Over the past week, the GOP attack dogs have been belittling Kerry's miliary service and the fact that he threw his medals. Before I go any further, let me just say this-- at least Kerry had medals to throw. There's much more experience and leadership represented in those symbols of patriotism and honor than a mere report that proves you kept an annual dentist appointment. Don't you think?
Dick Cheney at Westminister College attacked Kerry's service in a speech. That backfired. I heard the university invited Kerry to speak to the student body so that Kerry can set the record straight. Sen. Lautenberg came out in defense of Kerry, attacking Cheney for being a chickenhawk.
In a scathing speech on the Senate floor, Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, said that he did not think politicians should be judged by whether they had military service but added that "when those who didn't serve attack the heroism of those who did, I find it particularly offensive."
Lautenberg pointed to a poster with a drawing of a chicken in a military uniform defining a chickenhawk as "a person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it."
"They shriek like a hawk, but they have the backbone of the chicken," he said.
"The lead chickenhawk against Sen. Kerry [is] the vice president of the United States, Vice President Cheney," Lautenberg said. "He was in Missouri this week claiming that Sen. Kerry was not up to the job of protecting this nation. What nerve. Where was Dick Cheney when that war was going on?"
Lautenberg chastised members of the Bush administration for being overly eager to go to war when they had not been willing to fight themselves. He quoted a Cheney interview from the 1980s that he had "other priorities" in the '60s than military service.
Kerry's website has some key questions about Bush's record that the media should be requesting from Bush. They are as follows:
Bush Has Said He Used No Special Treatment To Get Into The Guard. How Does He Explain The Fact That He Jumped Ahead Of 150 Applicants Despite Low Pilot Aptitude Scores?
Col. Albert Lloyd Said A Report >From Alabama To Ellington Should Have Been Filed. Where Is That Report?
Why Did Bush Miss His Medical Exam In 1972?
Where Are The Complete Results Of The Required Investigation Into Bush’’s Absence From The Exam?
Why Did Bush Specifically Request To NOT Be Sent Overseas For Duty?
Why Does The White House Say Bush Was On Base When Bush’’s Superiors Had Filed A Report Saying He Was Gone For A Whole Year?
Why Is The Pentagon Under Orders To Not Discuss Bush’’s Record With Reporters?
Where Are Bush’’s Flight Logs?
Why Hasn’’t Bush Himself Demonstrated That He Showed Up For Service in Alabama?
Maybe the GOP are attacking Kerry on this now so that it isn't a major talking point during the debates or around election time. Whatever the reason, it isn't wise of them, in my opinion, to ridicule Kerry for service that Bush and Cheney weasled their way out of one way or another.
Related Articles of Interest
Berger Offers Advice for a Democratic President, by Samuel Berger, top Clinton-era National Security Council. One of the highlights of this article consisted of this statement: "The administration's high-handed style and its gratuitous unilateralism have embittered even those most likely to embrace American values and invited opposition even from those with most to gain from American successes....Although the United States has never enjoyed greater power than it does today, it has rarely possessed so little influence. We can compel, but far too often we cannot persuade."
Why Kerry Threw His Ribbons, by Douglas Brinkley. Brinkley describes his interview with Kerry from December of 2002. It is a fitting article that explains the war hero Kerry even as he finds himself amidst attacks on his military service in Vietnam, especially the attack that his first Purple Heart was undeserved, which led to Kerry releasing his military records. The opening paragraph makes one realize just how superficial Bush's experience was in comparison. No contest, fellas. Great article.
Speak the Truth, by David Corn, the Washington Editor for The Nation. In this article, Corn spells out the direction he feels Kerry should be moving his campaign. It's hard to read because it dishes out the reality that the campaign is lacking in vision. I appreciate Corn's advice:
Kerry should get in touch with his inner angry-but-hopeful-young-man. (Whoops, that could be construed as advice for the candidate.) Not that he should be denouncing The Man and raging against the machine. But if he cannot offer a clear alternative to Bush’’s Iraq mess, he has to find other ways to demonstrate strength, judgment and conviction. Sure, that’’s tough to do when the Bush campaign is dropping a piano on you everyday. It’’s also hard to do when you are busy repositioning yourself per your consultant’’s recommendations. The incessant harking back to Vietnam war-hero glory (and gory) days will only get Kerry so far. It is as important-if not more so-for Kerry to display a modern-day version of the passion, idealism and sense of commitment that defined his opposition to the war. John Kerry once spoke from his gut (without the help of Bob Shrum and other consultants). He connected. He must do so again.
Don't Stay the Course Senator, by Robert Scheer. Scheer also explains what is ailing the Kerry campaign and gives advice similar to Corn on getting back on track--Kerry needs to become more like that former war hero and protester and confront Bush's war policy.
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