Post-speech, can Kerry reframe his VN service

[Gloria]

in a more useful way??

Was just thinking....now that he's come out swinging on Iraq, particuarly about the future, could he possibly reframe his Viet Nam experience to be more useful??

For example: by saying that as a young man he fought to end the US's crippling involvement in a guerilla war/quagmire, and as President he will be fighting to do the same in terms of Iraq??

No hero stuff, etc....just the use of his experience in a common sense way would be the message....

Just a musing...

[napi21]

1. Just my opinion, but that would be a mistake.

Perhaps arguing that he helped bring the 'Nam war to an end would be OK, but to bring up "end the quagmire in 'Nam" could somply remind people that WE LOST THE VIETNAM WAR! That's not a good thing to remind people.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Doesn't he already say this on his website?

[Kierkegaard]

3. Best leave the snake that bit you alone.

Since the swift boat shit has died down, there would be no logical reason to reopen that can of worms, especially since he has found a comfortable topic to ride out through November 2.

[IIgnoreNobody]

4. Like

I know what kids go through when they are carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place and they can't tell friend from foe. I know what they go through when they're out on patrol at night and they don't know what's coming around the next bend. I know what it's like to write letters home telling your family that everything's all right when you're not sure that's true.

As President, I will wage this war with the lessons I learned in war. Before you go to battle, you have to be able to look a parent in the eye and truthfully say: "I tried everything possible to avoid sending your son or daughter into harm's way. But we had no choice. We had to protect the American people, fundamental American values from a threat that was real and imminent." So lesson one, this is the only justification for going to war.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0729.html


It is never easy to discuss what has gone wrong while our troops are in constant danger. But it’s essential if we want to correct our course and do what’s right for our troops instead of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

I know this dilemma first-hand. After serving in war, I returned home to offer my own personal voice of dissent. I did so because I believed strongly that we owed it those risking their lives to speak truth to power. We still do.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html

[DrFunkenstein]

5. That His Heart Is Always With The Grunts, His Anger For Chickenhawks

Pledge himself to bring accountability to the government, keep faith with the soldiers out on the frontlines, never endanger them needlessly.