Is this true? (Kerry 1971 speech shown to POW's)

[Killarney]

A repuke has claimed to me that Kerry's 1971 testimony (regarding the atrocities) was shown to POW's in Vietnam and used against them. I'm thinking it's not true because firstoff... was the testimony even televised back then? Secondly, did they have TV's and satellite cable in the jungle to show the POW's this speech? It just rings untrue to me. I checked snopes and they don't have anything.

Anyone know?

[Renew Deal]

1. Ask for proof.

Republicans lie. If that's true, it should be well documented.

[Cocoa]

2. not true

always assume these things are not true, until they prove it to you.

[edison1958]

3. I think it was....

videotaped...that's how it was on the newscasts. First I have heard about it possibly being shown to POW's though......

[LuLu550]

4. I find it hard to believe

Everything was on film back then. Even the coverage we got here in the states about what was going on over there was on film, flown back within 48 hours or so. I'm not sure how they would have gotten it.

It sounds like the kind of crap the Freepers make up to make Kerry look bad.

[Onlooker]

5. Isn't the main point that the antiwar movement saved 1000s of lives?

I just don't get where these Republicans are coming from. The anti-war movement, of which Kerry was a part, saved thousands of American lives. If it wasn't for the anti-war movement, we'd probably still be over there. China used to say that it had an army of 200,000,000 people ready to defend Vietnam. The war was a waste of human life and accomplished nothing good. If antiwar speeches were used as propaganda by the Vietcong it still doesn't detract from the fact that the antiwar movement saved thousands and thousands of lives.

[noahmijo]

6. He's using the standard Repub lie on this issue

The Republican lie on this issue is that Kerry went before the public, or on tv or however they feel like putting it that day, and accused his fellow soldiers of committing horrible acts ect.

The truth is he read testimonials from OTHER soldiers which were based on accounts THEY had seen.

That's where the Repubs get the ability to twist this story into creating a "Hanoi Kerry" complex.

Add this one to the growing list of RW lies about Kerry.

[Ready4Change]

7. I don't know about the truth of it.

I do think this is clearly part of a strategy to connect Kerry with Jane Fonda in the minds of many right wingers. She is perhaps the only woman to rival Hillery in the amount of right wing hatred aimed her way.

It is known that Jane Fonda was used against American POW's. It's not inconcievable that Kerry's remarks and speaches could have been used in the same way. But I don't know if they actually WERE or not.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. Good point. Rove is using "Kerry = Hanoi Jane = Traitor" formula

to try to discredit Kerry's achievements in Vietnam and the anti-war movement. Since the only thing * has to run on is being a self-proclaimed "war-time president", they've got to smear Kerry in the minds of the undecided. This is the only way they'll be able to use the footage of * prancing around in his flight suit.

Have you noticed all the trolls who have suddenly appeared to try to discredit Kerry's Vietnam service? Fortunately, unlike * Kerry can document his service. The more they try to tear him down the worse *'s hiding in the Guard looks.

Bring 'em on!

[Bandit]

9. It should have cheered them up if anything

If such a thing were actually true I would think they would be cheered up by knowing people were doing all they could to get all of our troops home as quickly as possible. What Kerry said certainly could not hurt the POWs in any manner because it definitely had the effect of shortening the war.

[emulatorloo]

10. Anybody who thinks Vietnam was a "good idea" isnt voting Dem anyway n/t