More media truth twisting.
Look, you have to expect Democratic papers like the AJC to lie for their guy. That's what they do. Always did, always will.
But there's a germ of truth in what they say. The VVA is an offshoot of the VVAW, and the "leaders" share the communist ideology and the tendency to be phonies (about 1 in 4 VVA members was never in the military, says one guy who obtained a copy of their membership database. Among the leaders, the percentage of wannabees is higher). An introduction to the whole sordid history is in Stolen Valor which I can't recommend too highly: if you're a Vietnam vet or have one in your family, or a vet of another war, or just an American who wants to support the real soldiers and "out" the phonies that give them a bad name, you really need this book. One of the authors, Jug Burkett, has been given the Army Distinguished Civilian Service award for his work in outing phonies and restoring the Army's (especially the Vietnam War Army's) unfairly tarnished reputation.
By the way, some have questioned the credentials of James Rassmann, the SF officer that Kerry fished out of the drink after he fell off Kerry's boat. There was a 1LT Rassmann in SF in Vietnam, so we assume he is legit as far as that goes.
Likewise, some have questioned the legitimacy of Kerry's medals. They were awarded legitimately and while you might quibble, if you don't have higher valour awards you have no business bitching about it -- and it just makes us look petty and churlish. I say, give him credit for what he did that's creditable -- and slam him for the stuff he's done that isn't!
Sooner or later, I reckon, the Kerry campaign will trot out phonies, again, as it has with the 'homeless veterans.' (That Boston Homeless Veterans shelter is a whole other story -- even the "veteran" that started it is a phony, and it basical exists to skim money off the public so that the staff can live well).
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F