"Kerry Demands Bush Prove Guard Service" from the AP's Nedra Pickler

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A44602-2004Apr26?language=printer

By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
Monday, April 26, 2004; 8:13 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. - John Kerry, a decorated Navy veteran criticized by Republicans for his anti-war activities during the Vietnam era, lashed out at President Bush on Monday for failing to prove whether he fulfilled his commitment to the National Guard during the same period.

Conservative critics have questioned whether Kerry deserved his three Purple Hearts for battle wounds, an issue the Democratic presidential candidate sought to put to rest last week by releasing his military records. On Sunday, a top Bush adviser criticized Kerry for leading anti-war protests after he returned from the battlefield.

"If George Bush wants to ask me questions about that through his surrogates, he owes America an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard. Prove it. That's what we ought to have," Kerry told NBC News in an interview. "I'm not going to stand around and let them play games."

Kerry's direct criticism of Bush's Guard record reflected an aggressive strategy to challenge the president. It came as Vice President Dick Cheney used a speech in Missouri to question Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief, and the Bush campaign launched a $10 million television ad campaign criticizing Kerry's Senate votes on weapons systems.

more...

[NMDemDist2]

1. They just showed it on NBC nightly news too

[sniffa]

2. bring it on!

fuck yeah! go john. :D

[cmd]

3. Yes! Go get them, John Kerry

This is what I want to see.

[MikeG]

4. As matcom would say: "AAAAAAA-FUCKING-MENNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I hope I quoted him exactly.

[madeuplikebowie]

5. Its about freakin time!

Hit em where it hurts!

[riverwalker]

6. kickin'

For next time, John: Charlie Gibson was at the University of Michigan and Princeton on a college deferment during the SAME YEARS you were in the jungle. If you want to use your medals to play "pin the tail on the asshole", they are yours to do with as you please.

[balanced]

7. Kerry took the bait, unfortunately.

He should have his surrogates say things like: "If George Bush wants to ask me questions about that through his surrogates, he owes America an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard. Prove it. That's what we ought to have,"

Kerry: please engage brain. Then talk.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. You've got it backwards, unfortunately.

Bush is seizing on a losing issue for him. It's the Bush campaign that can't afford a discussion of Vietnam War, not Kerry.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Why? Kerry, unlike Bush, does not need to hide behing surrogates.

Kerry's on rock solid ground here. He put forth a challenge that Bush and the RNC cannot accept. The next time it comes up, I expect Kerry will turn his rhetoric up another notch. Kerry can debate with the best that the RNC has to offer.

[frylock]

10. i disagree. it's time kerry took a shot at shrub himself..

how is shrubco gonna react to this? Trot out more doctored photos of Kerry hangin with Jane Fonda?

[balanced]

11. You may be right, but I remember how defensive Dukakis was

toward the end. I hope Kerry doesn't make the same mistake. He could make a calmer, above-the-fray statement regarding the "medals" and let his surrogates do the damage.

[w4rma]

12. Republican talking points within the first two paragraphs of the article

as usual.

Heck the whole article spent only a few paragraphs on Kerry's points. Most of it was repeating Republican talking points.

Nedra Pickler strikes again.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Not really.

WHEELING, W.Va. - John Kerry, a decorated Navy veteran criticized by Republicans for his anti-war activities during the Vietnam era, lashed out at President Bush on Monday for failing to prove whether he fulfilled his commitment to the National Guard during the same period.

Conservative critics have questioned whether Kerry deserved his three Purple Hearts for battle wounds, an issue the Democratic presidential candidate sought to put to rest last week by releasing his military records. On Sunday, a top Bush adviser criticized Kerry for leading anti-war protests after he returned from the battlefield.

_______________________________________

I fail to see Republican talking points in these facts she relates--in the second paragraph above--about what the R's are doing to criticize Kerry. It only gives background to where she is headed in the article--Kerry's response to these attacks.

[hippiechick]

14. ... better yet ...

Kerry should have asked WTF Georgie was doing protecting TEXAS from the Commies while his ass was on the line in the jungle !?!?


Quit takin' shit from the GOP, dammit.
Stand up, grab yourself by the cojones and stuff the truth right down their friggin throats ! :mad:


:hippie:

[zulchzulu]

15. Finally!

I've been waiting for this.

Let's see what the AWOL pussy does now.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. That's what we need. Stick it to the $hrub!