Although this article comes from a conservative source, it presents some very constructive advice for John Kerry on his bid for the presidency. As a fellow veteran, I respect Kerry's service record. I also agree with this article on the best way for him to use it.
Wall Street Journal Online Best of the Web Today - April 28, 2004
By JAMES TARANTO
How Kerry Lost Vietnam
Those of our readers who support John Kerry's presidential bid are none too happy with the beating their man has taken this week over his shifting stories about his antiwar activity. Here are some excerpts of e-mails we've received:
"It is unbelievable that the Republicans would challenge Kerry, an authentic war hero (and ever more heroic when he returned in his opposition to the awful Vietnam War) when their man, a sting-pulling AWOL, makes believe he is in the military and dresses up as a Fly Boy (what could be more ridiculous? and what else does he dress up as?)."
"Please, please keep talking about Kerry's service in Vietnam. It's hilarious to see you twist and writhe to minimize his heroism."
"How many military medals did John Kerry throw away? Four more than George W. Bush ever earned with the Alabama Flying Mailsorters."
We guess we can understand why these folks are sore. Things are not going as planned for John Kerry. His Vietnam record was supposed to be his greatest asset, but instead it has turned into a political liability. Why did that happen? Here's our explanation:
He talked about Vietnam entirely too much. We noticed this way back in December 2002, when in an interview with Tim Russert he even managed to work Vietnam into an answer about capital punishment. The incessant repetition makes him seem either opportunistic (trying to exploit his service to further his political ambitions) or obsessive (unable to view Vietnam from a healthy distance even after more than three decades). Either interpretation raises questions about his ability to lead the country effectively today.
The adversarial press being what it is, Kerry's single-minded emphasis on his Vietnam experience also invites scrutiny of such matters as the questionable circumstances surrounding his first purple heart--blemishes on an otherwise honorable record.
He became an antiwar activist. Sure, lots of Americans ended up opposing the Vietnam War, but Kerry did so by becoming the respectable face of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, a group whose stock in trade was accusations that American servicemen had committed war crimes. These claims came in the form of "confessions" from men, some of whom turned out not even to be veterans--and Kerry repeated them in sworn testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April 1971. … (continued)
Wall Street Journal Online Best of the Web Today - April 28, 2004
By JAMES TARANTO
How Kerry Lost Vietnam
Those of our readers who support John Kerry's presidential bid are none too happy with the beating their man has taken this week over his shifting stories about his antiwar activity. Here are some excerpts of e-mails we've received:
"It is unbelievable that the Republicans would challenge Kerry, an authentic war hero (and ever more heroic when he returned in his opposition to the awful Vietnam War) when their man, a sting-pulling AWOL, makes believe he is in the military and dresses up as a Fly Boy (what could be more ridiculous? and what else does he dress up as?)."
"Please, please keep talking about Kerry's service in Vietnam. It's hilarious to see you twist and writhe to minimize his heroism."
"How many military medals did John Kerry throw away? Four more than George W. Bush ever earned with the Alabama Flying Mailsorters."
We guess we can understand why these folks are sore. Things are not going as planned for John Kerry. His Vietnam record was supposed to be his greatest asset, but instead it has turned into a political liability. Why did that happen? Here's our explanation:
He talked about Vietnam entirely too much. We noticed this way back in December 2002, when in an interview with Tim Russert he even managed to work Vietnam into an answer about capital punishment. The incessant repetition makes him seem either opportunistic (trying to exploit his service to further his political ambitions) or obsessive (unable to view Vietnam from a healthy distance even after more than three decades). Either interpretation raises questions about his ability to lead the country effectively today.
The adversarial press being what it is, Kerry's single-minded emphasis on his Vietnam experience also invites scrutiny of such matters as the questionable circumstances surrounding his first purple heart--blemishes on an otherwise honorable record.
He became an antiwar activist. Sure, lots of Americans ended up opposing the Vietnam War, but Kerry did so by becoming the respectable face of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, a group whose stock in trade was accusations that American servicemen had committed war crimes. These claims came in the form of "confessions" from men, some of whom turned out not even to be veterans--and Kerry repeated them in sworn testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April 1971. … (continued)
