Christmas in Cambodia

[LiberalBushFan]

I seem to have missed the whole Christmas in Cambodia deal. But right now I'm having an argument and it's been brought up. I searched for it but could only find a Washington Times Editorial and other right-wing sources, and something printed in the Telegraph. Is the Telegraph a neutral source, or is there somewhere else I should look? Thanks all.

[wurzel]

1. Apparently Kerry claimed he was in Cambodia during Christmas.

In bio some book. The book was later corrected to read he was actually there in January. To Drudge this is the same as being AWOL.

[olddem43]

2. Didn't he notice that the Xmas decorations had been taken down?

And I'm sure the rivers and jungles are well marked so you always know exactly where you are. If not, why didn't he just look at his GPS unit?

[ochazuke]

3. Another right-wing smear

Kerry seems to have mentioned it twice, most recently 18 years ago. It turns out that he wasn't in Cambodia on 12/25, but maybe a few days later in January. Certainly he was there in January, and also there in February. He was on dangerous missions to deliver CIA and SEAL guys into Cambodia.

No big deal really. But bushbackers think they got us on this one. Hahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahah.

[LiberalBushFan]

6. Cool, thanks.

Are there any online sources that confirm it?

[ochazuke]

9. Here's where I got the information

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_08/004505.php

On edit, I'm adding this snippet from the end of the above-referenced article that sums up this whole thing:

****
So let me get this straight. Kerry did go to Cambodia — even though that was supposedly impossible, he did take CIA guys in — even though that was supposedly absurd, and he did get a hat from one of them — even though that was supposedly a sign of mental instability. The extent of Kerry's malfeasance is that instead of doing it in December, he actually did it in January and February.

Considering that he's mentioned this story only twice, most recently 18 years ago, and it turns out that his only crime is to have tarted it up with a bit of holiday pathos, I think I'll pass on following it any further down the Swift Vets rabbit hole. But thanks to everyone who displayed their deep unseriousness about this election by participating in this smear. It will be remembered.
****

Oh, and thanks to talkingpointsmemo.com for leading me to this succinct little post. You can still find the reference on the home page.

[farmbo]

4. 2000 campaign redeaux...Press will ignore Bush's big lies...

...and fixate on our guy's itty bitty lies.

[LiberalBushFan]

5. Damn. I see two million sources saying he is lying.

And two sources saying he was there, and they're blogs. The campaign better put something out on this, and soon, as they say it's a central claim of the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush.

[oasis]

8. Swift Boat liars can shove it up their asses. Kerry doesn't need to lower

himself to please those right wing nut jobs. Or any other two bit whacko who comes down the pike with a spurious claim.

[El Supremo]

7. Well, it is another Vietnam accusation.

Even my local paper's editorialist had a column on it. And he has been known to be more in favor of the left than the right.

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=16&SubSectionID=58&ArticleID=7858

I just wish everyone would stop attacking the candidates' Vietnam record. Whether Bush was AWOL, Kerry threw away someone else's medals, Cheney's deferment or even Mohamed Ali's Conscientious Objection.

It serves no purpose except to sling 35 year old shit.