"Isn't it true that they just don't like his anti-war activities"?

[MoonRiver]

Andrea Mitchell said this, or a close facsimile, on Hardball tonight. TELL IT LIKE IT IS HARDBALL!! That is exactly what this sick vendetta is all about among those swift boat anti-Kerry bottom feeders. Plus, they're probably getting some Scaife bucks for time and effort "compensation".

[olddem43]

1. I think it's more that they don't like his politics.

It's the fact that he is a Democrat that is really behind this. If he was a Repug this never would come up.

[MoonRiver]

2. Of course if he were a Repuke he wouldn't have demonstrated against VN.

[NavajoRug]

3. Well, it's kinda hard to blame them . . .

. . . isn't it?

I mean -- if I had spent 7 years in a POW camp I think I'd be a little pissed off, too.

[MoonRiver]

7. Which one of them spent 7 years in a VN camp?

Also, if I were a rational person, which I believe I am :D although I didn't go there thank the good Lord, I'd be much more p.o.'d at the corrupt US government which sent me there in the first place.

[NavajoRug]

8. I thought one of those guys . . .

. . . was listed as a POW from 1966-72. Maybe I'm getting him confused with Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton.

[MoonRiver]

9. I have no clue. I'm relying on the kindness of strangers to inform moi!

"STELLA"!!!

[blondeatlast]

11. Excuse me, but...

:wtf:

[Cocoa]

14. they have the right to be slimeballs

that's what they fighting for, right?

[volosong]

4. THEY REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS POLITICS

They are still carrying deep emotional wounds from the Vietnam era.

They are reacting from emotion, not reason, and I don't think most know the details of John Kerry's political views, nor do they care.

[bluedog]

5. then they should

attack colon powell..he was involved with My Lai ...oh wait he tried to cover up the massacure........

[vetwife]

6. They are trying to dismiss his truth in the 1971 hearings

My vet was over there in 71 and was grateful as he didn't want to be the last man to die over there. He knew John Kerry spoke the truth and these guys don't want to deal with that reality ! They are in complete denial !

[Leilani]

10. Yes, that is what it is...

I have seen interviews where they admitted this.

They used the lies about medals, etc to get attention.

But the 2nd commercial, with Kerry testifying to Congress is what they are motivated by. There is still huge anger out there among some.

By lying & smearing Kerry, however, they lose any credibility their complaints may have had. They could have had an honest debate, but I believe the Bush people are using these people to destroy Kerry.

I think some of them are pawns & are too stupid the realize it.

[MoonRiver]

12. This will turn out to be a gift to the Kerry campaign.

Even the regular suspects, e.g. Chris Matthews, can't stomach such an assault on our military. Because, let's face it, if Kerry's medals mean shit, then every other decorated veteran is suspect. We're living in totally INSANE times folks. These fascist pigs will stop at NOTHING to maintain their power hold.

[Sugarbleus]

13. It's about politics...but many don't like him for his anti war

stance when he came back from VN. However, there were zillions of vets and others who spoke up about the waste in that war also...not just Kerry. McNamara came out years later and said "it was a mistake".
MLK was against the "conflict" (can't actually call it war even though it was)

The biggest problem with VN was the government going in there in the first place; the governments lies about the need for it, it's complicity with covert ops and CIA skullduggery IN CAMBODIA where we weren't suppose to be. Kerry just spoke the truth, albeit a bit harshly and for which he has re canted somewhat..it was the truth and the "God and Country" types: blood, gore, and guts and veins in my teeth nationalistic types HATED that anyone would dare to speak out about our precious government and it's involvement at that time.

Remember, these guys who are in the smear Kerry ads are all white, gung ho, money makers and, most likely, bigots.

Not ALL of the military personnel were involved in atrocities; many were forced into situations, many wigged out, many never even saw combat. Some stuff just happens in war zones. Kerry wasn't against soldiers, was against the policies that set up scenarios like he saw in Nam. Hell, congress never even called Nam a WAR. They didn't prepare for what they got themselves into anymore than Bush has prepared or researched what he's gotten us into in Iraq.

IT'S POLITICS FOLKS....and a smoke screen for NOT talking about Iraq and what's happening right now on our domestic side.

[Sparkly]

15. I think he's a scapegoat for their anger

It was a very unpopular war. There was a huge youth counter-culture going on, and many people were *not* receptive to returning vets. They even looked uncool -- short hair. They were the willing pawns of the government and all that. Remember, "What if they gave a war and nobody came?" Well, they went, so they were complicit. There was a zeitgeist that was really that extreme.

So these men were enraged, and Kerry was their perfect scapegoat -- he was getting media attention, even Senators were impressed with him, he was launching a political career, he was educated, smart and well-spoken, and he had a following.

And they decided he was the cause of the anti-military sentiment they'd confronted instead of getting a hero's welcome home.

They DECIDED that he made up accusations and testified in an effort to smear all soldiers.

It's a lie, but 34 years later, they're still hanging onto that as the only thing that could redeem their false pride in a bad war the country came to hate.

[Sugarbleus]

16. Yes, you are right. There was an element during that time

that pissed even me off. I was NEVER anti soldier...only anti Viet Nam war. That was the damnedable part of the whole scene then. Of course the media then, as now, and the powers that be "transformed" the whole movement into a radical, communist backed "plot". Rarely did we see the mother's and middle americans who also protested..the church leaders and "normal" citizens who wanted us out of there.

It was a screwed up time with many mixed messages. The returning troops were spit upon by young, empty headed idealists. Lot's of civil unrest and underground "monkey warfare" going on.

The greater part of America wanted us OUT of that quagmire but the focus was on the longhairs and their antics. In the end, Kerry's testimony along with many other's and, yes, even the civil unrest, brought the awful thing to an end.

Still, the vets holding a grudge should realize that many men and women gave their blood in good faith while that war raged on for umpteen years.......it was a losing battle and it had to come to an end. They have a right to be angry for being spit upon but it's not Kerry's fault. MANY people protested that engagment..they can be pissed at all of us then; they can be pissed at the prez who actually pulled our ass outta there (thank god) They can just get over it. We've made amends as a country. We've built monuments and honored them since that time. We've said: Never again (yet here we are in Iraq)

It was Kerry and others who actually went back to find the POWS/MIAS and tried to keep faith with Veterans afterwards....I wonder what these Vets have done in that regard?????

This is political. It's an attempt to stir up emotions of other vets still bearing scars from VN. The men doing these ads aren't suffering from lack at this time.

It's also an attempt to discredit Kerry as a possible "Commander in Chief". I believe the only reason Kerry brought up his record at all is because Americans are afraid after 9/11; they see in Bush a "Balls out Cowboy" kind of guy who will go out with guns blazing to save the country. (which is false) One must have personal intelligence, and foresight to run a country or a war. One must have wise and honorable men around him to help him make tough decisions, like going to war. Bush does not. Kerry brought up his service record, IMO, to show the American people that he KNOWS what military life is like, what it's like for veterans, what it's like for the individual soldier and why it's not wise to just shoot from the hip in these matters.

GO JOHN/JOHN ~May there be peace in our time~