shadowy activity when he signed the campaign finance reforms into law. As you’re aware, there was FEC action that has been pursued by Senator McCain, that has been pursued by us, as well. And the FEC has not acted on it. And so the President reached out to Senator McCain to say, let’s work together and pursue court action to shut down all of this activity by these shadowy groups. > > Q That includes the Swift Boats – > > Q – specific condemnation of the Swift Boat. > > Q – Swift Boat ones. He said, he’s happy that – he condemns all 527s – > > MR. McCLELLAN: **The President condemns all the ads and activity by these shadowy groups.** This is unregulated soft money activity that the President thought we got rid of when he signed the campaign finance reforms into law. Senator McCain said that he thought it was a good idea for the two of them to work together to shut down this kind of activity. > > Q So this includes the Swift Boat, right? You want to shut down – Bush wants to shut down, through legal action – > > MR. McCLELLAN: **All, all the ads and activity by the shadowy groups.** That would include everything that these shadowy groups are involved in. > > Q You don’t want to say “Swift Boat,” is that the – > > MR. McCLELLAN: I think I answered it by saying, **all of the ads and activity**. > > Q And that would include the Swift Boat, yes? > > MR. McCLELLAN: **That includes everything**. That includes – I don’t know how I can be more clear than that, Adam. > > Q Are the Swift Boats a shadowy group? > > Q But McCain said beyond that – he called the President to condemn those specific ads. Will he condemn those – > > MR. McCLELLAN: **The President has condemned every ad and all the activity by these 527 groups**. > > Q How does he feel about what they’re saying? > > MR. McCLELLAN: I don’t think I can be more clear, nor can the President. **The President wants Senator Kerry to join us in calling for a stop to all of the ads and activity by these shadowy groups. The President has condemned all of this activity by these shadowy groups.** > > Q What does he mean by court action? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Well, pursue – pursuing court action, working with – and pursuing court action to shut down these – shut down this activity by these 527 groups that are funded with unregulated soft money. This is what we thought we got rid of when the President signed the campaign finance reforms into law. And so – > > Q So who files – who files the lawsuit, then? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Well, and I’ll try to get you a little bit more information on this, but there’s – there have been previous complaints filed against the FEC. The FEC had an opportunity to act with, I think it’s within a 100-day – 120-day period. They did not act. And so that allows those who had filed those complaints to pursue action against the FEC. I know Senator McCain had filed complaints with the FEC; we had, as well. And so the President looks forward to working with Senator McCain to pursue court action to **shut down all of this activity by these shadowy groups**. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040826-3.html](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040826-3.html) The word “attack” does not appear anywhere in the press conference, which, of course, was conducted by the president’s official spokesman. I think I’ve demonstrated my point well enough. Now if you have some sort of Bush statement that says he only wants to ban “attack ads” and not other 527 issue ads, I would welcome you bringing that statement to the table. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/882 "2004-08-27T13:21:15Z")
> [@New Iskander](#): > > Come to think of it, Gephardt/Lieberman would really make Bush/Cheney sweat. You’re just adorable when you have no earthly idea what in hell you’re talking about. Not that **I** ’d take you home, or anything. > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I could reprint the comment section of my Navy evaluations here, and I’m sure you’d be ready to elect me Emperor, by these standards. I can’t speak for **Shayna** , but I doubt that there’s a single thing written about you anywhere that would make me vote for you as emperor. Besides, how does one _elect_ an emperor? Is it like in the latest Star Wars movies where a queen steps down to become a senator? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/883 "2004-08-27T13:24:00Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > Didn’t **Brutus** drag this particular dog out earlier in this very thread? I know we saw it sometime in the past month. > > Anyway, faulty logic from a conservative? Who’da thunk it. Not at all faulty. I have consistently argued against a veteran’s status litmus test in politics. The only sane way to vote is to vote according to the issues at hand. If we were to vote only for war heroes in American elections, Bob Dole should have won in 1996. Remember, he’s a paralyzed veteran and Bronze Star awardee. Likewise, George H. W. Bush should have won in 1992, being a winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the youngest combat flyer in the Navy in WWII. Their opponent, Bill Clinton, avoided the Vietnam-era draft. Obviously, the American electorate wasn’t swayed by this argument. John Kerry should be wary of this fact. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/884 "2004-08-27T13:43:21Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > I think I’ve demonstrated my point well enough. Now if you have some sort of Bush statement that says he only wants to ban “attack ads” and not other 527 issue ads, I would welcome you bringing that statement to the table. Um, I’m not sure that you have demonstrated your point. Perhaps if you could show how Kerry would rid the world of all known diseases, I might understand your point better. 😉 Seriously, though, **pervert** is just using the “Columbo” technique. Ask question after question after question, and pretend not to understand anything. Of course, on TV, Columbo always ends up with a “gotcha”. Sadly, that doesn’t ever seem to work out for **pervert**. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/885 "2004-08-27T13:44:35Z")
Shadowy. Definitely shadowy. ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/886 "2004-08-27T13:54:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Shadowy. Definitely shadowy. This ‘ad’ for Bush is definitely ‘shadowy’ in the extreme - would a ban on 527 ads. shut this site down too? [http://www.georgewbush.org/spots/index.asp](http://www.georgewbush.org/spots/index.asp) [Sorry, but being a Brit, I don’t know about these technicalities] ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/887 "2004-08-27T14:11:18Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > **Shayna** , many threads and newspaper articles have pointed out the inflated language of Navy officer fitness reports. So? Does that make them wrong? I have lots and lots of eloquently glowing letters of recommendation from previous employers, customers, etc. Lots of flowery language and lots of pumping up. While I’m humbled by the opinions expressed in them, there’s not a word in them that’s untrue. And I don’t believe for a single moment that there’s an untrue word about John Kerry in his reports, either. > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I could reprint the comment section of my Navy evaluations here, and I’m sure you’d be ready to elect me Emperor, by these standards. HA! HAhahahahaha! > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > This is not to take anything away from John Kerry, as I have great respect for his heroism under fire. But you probably don’t realize that a couple of those fitreps you reprinted were mediocre ones. So which is it; are they over-inflated or are they merely mediocre? You can’t have it both ways, dear. > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I also have to ask, **Shayna** , what brings you to vote you to vote for Kerry today after voting for Dole in 1996 and Bush I in 1992. These war heroes are, after all, very different regarding their approach to the issues. > > I am correct in assuming you voted for the war heroes in those particular elections, aren’t I? Considering the value you apparantly place in military service. If you could show me anywhere in that post where I said I was voting for John Kerry because he’s a war hero, you _might_ have some kind of point. I said I came to _like_ John Kerry based on what I read about him in his military reports, but that’s not even remotely the same as saying I’m _voting_ for him _because_ he’s a “war hero.” The qualities I was impressed by don’t mention the word ‘hero’ anywhere, and are universal in their applicability outside of a war environment. I’ll remind you: > [@Shayna](#): > > That is EXACTLY the kind of man I want running my country. Decisive, mature, capable, contagiously enthusiastic, able to inspire the support of those around him, a dynamic leader, a polished diplomat, a commander, possessive of bearing beyond reproach, imaginative, a planner, effective, competent & courageous. I further went on to outline all of the **ISSUES** I agree with John Kerry on. And I concluded by saying I wanted to be able to respect my president and not expect him to LIE to me. So I’ll thank you to refrain from your smug attempt to call me out on some perceived hypocracy that doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/888 "2004-08-27T14:29:10Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > So which is it; are they over-inflated or are they merely mediocre? You can’t have it both ways, dear. No, no, you’re not keeping up. See, when it says “absolutely stupendous”, it means “good”, but when it says “really teriffic”, that only means “mediocre”. OTOH, if it had said “showed up for dental examination”, that would have meant “leader-of-the-free-world-and-defender-against-terrrrists material”. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/889 "2004-08-27T14:29:47Z")
P.S. I met John Kerry last night. I’m still kindof reeling from the experience (he’s TALL!!), but I’ll try to post about it later. I have to leave for work now, but here’s one image… [John Kerry](http://www.amschwartz.net/jillandthomas/images/KerryEvent2004-08-26/Kerry1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/890 "2004-08-27T14:33:58Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > So which is it; are they over-inflated or are they merely mediocre? You can’t have it both ways, dear. I’m not having it both ways. You’re just misrepresenting what I wrote. It’s overinflated **language** in a mediocre fitness report. To a civilian, it would look great. To people who know the system, though, it would look just like what it is, though, mediocre. ---
**Author:** ![Spree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Spree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spree)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/891 "2004-08-27T14:44:09Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > P.S. I met John Kerry last night. I’m still kindof reeling from the experience (he’s TALL!!), but I’ll try to post about it later. I have to leave for work now, but here’s one image… [John Kerry](http://www.amschwartz.net/jillandthomas/images/KerryEvent2004-08-26/Kerry1.jpg). SQUEEE! That’s very cool and please give us not-so-fortunates a play-by-play! And to make sure this post contributes to the debate, I give you some poll results from [cnn.com](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/26/prez.poll/index.html) : > [@](#): > > Among those surveyed in the latest poll, 56 percent said Bush should denounce the ads, and 50 percent said they consider him responsible for them. Forty-eight percent said they think Kerry has been the victim of unfair Republican attacks, while 43 percent say Democrats have attacked Bush unfairly. Perhaps the Bush campaign isn’t quite as sneaky as they think they are. Now that the wind has shifted, perhaps Bush _will_ come out and denounce the ads. (Of course, that requires him to learn from his mistake, so…). ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/892 "2004-08-27T14:57:40Z")
The debunking continues: [Thurlow contradicted](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,130326,00.html). A crewman on Thurlow’s own boat says that yes, they were under fire the day the medals were won. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/893 "2004-08-27T15:03:44Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > (aside) > > Then would you mind using your excellent powers of persuasion to get me back in good with **elucidator**? You see, he’s creative and can get away with a lot of things that retired English teachers can’t. I think he misunderstood something I said about a split infinitive and he said something thrilling but vile about my horse and me. My horse can’t quit grinning, but I’ve been a little glum ever since. No offense Zoe but grow some testicles. If you’re a retired English teacher you shouldn’t need the glowing good graces of someone who is of a “youthful nature” in his writing style. Elucidator is creative with language but so is Snoop Doggy Dog. Enjoy his antics for what they are and treat it as the entertainment he intends it to be. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/894 "2004-08-27T15:15:25Z")
> [@cnn.com](#): > > Among those surveyed in the latest poll, 56 percent said Bush should denounce the ads, and 50 percent said they consider him responsible for them. Then at least 6 percent are “confused” enough to think Bush is responsible for them \*and \* should denounce them \*anyway \* - unless by that they really mean he should apologize too, or simply cut the crap. This thread isn’t going to make the record unless the loyalists come back and resume spreading lies, though. ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/895 "2004-08-27T15:17:07Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I’m not having it both ways. You’re just misrepresenting what I wrote. > > It’s overinflated **language** in a mediocre fitness report. To a civilian, it would look great. To people who know the system, though, it would look just like what it is, though, mediocre. So are you sating that the navy have a code to write reports in - where what they say actually means the opposite of what the words mean? This is a really bizarre notion - cite please!! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/896 "2004-08-27T15:17:31Z")
[QUOTE=minty green] In case the disgusting hypocricy hasn’t yet registered for you, Bush’s “original position” in no way resembled a ban on issue ads. To that point, I draw the interested reader’s attention to [Bush’s March 15, 2001 formal position statement on campaign finance reform](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010315-7.html), which clearly states that Dear Leader strongly supports issue ads and the organizations that produce them: [quote] President Bush believes democracy is first and foremost about the rights of individuals to express their views. He supports strengthening the role of individuals in the political process by: 1) updating the limits established more than two decades ago on individual giving to candidates and national parties; and 2) **protecting the rights of citizen groups to engage in issue advocacy**. His original position in response to questions regarding the Swiftboat Vets. Happy? I always enjoy having to explain everything to you to as if I were on trial. May your days be filled with lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/897 "2004-08-27T15:38:49Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > President Bush believes democracy is first and foremost about the rights of individuals to express their views. Just so long as the expressions of those views aren’t counted too closely, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/898 "2004-08-27T17:17:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Clackamas County prosecutor Alfred French, who called Sen. John Kerry a liar in a political commercial, acknowledged Thursday that he lied to his boss when confronted about an extramarital affair with a colleague. > > – snip – > > French, who said he served in the same military unit with Kerry for two months in 1969, has come under intense scrutiny in the past week as the anti-Kerry ad has become a central issue in the presidential campaign. Suddenly, the well-respected Oregon prosecutor found himself the target of questions about his own credibility and the truthfulness of his statements against Kerry. > > French’s affidavit supporting the ad accused Kerry of exaggerating his war record, yet French conceded that he was relying on the account of war buddies, not what he witnessed. Since then, he’s faced pickets outside his office and complaints of unethical conduct to the state bar. Source: [The Oregonian](http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/109360837947360.xml) ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/899 "2004-08-27T18:22:31Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Just a wild guess, but maybe the Democrats were revolted at the thought of trying to win an election by smearing the military service of a genuine war hero? Democrats did it [before](http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3897ce1e01fd.htm). > [@](#): > > Chicago Tribune > > February 1, 2000 Tuesday, CHICAGO SPORTS FINAL EDITION > > SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 2; ZONE: N; The INC. Column. > > HEADLINE: GORE BACKERS HAVE KERREY LAUGHING IN THEIR JEERS > > BYLINE: Ellen Warren & Terry Armour. > > DATELINE: MANCHESTER, N.H. > > It’s getting nasty out here and we’re not talking about the snowstorm. > > When Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey showed up at an Al Gore event to do some spinning for reporters on behalf of his good friend Bill Bradley, Gore backers wouldn’t let Kerrey into the press area and berated him in a highly politically incorrect way. > > “They were calling me a cripple,” Kerrey told Inc. He continued, with a laugh: “I am a cripple–that’s the only (bleeping) honest thing they said all day.” Kerrey, a Vietnam war hero, lost part of a leg in the fighting there. > > Leading the chants for Gore as a crowd of the vice president’s supporters surrounded Kerrey was none other than Bill Shaheen, who’s helping run Gore’s New Hampshire campaign. > > “It wasn’t abuse–it was fun,” Kerrey said over a beer after the confrontation. “So jeer me. I don’t care. At least you’re doing something.” Note Bob Kerrey response. More on Kerrey superior attitude [here](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,107830,00.html) > [@](#): > > Here is an American hero, twice decorated for his heroics in the heat of battle, and later one of the most respected legislators on both sides of the aisle in the Senate telling the nation that despite the medal, he believes he did nothing heroic that night in Thanh Phong. Although the military honored him for killing 21 Vietcong in the operation, he now maintains that the only people who died were unarmed Vietnamese men, women and children. What a difference a single letter makes! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262/900 "2004-08-27T18:29:35Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > Unfortunately, I agree, he’s shooting himself in the foot, but then at least he’s not using 1000 lb. bombs, like Bush. > > Hey folks, get real. > > Kerry was in VietNam, he did what he believed was right under those circumstances. He may not have been General Westmoreland, but he was sure no slacker, either. > > He gets home, he’s disillusioned with the war (as many of us were at the time), he grows himself an afro and again – does what he thinks is right – he protests the war. > > Now, he sees an opportunity to use his service as a positive force in getting elected. He does what he thinks is right! > > maybe you call it flip-flopping, I call it growing, learning and caring. Not sure if that’s a Freudian slip that you think I implied he flip flopped on Vietnam. I’ve never questioned his service to this date (I’ve deliberately held my tongue on the issue). His treasonous behavior after his service was not his objection to the war (a right of free speech that I support). It was the hearsay testimony against his fellow soldiers that I’m calling him on. he gave aid to the enemy in time of war. IMO he did this knowing the consequences. He may even have extended the war (indirectly) by politicizing it. We had the capacity to win the war but it was fought behind closed doors. I’m not going to debate that possibility because of the amount of research it would take but the premise is valid enough for consideration. What is not debatable is that he gave aid to the enemy in time of war. It’s interesting that Kerry once told a reporter that he would never use his camera footage for political purposes (Bill Kelly-NY Times). If he had listened to his own gut feeling he would be not be dealing with this now. I maintain that his campaign manager screwed up by using his service to solve an image problem. If they are using the Clinton tactic (promoting a particular weakness as a strength) then it has to be done without any skeletons in his closet. If it was done because he had a poor showing with Veterans then the same rule applies. You can’t woo a group of people you turned against during a war without making amends. I’m guessing it was a little of both and they thought they could deal with any negative material that surfaced. Unfortunately they found out that 527 money doesn’t mean anything if a strong message can be floated. 250 vets slamming the Senator is a powerful image. It was an advertising coup that has rightly been compared to the Blair Witch Project. A sensational message gets a lot of exposure for very little money. He already did a mia culpa years ago about his war crimes. He even wrote a book about it. There was only one reason for him to do this and that was to purge any skeletons in his closet as a precursor to run for President. Had he also apologized to the Veterans for his testimony he would be free-and-clear. He screwed up. I predict that the Swiftboat Vets attack on Senator Kerry’s military record is part 1 of 2. It lays the groundwork for the Bush campaign. All they need to do is show Senator Kerry in action. They can start with pictures of his book “The New Soldier” and then read passages from it. FYI, don’t bother going to [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) to see what the cover looks like because they leave the image out. And bring your visa card if you want to buy it. You might also look for the Doonsbury cartoon about Kerry back in 71. Even Trudeau picked up on his self-promoting media stunts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-kerry-and-vietnam/258262.md?page=46)