Drudge lays out the Anti-Kerry plan

[FunBobbyMucha]

The owner of the world's second largest head (behind the Oxymoron) was overselling this point last night: That Kerry has a quote from the 1992 election 'defending' Clinton's draft dodging (to the effect that so many years later the 60s generation is still having to fight about their individual decisions concerning the Vietnam war). If it was off-limits for Clinton, Drudge surmises, why can Kerry bring it up now in reference to ChimpinCharge? Cranium Magnum promises to repeat this until it is mantra on the right.

Offhand, I would think the fact that Clinton never donned a flight suit and pranced around a carrier might be the distinction, but who am I to question the online Walter Winchell?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I think it is all about walking your talk

If you got deferments, like Cheney, then that's where you were on the Viet Nam debate. But if you signed up for the Guard, that's a whole other ball game. It meant you supported the war, or at least felt you needed to take part in defending it (or used it as an excuse not to go to 'Nam). What you don't do is not fulfill your obligation.

[ithacan]

2. the Repubs are the ones attacking others on military issues

so if they bring it up, it's fair game.

[vi5]

3. Hannity used that the other night....

The fact is that they can spin it all they want, but it's out there. Kerry hasn't really been hammering it and that's smart.

We need to take a lesson from the right on this one. Let the candidate stay somewhat above the fray and let everyone else hammer the issue home.

[59millionmorons]

4. That's it

Well Bush sent 530 Americans soldiers to there death over a lie. Beat that.

[NewJeffCT]

5. 'dodging' is different than desertion

Kerry has said in the past that it was a tough decision and he doesn't begrudge the people that did avoid the draft or that signed up for the Guards.

However, with AWOL, it is an entirely different story. he used his' daddy's influence to skip over the Guard waiting list and then he shirked his responsibility to the Guard by going AWOL and then deserting. Now, AWOL wants to cut combat pay for members of the Guard - this guy just can't stop pissing on the National Guard.

[duhneece]

10. Those are 2 points I keep hammering

1. Bush used his daddy's influence to get into the Guard, ahead of others who scored higher...
2. And then refused to keep his commitment, going AWOL/deserting.

These 2 life choices Bush made shows a complete lack of integrity.

[displacedtexan]

6. Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar.

While studying in England, he did, in fact, register for the draft, which Americans abroad did not have to do. (My SO did the same thing while getting a graduate degree in Germany in the late 60's.)

Perhaps we should find Clinton's draft registration and instigate a media blitz. Now's the time.


Also, why didn't W* get into grad school right after Yale? As I understand it, it was extremely difficult to get into grad school during Vietnam unless you had 'reconciled' your draft status: my SO registered and was 1A for a year (before the lottery) and took his chances; after a year, the status changed to 1H (Holding Status-- already been at risk for a year, which meant that all new 1A's had to be drafted before they got to the H's); after that, grad schools and the peace corps would consider your application.

Clinton was brilliant, and therefore was able, as a Rhodes Scholar, to go into grad school.

We all know how brilliant W was... not.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. I think we should have a seperate post on Clinton's draft registration

because we all know we're gonna be hearing about it from the right pretty soon.

[Woodstock]

7. But Clinton is no longer the issue

Despite the fact that one rabid ditto head in my office claims Clinton is responsible for everything from Iraq to the snowfall we got last month.

I never need to listen or read about Big Fat Idiot AKA Rush Limbaugh - I just read her emails, and know what he's told his thralls to do lately. His default tactic is just say the C word - that sets them off in rabid sound and fury (signifying nothing, but it sure makes a lot of noise, eh?)

She must have sent that Weekly Standard drivel about how they found WMD in Iraq a few months ago halfway around the globe. Funny, I never heard back when it was shown to be a lie.

At the end of the day, after all the spinning has spun, the bare facts remain and they are that Bush went AWOL from a cushy ill-gotten assignment, and Kerry served in combat with distinction.

This is a lose-lose situation for the reich wing. And they know it. All they are trying to do now is scare us off so we won't bring it up.

[betweenwars]

9. "dodge" v. deferment

Don't fall for the language trick:
"Draft dodging" is not the same thing as "Deferment."

Clinton did not dodge the draft. My stepfather went to Canada and snuck around to California, waiting there for the war to end--that's a dodge.

Registering, but achieving a deferment was perfectly legitimate. That Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar should make it all the more respectable (though not for many on the right, I fear, who appear to loathe those who are educated).

If we use the term "dodge" loosely, then they have framed the debate and they win.

On top of that, of course, is the notion that registering for the draft and achieving a deferment is somehow comparable to bagging out of one's commitment to the National Guard. That's a False Analogy.

Mitch

[Moderator]

11. Locking....

Wrong forum.