Truth should work for Kerry (not turn John Kerry into Bill Clinton/Dukakis

[papau]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/04/27/truth_should_work_for_kerry/


JOAN VENNOCHI
Truth should work for Kerry
By Joan Vennochi | April 27, 2004

THE BUSH campaign is working hard to turn John Kerry into Bill Clinton before finishing him off as Michael Dukakis.

With so many lies emanating from the Oval Office during the Bush years, the Democrats should own the truth issue in this election cycle. But Kerry's proclivity for doubletalk is giving Republicans an opening they don't deserve in their fight to reelect George W. Bush.

The latest example involves an issue that should be completely positive for Kerry -- the medals he won for valor in Vietnam. During a 1971 Vietnam War protest, Kerry threw his own ribbons, as well as medals belonging to two other veterans, over a fence near the Capitol.

At different points in his political career Kerry said different things about the event. Sometimes he implied the medals were his; sometimes he denied it.

Yesterday, during a contentious interview with Charlie Gibson on "Good Morning America," Kerry said what he should have said all those other times. He said there is no distinction between ribbons and medals and that by throwing away his ribbons, he was throwing away his medals.

"We threw away the symbols of war. I'm proud I stood up and fought against it," he told Gibson. Good answer; why not say that every time someone asks what he threw over the fence and why?<snip>

Stop trying to have it both ways, on issues big and small. If you voted against the $87 billion in military aid for Iraq, you did not vote for it. If the Kerry family owns a couple of SUVs, you do, too. Don't make it so ridiculously easy for the GOP to make you look foolish and untrustworthy when Bush is the one who is truly foolish and untrustworthy.<snip>

[Delano]

1. Fair critique.

I really hope somebody in the Kerry camp is listening.

Consistency is the hobgoblin of Dumbya's little mind, but Kerry could do with a bit more of it. Nuance is one thing, but...

[lovedems]

2. We democrats continue to have faith in the system.

It is our down fall every election. Democrats don't sink to gutter politics because we think the nation as a whole are smarter then that. We count on the truth to set us free. Those are not weak ideals and someday they will be popular again.

I am a hopeless idealist and lacking reality?

[papau]

3. Seems the 'toons are making fun of Kerry wants it both ways theme