# "Republicans," what's your take on John Kerry and Swiftboating? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 15, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-whats-your-take-on-john-kerry-and-swiftboating/676411 "2013-12-15T21:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 26
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-whats-your-take-on-john-kerry-and-swiftboating/676411/26 "2013-12-16T14:21:10Z")
In 2004, I was dismayed by the tactic. I said, at the time: > [@New SBVFT ad -- will we never put Vietnam behind us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-sbvft-ad-will-we-never-put-vietnam-behind-us/263037/17): > > The man went over there in uniform, in a place where people were shooting at him. He did his duty. If ANYONE is entitled to come home and speak to lawmakers about the wisdom of our Vietnam policy, it’s a guy like John Kerry. He EARNED THE RIGHT. I’m not talking about his medals - I’m talking about wearing the uniform and being in the jungle. I don’t care if it was for four days or four weeks or four months or four years. He did his job. He didn’t portest and dodge a draft. He didn’t defer. He didn’t join the Coasties. He put on the uniform and did his freakin job. > > That’s it, as far as I am concerned. Case closed. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-whats-your-take-on-john-kerry-and-swiftboating/676411)._