kerry is a military man

[JI7]

don't see how you can compare kerry using the military in his campaign since he was in the military and it's part of him unlike the chimp who is a fraud and went awol from a guard unit that wasn't even going to vietnam. kerry is exposing the chimp for the fraud he is. that's why he talks about the "borrowed" suit and "passenger" in the plane. that's why that bitch joe scarborough got angry at kerry and went as far as to blame kerry for the failed vietnam war. so they say he copies the chimp. yeah, the chimp served in vietnam and was wounded and is a big supporter of the troops and has raised their pay. HAHHAAHAHAHHHA. why should kerry hide his service just because the whore media is jealous and embarrased the chimp went awol?

[BeatleBoot]

1. Sacrifice vs. AWOL

Taking personal responsibility vs. not doing so

Being a man vs. being a sissy.

That's why I am for Kerry.

[JI7]

2. seems some don't get it

that when kerry uses the military in his campaigns he is doing it because he is a part of it. i can't believe some refuse to acknowledge the chimp going awol . and try to compare the chimp's service to kerry's.

[JohnKleeb]

3. comparing those two military service isl ike

comparing Lieberman's "greatness" to Kucinich's.

[Dr Fate]

4. Kerry should always compare his service to Bush's.

The same "liberal media" keeps telling us that "defense" is a HUGE issue- yet from the other side of their mouth, they will act as you predict.

Sooner or later, DEMS need to stoip gauging their behavior based on what the media/GOP will "say about them."

Kerry IS a military hero and defense IS an issue- so why not beat Bush with the Chickenhawk stick???

[JI7]

5. yup,and those who oppose kerry using it

are not even supporting him. those who say his announcement will only hurt him are not even supporting him. so that should actually make them happy anyways. i support him and every other supporter of his i know also likes what he is doing.

[oasis]

6. Being a military hero is a huge positive. Kerry and Clark

will make it a two horse race.

[maggrwaggr]

7. sorry, I think it's lame

There's leadership and there's pandering.

I see Kerry as pandering.

He's going "Look at me, I can look good in uniform. Look at me, I was REALLY in the military. LOOK LOOK LOOK at me."

Sorry, to me he's not a leader.

[JI7]

8. well, he WAS in the military

he doesn't need to pander. he just has to be what he is, which is a military man.

[DJcairo]

9. Exactly

Kerry does not appear overtly political on the stump, he simply rips Bush and lays out a poetic vision for the future of this country. He does not apeal to fee or anger but a wider purpous and Vietnam is very much a part of that. I think Kerry has also learned the lesson of 2004 when people said they really didn't understand who Gore really was. Gore only started emphasizing his Vietnam experience at the end of the campaign and it could have been extrememly useful in netting Gore a few more points. You can bet Chris Lehane hasn't forgotten that.

[JI7]

13. and why clark gets so much attention

his being a military guy, especially a general is why he is getting so much attention. would dean or anyone else consider clark to be a good choice for vp, or a good presidential candidate if not for his military background ? most likely not.

[loyalsister]

10. WAS is the operative word

I have no problem with him being proud of his service, and of course he's going to use it and especially the fact of it and contrast with * in his campaign. But, this sort of propaganda is lame and can also give off the impression of a desparate man craving "the good old days" when he was in the thick of it. Unfortunately, I bet that is how many women will read this kind of stunt. It's not going to fly with educated women. I think he's simply pandering in a very unfortunate way that could backfire with an important voting block.

[JI7]

11. not pandering

being who he is. are they pandering when they go to abortion rights rallies and give their support, or naacp , or hispanic or other groups ? if you don't like the candidate, you are likely to say it's pandering. but i say it's just giving support for something they have always supported, just as kerry is highlighting what he has always been. do you say kucinich is pandering by singing patriotic songs ? or dean by attending that military base ? or edwards and gephardt by bringing up their family members in unions and working class background? if kerry had never been in the military then it would be pandering. but this is a part of him . and he has worked on military issues into his senate career.he worked with clinton on trying to make relations with vietnam better along with mccain , hagel, and other vets.

[JohnKleeb]

12. dont have a problmem with it

[JI7]

15. thank you

and i don't have a problem with kucinich singing patriotic songs. i actually like it when he does that. i was just making a point that when they do these things it's not always "pandering". since they have always done it or supported it and it's part of them. kucinich is taking those songs for himself rather than let the right wing use and abuse it. the difference between right wingers doing it and people like kucinich is they don't just sing the songs, but they actually support policies and fight for what makes those songs so great.

[JI7]

14. "good old days" ? these issues are current

issues concerning the military are recent. such as pay and health care. kerry knows this. it's not just about thinking back to the days of the vietnam war. it's about what is going on with vets right now. and what they need. max cleland will be with kerry also. i think cleland is supposed to introduce kerry.