Bush Campaign Denies Kerry Accusation

[bigtree]

By NEDRA PICKLER
http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2004/02/23/ap/Headlines/d80smk980.txt

George W. Bush's presidential campaign told John Kerry it "does not condone" any effort to impugn his patriotism but asserted that senator's voting record on national security and defense issues is a valid target of political scrutiny.

Responding Sunday to a letter in which Kerry accused President Bush of using surrogates to attack his military service in Vietnam and his subsequent opposition to the war, Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign chairman Marc Racicot said, "I ask you to elevate the remarkably negative tone of your campaign and your party over the past year."

In the letter to Bush Saturday, Kerry wrote: "As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and painful period in our nation's history, and the struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been hard to believe that you would choose to reopen these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do."

"Saxby Chambliss, on the part of the president and his henchmen, decided today to question my commitment to the defense of our nation," Kerry said while campaigning in Georgia, one of 10 states choosing electoral delegates on March 2.

[bluestateguy]

1. "It does not condone"

Which means it does not condemn it either. How's that for the Administration of moral clarity folks!

[Cloud]

2. yeah

They are reopening the wounds of Vietnam. I see Hannity screeching on TV every night about Kerry and Jane Fonda. They attack his patriotism because he protested Vietnam.

So what? 30 years later we now know the protesters were right. Vietnam was a useless war. 58,000 Americans died for nothing. We were never supposed to be there in the first place. If a country wants to be communist and have a state run economy so what? It is their choice and it is not worth 58,000 lives.

Funny they are attacking the protesters of Vietnam just like the protesters of Iraq. What is with republicans and useless wars?

[bearfartinthewoods]

5. errrr......didn't kerry say, over and over, bring it on?

he's the one pushing the vietnam buttons.

[emulatorloo]

6. If Kerry is pushing the vietnam buttons, it is because it is a losing

issue for GWB.

Who is the world believes that the Vietnam war was a good thing? Only people who would never vote Dem anyway.

BTW read the whole press release and letter at johnkerry.com. It is worth the time spent. Kerry is pretty clear that the campaign ought to be about the present and the future, but there are some realllllllly goooood slams at Bush in this.

<snip>

I am fighting to become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.  Even before Democrats make their choice, you’ve launched a campaign of attacks against me.  I am determined to run a campaign on the great challenges facing this country-- from creating jobs, to solving our health care crisis to getting our nation's ballooning deficit under control. But I will not sit back and allow my patriotism to be challenged.

America deserves a better debate.  If you want to debate the Vietnam era, and the impact of our experiences on our approaches to presidential leadership, I am prepared to do so. 

This is not a debate to be distorted through your $100 million dollar campaign fund. This is a debate that should be conducted face to face.

<snip>

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0221d.html

[WiseMen]

8. Corp Media Doesn't mention the coordinated Internet Slime on Internet

so the complaint looks unjustified.

For those who don't know, there is a major slime campaign on going
in RW circles re Kerry Nam experience mainlly throught anonymous
email.

[The Magistrate]

3. This Promises Big Fun Down The Line, Mr. Tree

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[bigtree]

4. The new ad campaign that Bush will unleash tomorrow

will have his signiature on them.

Chambliss. Shows what flunly bunglers this Bush campaign crew will hire to throw their mud. He is such an easy target. They have an inflated view of their power to smear and distract. The public gets more media savvy each term, and we have a good head start with our alternative web.

[bigtree]

7. Kick

:kick:

[Imajika]

9. The more I hear of Kerry's early 70's...

...testimony and see the list of weapons systems he has opposed throughout his Senate career, the more I hope Edwards wins the nomination.

Infact, I increasingly believe that Kerry will be a disaster of a nominee.

Right now Kerry appears to be doing well, but I just have a feeling a majority of Americans are not going to react well to the sorts of things he said before Congress during his VVAW days. That rhetoric may be popular on DU, but it won't be to most Americans. Further, being on record and having voting against (straight from the Washington Post today) the B-1 bomber, the B-2, the F-15, the F-14A, the F-14D, the AH-64 Apache helicopter, the AV-8B Harrier jet, the Patriot missile, the Aegis air-defense cruiser and the Trident missile are not going to be popular positions. Especially when considering the US used most of these weapons systems and platforms successfully in several conflicts now. I don't believe a majority of Americans will support a nominee with such a record of opposing American military weapons that now constitute the backbone of our national defense.

I think a Kerry nomination could well be a complete trainwreck.

I will support Kerry if he wins the nomination, but I believe Edwards is our best bet to beat Bush.

Imajika