There is an arguement that is used in defense of Kerry that I find abominable. It's the charge that 'taking Kerry to task is an insult to all veterans.' One that even tops that for me, is that "taking Kerry to task on the issue of his purple hearts is an insult to all veterans who were awarded the purple heart.'
On the issue of taking a member of the military to task over the awarding of Purple Hearts to them, I do consider it a solemn event. No one should do this lightly. But if taking a person to task is warranted, then it should be done by men who stand as equals with the person charged.
Combat veterans who served with that person are precisely the right persons who should challenge him on it. Today a group of men have come forward to do so regarding a man for whom they have first hand information.
This challenge not only doesn't insult other veterans, it helps ensure that when they win medals, those medals stand for precisely what they should. If any yahoo can trump up qualifications and obtain Purple Hearts, then Purple Hearts mean nothing. Valid charges brought against a person known to have done this, protect the solemn status of the Purple Hearts.
Further those challenges are the only insurance this nation's citizens have, that some yahoo can't obtain Purple Hearts without just cause, then claim to be something they are not.
The next to the last thing I ever want to see is a veteran be taken to task for a valiantly won Purple Heart. The last thing I want to see is someone who lied about his qualifications to obtain a Purple Heart, claim war hero status in his quest for the most honorable position our nation has to offer.
Today we have solumn charges on the table. Those charges merit solumn consideration. They do not merit using known valiant Purple Heart winners as cover from the truth of the matter. If that were the case, then that would be as vile an act as the original perpetration of the fraud that obtained those medals without merit.
Everyone should settle down, read the full story of the charges and make up their own minds. The media should quit trying to damn the 247 messengers to protect the indefensible. Those messengers are not running for the position of the Presidency of the United States.
The media, the defenders of a person being charged and a political party are the ones walking on the veterans who have legitimately won Purple Hearts, to trash people who just may be doing this nation a very valuable service.
If John Kerry is a fraud, he and his minions are pulling that fraud at the expense of some very righteous men. If John is the man he always said he was, the truth will win this victory for him. If not, so much the better.
What I'd like to see from the press is how disrespectful it is to those who serve, and served, in the National Guard when Kerry-ites say the Pres didn't serve his country.
The National Guard IS serving your country!