Rassman on Kerry releasing his reports -

[Mass]

Happy to see they still have his back.

http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1119434618147560.xml&coll=7

IN MY OPINION Jim Rassmann
Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Kerry's records should halt the hate campaign

Yet another political fantasy is playing itself out these days across the country on right-wing blogs and conservative radio and television. Now that Sen. John Kerry has released his full military files, his detractors can't handle the truth they tell. In response, the partisans are churning out more of the same deception and misdirection that they employed to such good effect during last year's presidential campaign.

But the records are clear. As those of us who served with Kerry in Vietnam already knew and have often acknowledged in public, the senator served honorably and with distinction. The records prove what Kerry said all along. There were no hidden bombshells, no contradictory revelations, as the right wing's conspiracy theorists so often alleged.

...

The release of these files should have put an end to our country's bitter return to the days of Vietnam. If nothing else, Kerry's detractors should have been humbled by their repudiation in the official records. But no, the partisan smear operatives just can't let go of their hate. They are hard at work inventing new fantasies and spreading new lies and innuendoes, trying once again to mislead the public. They now claim that Kerry still hasn't released the complete records, despite the fact that the Navy has said unequivocally that he has. For these people, the facts are simply inconvenient and irrelevant.

Those who supported and parroted the lies spread during the campaign -- in particular those who were part of the same unit but never served with Kerry -- should examine their motivations. At the very least, they should think about their commitment to honesty.

....

[blm]

1. This man probably was shocked by what he discovered about the real GOP.

He probably saw less criminal intent and malice when he was a cop in LA.

[karynnj]

2. Thanks for posting this

The memory of the Iowa reunion of Rassmann and Kerry is one of the nicest of the year. The emotions of both were so apparent. I was struck by Kerry's shyness when he was called a hero.

[whometense]

4. My daughter and I,

both Kerry addicts, were watching live on c-span. It was such a powerful and genuine moment that we were both in tears.

[karynnj]

5. It was powerful

I had already decided Kerry was the most qualified (and I loved his courageous stance in the 70s), but I was still watching Dean. That exchange really made me 100% behind Kerry. It also made me read Tour of Duty where I read that the comments of his crew. It impressed me that they trusted and loved him as much as they did - even though some were shocked when he spoke out. (Although later the one Brinkley couldn't find was one of the liars - though his reasons seemed bizarre)

[kerrygoddess]

3. This made my day!

Sandy posted it on LUTD. We met Rassmann in NH. He's very genuine and caring.