In Iowa Fight, Kerry Wields War Record, Calls on Veterans to Support Him

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Six days before the first delegates of the 2004 presidential campaign are chosen, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) made an emotional visit Tuesday to a veterans' memorial hall here, framing his bid for the White House as the logical continuation of a lifetime of service.

"I'm asking the veterans of Iowa and this country to come here and join in this effort, because this is our continuing mission here at home -- our mission, our responsibility to our brothers in arms, to our sisters in arms and to the future" said Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who is in the political fight of his life. "We have a great obligation ahead of all of us, which is to have a president who in a very dangerous world is prepared to remember and apply the lessons learned of war."

<snip>

"We are at war in a way that has overextended our troops and put them at greater risk than they needed to be because of arrogance, the same kind of arrogance that guided us during that time in Vietnam," he said in a somber 25-minute address.

<snip>

On stage Kerry was surrounded by veterans, including Gene Thorson, from Ames, Iowa, who operated the machine gun on Kerry's 50-foot aluminum gunboat 30 years ago. Aides chose this city in northeastern Iowa because of its ties to the five Sullivan brothers -- all killed in World War II. He was introduced by Richard Bolanos, one of four brothers who served in Vietnam and came to Iowa to stump for him. When asked why they would travel from their homes in El Paso to join the political fray in chilly Iowa, he said the answer involved both Bush and Democratic front-runner, Howard Dean.

"We don't think as the president you should just put on the military garb, land on an aircraft carrier and play the part, if, when your country called, you weren't willing to be a part of it," he said.

"We don't feel you should seek a deferment from military service" at a time of war "and use your back as an issue and end up in Colorado skiing . . . while your fellow brothers and sisters and your fellow patriots are dying in a war outside of our country," he said, mentioning Dean by name. "We don't feel we can back up a person like that."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14366-2004Jan13.html

[Maddy McCall]

1. I really like Kerry.

He is my second choice. I teetered between him and Clark for the longest.

I think he would make a great president. He or Clark are just about equally esteemed in my view.

[Democrats unite]

2. Kerry is a good man I give him my regards.

eom

[revcarol]

3. He's not the only candidate that's good for vets.+

So instead of the race card, he pulls the vet card.

Hell, you don't have to be a vet to pull for vets. I've busted my butt off for vets, and I'm just a woman, non-vet.

I like him, but this is just over the top.

[kerrygoddess]

4. What the heck does the race card have do with this?

[revcarol]

5. Instead of "vote for me because I'm a certain race,"

he does,"vote for me because I'm a vet." Several of the candidates are just as good for vets, and better toward AD personnel.

So flame me.

[sandnsea]

6. Yeah, Kerry's been ignoring vets his whole life

That's why 10,000 have pledged to caucus for him. I'd tell you what's over the top, but I'd get put in "time out".

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Yeah Kerry has some nerve tooting his own horn like that

the gall of the guy, here he is running for President, talking about his own accomplishments, and rallying people who've undergone similar experiences to support him.

That really is over the top. lol