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Kerry accuses Bush of having vets 'do his dirty work'
HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August.19,2004

Posted on 08/19/2004 8:31:18 AM PDT by Reagan Man

BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush today of relying on front groups to challenge his record of valor in Vietnam, asserting, "He wants them to do his dirty work.

Defending his record, the Democratic presidential candidate said, "Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts."

"Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam."

Kerry received five medals for his service in Vietnam a generation ago, but his record has come under campaign challenge in television commercials aired by "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," funded by supporters of the president.

Bush and the White House have refused to condemn the ads, despite calls to do so -- from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a former Vietnam prisoner of war, as well as from Democrats.

Senior Democrats, including some inside the presidential campaign, have urged Kerry to respond forcefully to the criticism, fearing that if left unanswered, it could hamper his quest for the White House.

In addition to Kerry's speech before an audience of firefighters, his campaign released a new 30-second campaign commercial that features a former Green Beret saying the young Navy lieutenant saved his life under fire.

Recalling when his boat came under attack more than 30 years ago, Jim Rassmann says, "It blew me off the boat. All those Viet Cong were shooting at me. I expected I'd be shot. When he pulled me out of the river, he risked his life to save mine."

Aides said the commercial would air in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, three battleground states. The decision to advertise even in a limited fashion marked a change in course for the campaign, which had hoped to remain off the air for August to conserve cash for the fall campaign.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dirtywork; kerry; swiftboatveterans
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1 posted on 08/19/2004 8:31:18 AM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Reagan Man
Maybe I haven't been paying attention but, until today, I haven't heard that Kerry has shrapnel in his leg. Did I miss the memo?
2 posted on 08/19/2004 8:34:15 AM PDT by EggsAckley (........."Yo" is "Oy" spelled backwards.........)
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To: Reagan Man

"Jim Rassmann says, "It blew me off the boat."

What, seeing Kerry float by with his props stuck in reverse?


3 posted on 08/19/2004 8:34:34 AM PDT by chambley1 (n)
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To: Reagan Man
And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam."

Oh yeah, lets see an xray.

4 posted on 08/19/2004 8:34:39 AM PDT by marty60
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To: EggsAckley

Verify,verify. He lies like a rug.


5 posted on 08/19/2004 8:35:35 AM PDT by marty60
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To: Reagan Man
"He wants them to do his dirty work."

Stupid thing to say! He's cracking a little.

Did we hear Bush complaining about Michael Moore or George Soros?

Did Bush accuse the "Bush haters and bashers" of doing John Kerry's dirty work?

And of course all of this begs the question, "What dirty work, Mr. Kerry? Is there something you haven't told us?"

6 posted on 08/19/2004 8:35:41 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: EggsAckley

I don't think Kerry said it, but Edwards did.


7 posted on 08/19/2004 8:36:20 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: EggsAckley

I think it was supposed to be in his rear end.


8 posted on 08/19/2004 8:36:23 AM PDT by dstarr (Proud widow of a Vietnam War and Korean War veteran)
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To: Reagan Man

Hey hey, ho ho
Who won't sign the 180?
Hey hey ho ho
3 vs. two hundred fifty fo' (four, SBV)

Hey hey ho ho
Kerry's lyin, gotta go
Hey hey ho ho
We want Bush for fo' fo' mo (years)

Okay, I'll stick to regular prose.


9 posted on 08/19/2004 8:36:36 AM PDT by Christian4Bush (I approve this message: character and integrity matter. Bush/Cheney '04)
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To: Reagan Man

I am getting sick of this. I wish Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum would shut up about who did what 30 years ago and talk about important issues like the war and the economy.


10 posted on 08/19/2004 8:36:43 AM PDT by conserv13
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To: EggsAckley

Edwards said something about Kerry carrying shrapnel in his leg the other day. But I didn't pay attention to it. Thought it was another exaggeration. Now we know for sure. LOL


11 posted on 08/19/2004 8:37:01 AM PDT by Reagan Man (.....................................................The Choice is Clear....... Re-elect BUSH-CHENEY)
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To: EggsAckley
Also, wouldn't that set off airport screening devices.

Oh I forgot, he flies in PRIVATE JETS

12 posted on 08/19/2004 8:37:27 AM PDT by marty60
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To: marty60
Shrapnel or rice-a-roni? Let us see the X-ray of the self-inflicted wound.
13 posted on 08/19/2004 8:37:30 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Who would the terrorists vote for?)
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To: dawn53

What I meant that I don't think Kerry mentioned it earlier, but Edwards did.

Now that would be an interesting fact to explore, easily enough proved if there is indeed shrapnel. But I do think I remember a report that said they took out a piece of shrapnel and left in a piece during one of his one day medical encounters.


14 posted on 08/19/2004 8:38:18 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: Reagan Man

What an idiot. He has just given the Swifties what they want. He called them out and now has to prove what they're saying isn't a lie. Your records please Mr. Kerry.


15 posted on 08/19/2004 8:39:07 AM PDT by SCHROLL (Liberalism isn't a political philosphy - it's a mental illness)
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To: Reagan Man

So Edwards started this deception? And NOW, Kerry himself is repeating it? I'm convinced now that Kerry is deranged; he's believing the lies.


16 posted on 08/19/2004 8:39:28 AM PDT by EggsAckley (........."Yo" is "Oy" spelled backwards.........)
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To: conserv13

THIS is about the WAR etc. We can't afford another lying charlatan in the White House. Clinton gave us 9-11, isn't that enough


17 posted on 08/19/2004 8:39:45 AM PDT by marty60
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To: Jet Jaguar
Shrapnel or rice-a-roni? Let us see the X-ray of the self-inflicted wound.

Careful with this ... Kerry probably has internal polling and focus-group numbers showing that any demand for X-rays (as reasonable as they may be) will backfire on Bush supporters with the public. Smells to me like Kerry is throwing out a nice juicy chunk of bait. Don't go for it ...
18 posted on 08/19/2004 8:40:20 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: Reagan Man

No one's disputing John F*ckin's service in Vietnam. What's at issue is the facts surrounding the nature of his service in Vietnam. Kerry could release ALL the records to settle the dispute. So far he refuses to do so and launches an attack on the President and the Swift Boat Vets that are unrelated to what people want to know about. Its clear Kerry fears the truth. What is he hiding?


19 posted on 08/19/2004 8:40:56 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Reagan Man

Typical liberal. Avoid the real issues in the ad and attack the creators.


20 posted on 08/19/2004 8:41:48 AM PDT by rintense (Results matter.)
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