Posted on 08/22/2004 10:54:07 AM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
Severely wounded World War II combat hero Sen. Bob Dole questioned whether John Kerry deserved his three Purple Hearts on Sunday, and suggested that the top Democrat should apologize to his fellow Vietnam veterans for engaging in anti-war protests while they were still fighting the war.
"I respect his record - but three Purple Hearts, he never bled that I know of," Dole told CNN's "Late Edition." "They were all superficial wounds."
"As far as I know he never spent one day in the hospital, I don't think he draws any disability pay. He doesn't have any disability. And he's boasting about three Purple Hearts, when you think of some of the people who really got shot up in Vietnam."
Dole, who nearly died as a member of the US 10th Mountain Division from wounds he sustained during the 1944 invasion of Italy, is the nation's foremost champion of veterans causes, recently completing a successful mission to create a World War II memorial on the Capitol Mall this summer.
Drawing on those credentials, Dole called on Kerry to issue a public apology for calling his fellow Vietnam soldiers war criminals during his 1971 Senate testimony, telling CNN, "Maybe he should apologize to all the other two-and-a-half million veterans who served. He wasn't the only one who was in Vietnam."
"I think Sen. Kerry needs to talk about his Senate record, which is pretty thin." Dole added. "That's probably why he's talking about his war record, which is pretty confused."
Dole for Vice President (so long as Cheney can stay on as Chief of Staff and all-around butt-kicker).
I did not vote for Bob Dole (I went for Harry Browne), but in a dark recess of my soul, the bad part of me wishes that I was John Kerry so that I could now lie and say that I did. I always thought of Bob Dole as the consummate squishy, wimpy professional politician. I will never think that way again. Heroism takes many forms, and Bob Dole's heroism has now taken at least two of them.
THat was his name on Bob Grant's show.
Why does Dole hate Vietnam Vets?
Bob Bump
I heard Oliver North on the radio last week. He as well a Kerry has a silver and bronze star. Col. North stated that he could have qualified for more purple hearts than he was awarded but that he did not want to leave the marines he was leading and be forced into some staff job.To me that is the true definition of a hero. Col. North was a true leader and warrior while Sen. Kerry was looking towards padding his political resume. I for one am tired of these Dems who set their sights on higher office at such an early age like Kerry. Political power is what he and others like him are after and not public service like Bob Dole.
I didn't. Bob Dole refused to support Ollie North and I wrote him a note expressing my disgust. When it came to election time when it was clear Bob wouln't win, I voted Libertarian.
I've never heard Bob Dole once brag about his service in WWII.
True war heroes don't have to tell anyone, especially over and over, like Kerry does, that they're war heroes.
I disagree with Dole.
An apology doesn't cut it. NEVER WILL.
Too many POW's suffered additional problems because of Hanoi Jane and Hanoi John Kerry.
I wonder if J K Kennedy is rolling in his grave listening to Kerry after all the comments that are on the Congressional record.
I voted for Dole!!!! he was and is a good man
What other choices did you have???
All the media and Kerry himself within his campaign stuff refers to 4 Months only.
bttt
As an honorable man, Bob Dole resigned his Senate position to run for President.
The dishonorable John Kerry, on the other hand, simply went AWOL from the Senate.
Maybe someone, (Joe Lieberman?) advised him not to quit his day job...
bump
bobdole said this? How! I apologize for some of the stuff I have said about this guy.
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