Bob Dole's ugly partisanship

[Cocoa]

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/index.php?ntid=8907&ntpid=0

When Bob Dole sought the presidency in 1980, 1988 and 1996, he and his supporters reminded voters that he was a decorated World War II veteran. Indeed, in 1996 Dole made his military service a central theme of his campaign against President Bill Clinton.

The high level of emphasis by the Republican presidential nominee on his World War II record was a subtle dig at Clinton, who famously had gone out of his way to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. To his credit, Clinton and his supporters always accorded Dole an appropriate degree of respect for his service and his long fight to recover from wounds suffered in battle - and they wisely avoided any attempt to question the senator's honor, quality of service, sense of duty or postwar statements. It would have been absurd to do so.

Yet Dole has rendered himself every bit as absurd with his attacks on 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's service record. In an apparent effort to pump new life into the now broadly discredited anti-Kerry campaign of the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Dole took an already ugly campaign into a zone that could only be described as grotesque.

Asked about the commendations that Kerry received after being wounded in battle in Vietnam, Dole said of the man with whom he served for more than a decade in the Senate: "Three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds. And as far as I know, he never spent one day in the hospital. I don't think he draws any disability pay. He doesn't have any disability. And (yet Kerry's) boasting about three Purple Hearts when you think of the people who really got shot up in Vietnam."

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[chaumont58]

1. The Dole, Clinton relationship bothers me

I got all wrapped up in the feeding frenzy last weekend over the Swift Boat Liars. Dole's comments were, IMHO, over the top, and not fit for human consumption. If I were a Dem working in DC, I would cross the street to get away from having to even acknowledge Bob Dole's right to breath. Then on Sunday, came announcement for the Clinton Library that Dole would be the first speaker at the library. Shit! That god damn old son of a bitch Dole?! I've had it with the Clintons. Today, Hillary coauthors an article for WaPo with Bill Frist!
It seems to me Dems hold out their hands to Repukes, get shit in their hands for their troubles, then ask for more.
I don't think the Swift Boat Liars are a repuke anomaly. I think they are normal, for Republicans. All Republicans should be treated by all Dems as if they have the plague.

[Cocoa]

2. me too, if Clinton doesn't say anything

time for Bill to repay all the loyalty that the dems have given him through the years.

Dump Dole now!

[Catfight]

3. Dole stands in line with Rupugs slogan as dividing brother against

brother, he refuses to admit he has made a mistake and now all soldiers with medals will be questioned.

Dole is unpatriotic and he hates VETS!