Veterans may be ace up DLCer Kerry's sleeve

[Freddie Stubbs]

Published January 29, 2004


Anger. It's a theme that just won't go away in this year's presidential race. Rising anger at President Bush may turn out to be a statistical blip. Or it may be a building force that wrecks his re-election.

But it is front-runner John Kerry's hug of one Vietnam vet in particular that captures the imagination. And it is Kerry's rising support from veterans that surely must worry former Gen. Wesley Clark and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, both counting on upcoming primary elections in the veteran-rich South to pull them ahead of third place.

It was in Iowa that Kerry met for the first time the former Green Beret he rescued in 1969, a feat that earned Kerry a Bronze Star. James Rassmann has become Kerry's lucky charm, campaigning for the man who pulled him out of the Bay Hap River, the hero who refused to leave anyone behind.

As in Iowa, Kerry transformed himself in New Hampshire. No longer seen as just another Washington insider who says whatever the polls tell him he should say, Kerry wowed crowds by talking about his struggles in the jungles of Nam and his commitment as a senator to never have this nation get into a war it couldn't win.

more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edpmarquez29012904jan29,1,5962798.story

[eileen_d]

1. Come on... is "DLCer" really in that article headline?

I don't want to register to view it, so I can't check for myself.

[zulchzulu]

No, this poster uses that as a jibe against Kerry and Edwards

Pretty transparent stuff...

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Actually, I use it as a compliment

I like the DLC.

[Democrats unite]

11. Have you ever heard of the little wooden man...

That has a very long nose?

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. I am completely serious

I am a centrist Democrat. I prefer Joe Lieberman to Dennis Kucinich. I support free trade.

Do I sound like someone who doesn't like the DLC?

[auntpattywatty]

2. He was a soldier 30 nyears ago that does not have anything to do with now

[eileen_d]

4. Let me guess... you're not in the military.

I don't think military service is a "must" for presidential candidates, but it's nothing to write off so dismissively.

[dreissig]

3. The Real John Kerry

Veterans aren't necessarily going to support wishy-washy John Kerry, a career politician who changes positions with each shift in the winds. He was once gung ho for the Vietnam War, then he disowned it. Then he went back to being a proud veteran. Will the real John Kerry please stand up?

[girl gone mad]

5. I don't know any southern vets who support him.

many think he betrayed them after Vietnam.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Ever hear of Max Cleland?

He has endorsed Kerry and is from the South.

[jsw_81]

16. Many southern vets=Republicans freepers

[eileen_d]

6. Oh no... a CAREER POLITICIAN!

Lock the doors and hide your daughters!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. Just for you... someone on your side

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0104/29garlock.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. I'm a vet and won't vote for Kerry.

The real heroes of the Vietnam war were in prison for refusing to serve.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. So would you be unfit to hold public office

since you served in the military rather than in jail?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Did I say that? Funny I can't seem to find that in the post.

Being a vet doesn't entitle anyone to anything more than some benefits like the GI bill or a VA loan. It neither qualifies or disqualifies anyone from anything.

As a vet, I find Kerry's parading around his vet status repugnant. He went to Vietnam willingly and was pro-war. He returned from Vietnam and became anti-war. Big deal. So did a lot of other vets.

I said, that the real heroes of the Vietnam war were in prison for refusing to go and kill people. How you can spin that into "disqualifying vets" takes some real gymnastics. About the same amount as justifying Kerry's pro-war vote into an anti-war statement.

[waldenx]

12. that last sentence is hilarious

"his commitment.. to never get into a war it couldn't win."
What a scum bag.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. He's a scum bag for not wanting to send soldiers into an unwinnable war?

Sounds like a smart man to me.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. Really.

and if he's really smart he'll get us OUT of the drug war.