Joe Wilson's Letter in Support of John Kerry

[DJcairo]

I'm not a politician and I'm not a political partisan. I've served under Presidents from both parties. My loyalty has always been to country and constitution.
The first President Bush appointed me as Ambassador to two African countries and President Clinton put me in charge of African Affairs at the National Security Council. So when this President Bush's Administration sent me to Africa to investigate claims that Saddam Hussein was seeking to buy materials for weapons of mass destruction, I was ready to serve.

But I wasn't ready to keep quiet when this President misled the nation in his State of the Union Address. Because of that, leakers in the Bush White House illegally revealed that my wife worked in the CIA - endangering her life and that of my family. They tried to intimidate me and others who were willing to speak up and tell the truth.

Some people have said I was courageous to speak truth to the power of the Bush White House. But let me tell you, what I have done doesn't hold a candle to the courage that John Kerry showed as a young man and throughout his political career. I am supporting him for President because he has been willing to tell the truth no matter what the pressure. He is ready to restore truth and honor to the White House. And I hope that everyone else who is outraged by this Administration and who wants to change America will join me in doing all you can to make John Kerry our next President.

snip>

In deciding on the best candidate to support in next year's election, I looked for qualities that are important in a President: leadership, experience and courage. There are many candidates who possess admirable traits but only one who has summoned the nerve to stand up to our government and for what's right over and over again: John Kerry.

To speak out against bad policies after a career of accomplishments, as I recently did, is a civic duty. To do so as a young person, as John Kerry did, in the face of the unremitting official hostility to end a bad war, is truly inspiring. John Kerry didn't have to go to Vietnam. He volunteered and served bravely earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. And when he came home as a decorated hero, he didn't have to fight the war. But John Kerry helped lead the fight to end the war, he earned the wrath of Richard Nixon and his cronies, and he won the respect of Americans for his courage.

http://www.restorehonesty.com/

[polpilot]

1. Johnn Kerry went to Viet Nam and killed many people and I believe he

needs credit for his 'kills'.

Dean '04... The New Democratic leader of the NEW Democratic Party.

P.S. He has killed no people. No Vietnamese. He is no 'killer'.

[Pez]

2. wow

are you willing to go further in your slander of all the individuals sent abroad to protect our nation-- the one that allows you to slander whomever you please?

one word that comes to mind is "spoiled".

[Name removed]

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[Pez]

4. so you're saying every vet is a criminal?

[Name removed]

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[Pez]

28. ||: slander, spin, genuflect :||

if you simply want to bash kerry, you could pick another topic. attacking me, an individual on a message board, vomiting up things like "you support the vietnam war" is absurdly comical, to put it mildly. you can't hold people accountable for fighting for a war, for OUR country-- especially kerry who returned from the war and protested the atrocities. maybe as a deaniac you could come up with a better strategy... especially since when dean's family and friends were risking, losing their lives, he was kicking it in aspen.

i don't think being a war hero automatically promotes you to president, but it shouldn't be used against you either. especially in the repuke tone you are twisting it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. John Kerry was a war hero and an anti-war hero

What's your claim to fame?





And your candidate? What was he doing?

[Name removed]

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[MrPeepers]

8. This is disgusting.

His nation sent him to Vietnam. Would it have been a better idea for him to stand there with his arms wide waiting for someone to shoot HIM? That's the thing about war, people are shooting at you too. Talk about how horrible killing people is all you want, and it is wrong to kill, but to say that a member of the armed services engaged in combat with the enemy should refrain from shooting the people who are trying to kill him and his fellows is wrong.

Peepers

[kwolf68]

12. Because Kerry has been to war

He not only knows the dignity that comes from it, but the horror of it. In this day and age, Kerry's first hand account of battlefield death, brotherhood and leadership gives him a decided advantage over Dr. Dean.

Military credentials ARE IMPORTANT in this nation at this time. Kerry is considered an American Hero. Not my words...Just going by the metal he has.

The attacks on Kerry by said Dean people are not unlike Saxby Chambliss' attacks on Max Cleland. Only difference is these people are allegedly Democrats. I expect Repukes to be dirt bags who play this game.

[polpilot]

18. He could have gone skiing. FAR better idea. He was young, though.

Dean '04...

[MrPeepers]

21. Yes, he actually could have.

He didn't have to serve, but he decided to go to Vietnam to fight for his country in a time when it needed him. I'd take a man who goes to war for his country and does what he has to to prevent the deaths of his countrymen over one who stays home and goes skiing while his countrymen die in a jungle hell half way around the world any day.

Peepers

[cindyw]

30. Oh my God!

You trash Kerry all the time and then act disgusting, while touting Dean. You make him look bad. It's a good thing descent Dean supporters are not like you.

[blm]

6. Yes...some people do act "spoiled" here.

They want all of us old values Democrats to drop off and go away while the New "Libertarian" Democrats elbow their way.

[Pez]

7. vote howard stern-- president, 2k4!!!!!!!

he is like, so not washington insider, like, ya know?

he would be governer of ny if had run, seriously. i'm not impressed-- except with him, for refusing to run.

[Name removed]

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[paulk]

27. Actually, I have three candidates

I used to have four.

One of the criteria I use in determining who I will support is how I feel about a candidate's supporters. There is a cadre of Dean sycophants on this board who have gone a long toward dropping my consideration of Howard Dean from "maybe" to "no". You are one of the worst.

I don't recall ever seeing a post from you that added anything to a discussion. Your "arguments" are childish and not worth even responding to.

And as for responding to me, don't bother. I've put you on ignore.

[kwolf68]

10. Great

First response to a nice thread about Kerry is by Dean person who denigrates Kerry with nothing but the musings of a fool.

And these morons think Dean is always bashed.

[Octafish]

11. How do you know Dean's never killed?

Doctors bury their mistakes.

[kwolf68]

13. Because

Dean walks on water. Whatever he says they believe. Whatever group endorses him is great. Ones that don't suck. If he joins the NRA, so will I. If he joins NOW, so will I. If he becomes a Green, I will too. And so if he becomes a Libertarian so will I. If he becomes socialist, why not. And if he becomes a Republican I may just join with him, because after all Dean is great because I say so.

[Pez]

14. brady campaign says...

...DEAN IS WRONG FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

[George_Bonanza]

29. Now now

There's no need to sink to his level. Anybody who jumps to the conclusion that seeing Kerry as a war hero means supporting the Vietnam War is missing a few synapse connections.

[Pez]

15. not to be sidetracked...

...great quote from wilson:

"Some people have said I was courageous to speak truth to the power of the Bush White House. But let me tell you, what I have done doesn't hold a candle to the courage that John Kerry showed as a young man and throughout his political career. I am supporting him for President because he has been willing to tell the truth no matter what the pressure. He is ready to restore truth and honor to the White House. And I hope that everyone else who is outraged by this Administration and who wants to change America will join me in doing all you can to make John Kerry our next President."

coming from a man whose life and that of his family has been put in danger by BUSH INC...

again:

"...join me in doing all you can to make John Kerry our next President."

[blm]

35. Wilson's family and Kerry's family are both targets of the BFEE.

I think that's why the good guys in the intel community are lining up behind Kerry. That's their BEST way to take BushInc. down....in an election.

[sandnsea]

31. What a sad, sad thread

Joe Wilson and his wife are dedicated public servants and have suffered under George Bush. They were courageous to come out and begin exposing this Administration, and it was likely a decision made by the both of them. Who knows whether she put her life in danger or what she did in the course of her work. People serve their country in many ways, at different times, protesting Vietnam and even serving in Vietnam. Amb. Wilson endorsed Kerry and there's no decent reason to take this endorsement and the actions of two American heroes and turn it into this kind of despicable discourse.

[JI7]

34. i wonder

i clicked on this thread and saw a bunch of deleted messages with names removed. i wonder how nasty it got. probably a good thing i didn't see it all.

[Name removed]

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[DannyRed]

33. Man o man

Apparently the wording of my previous post was not sufficiently nice.

Trying again!

*****************

First:

Let me say that I respect Kerry, and, while I am deeply critical of his IWR vote, and think that it either denotes naivete, inattention, or poor grasp of the wording of the Resolution and the intentions of the GWB cabal, I DO think that Kerry is a good man, a good congressman, and a would be a very good president, if nominated and elected.

Second:

I also think that Joe Wilson is a courageous and dedicated public servant who has done good things for this country, and his endorsement of Kerry is wonderful for Kerry and a powerful attraction for many. Kudos to Kerry, use it well, and pay attention when Joe Wilson speaks.

Third:

I am a Dean supporter, and I think, based on my own reasoning and reading of the issues, watching the campaigns, reading up on Dean's record in VT, that Dean will make a better candidate than Kerry. On my grading scale, Bush gets a big goose egg, Kerry gets a B, and Dean gets a B+. I would have loved to have Wilson endorse Dean, but he didn't...oh well...

Fourth, and most importantly for THIS (miserable) thread:

A nameless Supporter of the Candidate I support should remind him or herself that such attacks as those you ave engaged in do not reflect well on you, on your candidate of choice, or on any others who support the same candidate...(insert appropriately forceful words here). This nameless Supporter of the Candidate I Suport should reflect on the positive aspects of his/her own candidate, should ruminate on the fact that regardless of their differences, Kerry and Dean agree a lot more than they differ, and both are orders of magnitude better than Bush. Lieberman would be orders of magnitude better than Bush. Same for Clark/Gep/Edwards/Kucinich/Braun/Sharpton.

Please, nameless supporter of the candidate I support, tone down your attacks, please do not make the candidate I support look bad, do not make ME look bad, and do not make yourself look bad by engaging in such baseless and unsubstantiated smears.

Thank you.

Please note, I appreciate the vehemence, I simply wish that it was more properly focused and directed in positive directions.