Should Kerry/Edwards now ask the American people.........

[JLuckey]

why there President was AWOL?

[annxburns]

1. Nope, this smear is backfiring I think ...

... Have Edwards stand up and defend Kerry, point to his band of brothers and say what he said in the commercial and then say "Aren't you sick of it. Aren't you sick of all the mudslinging and negative campaigning" ...

Message consistency

[faithnotgreed]

2. i say no. there are many issues & people are hurting over so many

things. it seems people are responding tremendously to the k/e vision of america, and the rallies are swamped! the convention surely helped (see the latest faux poll!) i think they should focus on the real issues that people want and need resolved

other outlets/people are looking into the awol issue apparently, because i see something about it every once in awhile. let the doubt linger that other people are raising


i just dont want to rock the boat thats going along so well right now! keep it positive and let their surrogates or others raise the uglier issues

[jjmalonejr]

3. Kerry/Edwards should avoid cheap shots

The AWOL charge is out there already.

Those who are not inclined to believe it, already don't and never will (despite the fact that the proof is out there if they want it).

Those who are inclined to believe the crap about Kerry's service that is being circulated now, are going to believe it regardless of whether or not there's any basis for it.

I say dismiss the charges as ridiculous, point to the veterans who served with him and testify to his courage and leadership, and condemn the muckraking and mudslinging of the Bush campaign.

(McCain has already spoken out against it and cautioned Bush about going down that road).

[Booster]

4. Again, if the media were doing their job, Kerry

wouldn't have to mention it; they should.

[jjmalonejr]

5. Mention what? The AWOL charge?

The media HAS mentioned the AWOL charge, numerous times. I know that you and I would like them to scream about it and press every bit of evidence that exists that Bush was AWOL, but that's not what journalists are supposed to do. They aren't supposed to be attack dogs, they are supposed to report the facts.

The sad part is that many people in this country who have heard the charge dismiss it as false, regardless of what's reported. They ignore the details reported, because they don't care about the details. Bush was honorably discharged...that's good enough for them.

For Kerry to press this any further looks just as stupid and desperate as the current "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" crap.