Max Clelland: "Cheney dodged service, Kerry dodged real bullets"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://blog.johnkerry.com/rapidresponse/archives/003183.html#more

Veterans Respond to Cheney Attacks on Kerry’s Service, Ask Where Was Cheney?

Veterans Advocate Bobby Muller, former Georgia Senator Max Cleland and Iraqi Freedom Veteran Jeremy Broussard issued the following statements today in response to attacks by Dick Cheney on John Kerry’s service:

Statement from Veterans Advocate Bobby Muller:

“While US servicemen are dying in Iraq, Vice President chooses to focus on gutter politics. Cheney revealed his true colors, in a desperate attack on John Kerry and those of us who served our country in Vietnam and worked to save the lives of other men. “It is mind-boggling that Dick Cheney, who benefited from five deferments, is criticizing the service of a decorated combat veteran. “Let’s get something straight: Cheney chose not to serve. He actively avoided service to his country. Like this President and many other members of this Administration, Cheney ‘had better things to do’ when soldiers like me were sent to war.”

Statement from Senator Max Cleland:

“Vice President Cheney is scrambling to cover up George Bush’s failures in Iraq by taking a cheap shot at John Kerry’s military service. “Dick Cheney and his friends just don’t get it, but America’s veterans do. It is despicable that a man who refused to even set foot in Vietnam would make these personal attacks on bonafide combat veteran of the war John Kerry. While Dick Cheney was devising ways to dodge service, Senator Kerry was dodging real bullets.”

Statement from Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran Jeremy Broussard:

“When he was my age, Vice President Dick Cheney consistently chose political ambition over military service. Just as it was 30 years ago, it is apparent what Dick Cheney's priorities are - he doesn’t care about those on the frontlines. “As far as I’m concerned, Cheney’s statements about John Kerry are smokescreen for his own failure to address a deteriorating situation in Iraq. My friends are fighting and dying in Iraq and the Vice President still has no plan to win the peace in Iraq.”

DICK CHENEY – HAD OTHER PRIORITIES

CHENEY RECEIVED FIVE DEFERMENTS. Dick Cheney had four student deferments, despite dropping out of college twice, and one for having his first child. In 1967, Cheney was 26 and no longer eligible for the draft. Cheney once stated that he had “other priorities in the 60’s than military service.”

CHENEY'S DEFERMENT CHRONOLOGY RAISES QUESTIONS. Cheney received five deferments from 1963-1966: four 2-S student deferments and one under the 3-A classification – "registrant with a child or children; or registrant deferred by reason of extreme hardship to dependents." In his Senate confirmation hearing, Cheney said he "would have obviously been happy to serve had I been called," but a look at his activities from the Fall of 1959 until he turned 26 (and thus was ineligible for the draft) in 1967 suggest he may have actively avoided the draft:

Fall ‘59: Cheney entered Yale.

6/14/62: Cheney withdrew from Yale.

1/63: Cheney entered Casper Community College.

8/7/64: Congress approved Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

5/19/65: Cheney received his B.A. after six years of study at three colleges, Cheney received 1-A draft classification -- meaning he was "available for military service."

7/28/65: President Johnson announced draft calls would be doubled.

10/26/65: Selective Service lifted ban against drafting childless married men.

1/19/66: Cheney applied for 3-A status; Lynne was roughly 10 weeks pregnant.

7/28/66: Cheney's daughter Elizabeth was born -- nine months and two days after the ban on drafting childless married men was lifted.
Posted on October 7, 2004 at 06:45 PM

[Lorien]

1. Great quote!

would look great on a protest sign.