McCain attacked for cameo role in Wedding Crashers

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/31/wcain31.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/07/31/ixportal.html

Senator John McCain, the Vietnam war hero and one-time critic of Hollywood's excesses, is trying to laugh off accusations of hypocrisy after coming under fire for a cameo appearance in the bawdy film Wedding Crashers.

Mr McCain's role lasts just 10 seconds as he plays himself at a political wedding reception alongside fellow guest star James Carville, an outspoken Democrat strategist.

But his brief on-screen appearance has given him some unwelcome publicity at a time when his presidential rivals are gearing up. He has donated his $695 fee for the film slot to charity and aides say that he had little idea of what the film would be like when he agreed to appear.

Complaints by outraged veterans groups forced New Line Cinema, the film's makers, to axe from its website a feature that allowed users to print off a fake Purple Heart, the medal awarded to US servicemen wounded in action. In one scene in the comedy, the characters played by stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn wear spoof Purple Hearts as they pretend to be war heroes in order to woo the bridesmaids after slipping uninvited into a wedding reception.

Groups such as the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart led the attack on the film for what they said was the besmirching of the honour.

[bahrbearian]

1. So where was "Vietnam Veterans of America " during

The GOP Convention?

[Cha]

7. Exactly what I was first thinking..

Why didn't we hear about Veterans coming out against the BE-FREAKIN'-SMiRCHING of The Purple Hearts at the gop convention by those stupid fat fucks?

[bornskeptic]

8. here

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Vietnam Veterans of America National President Thomas H. Corey:

Vietnam Veterans of America has received reports of delegates at the Republican National Convention disseminating and wearing "Purple Heart" band-aids in mockery of one of nation's most distinctive honors, the Purple Heart medal.

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest military awards, first introduced in 1782 by Gen. George Washington to honor the service and sacrifice of the common soldier and recognize the spirit of volunteerism and selfless dedication. It was reinstated in 1932. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded by the enemy.

The spirit of the award recognizes the personal sacrifice of our troops without regard to the severity or nature of the wound. It is the wounding itself that merits the honor. To demean the decoration and the sacrifice it symbolizes demeans all veterans and the patriots who honor them.

With our nation's sons and daughters at war to protect global freedom, demeaning military service in this way is especially hurtful. Vietnam Veterans of America urges all Americans to decry this type of outrageous, disrespectful, and infantile behavior.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35484

Of course, if the media don't mention it most people never know.

[submerged99]

9. My reaction as well

The local news ran a story about wedding crashers a week or so ago and the first thing I said was "where were these outraged veterans during the RNC?"

[BikeWriter]

13. This VVA member was writing letters and e-mails, and making phone calls.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Two words:

1. Bull

2. Shit

--p!

[NashVegas]

3. Swifties Again?

oy.

[UpInArms]

4. Delegates mock Kerry with 'purple heart' bandages

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.purple.hearts/

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Delegates to the Republican National Convention found a new way to take a jab at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam service record: by sporting adhesive bandages with small purple hearts on them.

Morton Blackwell, a prominent Virginia delegate, has been handing out the heart-covered bandages to delegates, who've worn them on their chins, cheeks, the backs of their hands and other places.

Blackwell is president of the Leadership Institute, an educational foundation he founded in 1979. According to its Web site, the institute prepares conservatives for success in politics, government and the news media.

Kerry was a decorated Navy officer in Vietnam who became a prominent antiwar activist upon his return home. A group calling itself "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" has accused Kerry of lying to win combat decorations in Vietnam, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

And last week, former Sen. Bob Dole, the party's 1996 presidential nominee, brought more attention to the allegations when he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, "With three Purple Hearts, he never bled that I know of. And they're all superficial wounds."

...more...

These pigs make me :puke:

[Libby2]

5. Too bad

What goes around comes around.

[gratuitous]

6. Now the Purple Heart guys are all upset?

Who woke them up? Because they certainly were asleep last year during the Republican National Convention and all through the 2004 campaign.

But maybe they like George W. Bush because he's created so many new members for their order?

[BikeWriter]

14. You ask who woke them up?

Many of them were protesting that crap!

[Puzzler]

10. Well...

... only Republicans are allowed to be "outraged". If anyone else (ie: non-Republican) is at all bothered by anything... they just "hate America".


-P

[DBoon]

12. or they are being "politically correct"

and showing that they have no sense of humor.

Republicans find kicking the poor and weak very humorous. Don't you?

[DanCa]

11. The following has nothing to do with his service or senatorial record.

Someone should tell John Mccain once you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas.

[JohnKleeb]

15. I didnt know McCain had a cameo in that movie

Carville though doesnt surprise me as he was also in Old School.

[Catchawave]

16. I almost broke a rib from laughing so hard during this

movie. So I may have been being helped off the floor for the 7 seconds McCain/Carville made their cameo?

Is the is the same group that was in SC in 2000? Bastards they were then, now I know they have no sense of humor either :)