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To: NYCVirago
The thing the media has failed to focus on is that, contrary to the "web of connections" nonsense, these guys didn't need Republicans to spur them on with a reason to hate John Kerry. They already hated him on their own.

I think this puts too strong a spin on the Swift Boat vets' reactions to Kerry.

Certainly, many were disgusted by Kerry's turncoat antiwar antics and his peers were so unimpressed with Kerry's valor and judgment that they asked him to leave the Vietnam theater early (relayed by Thomas W. Wright, Cdr., USN, Ret.).

But it was not until they read passages from Douglas Brinkley's Tour of Duty, and recognized incidents described for which they had personal knowledge -- often highly embellished if not plainly wrong on the facts that many, like George M. Elliott, Capt., USNR, Ret., were persuaded to join SBVT and oppose Kerry.

Their reading confirmed their impressions that Kerry was an ambitious opportunist who had a demonstrated pattern of behavior that was not trustworthy.

Both O'Neill and Roy Hoffmann, Adm., USN, Ret., have done a terrific job in bringing this to the public's attention. The country owes them a debt of gratitude.

24 posted on 08/28/2004 8:45:48 AM PDT by OESY
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To: Senator Kunte Klinte

John E. O'Neill


25 posted on 08/28/2004 8:52:25 AM PDT by OESY
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To: Senator Kunte Klinte

"[T]hree Purple Hearts? I mean, the first one whether he ought to have a Purple Heart. He got two in one day -- [Kerry] never bled that I know of. 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.... 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 Senator Kerry needs to talk about his Senate record, which is pretty thin. That's probably why he's talking about his war record, which is pretty confused."
--Retired Senator Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in action with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during WW II
26 posted on 08/28/2004 9:17:01 AM PDT by OESY
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To: OESY
I think this puts too strong a spin on the Swift Boat vets' reactions to Kerry.

Rest snipped for space

I agree with what you wrote. My point was just that Bush didn't orchestrate the SVFT to dislike Kerry; they had their own reasons, as you pointed out.

27 posted on 08/28/2004 10:21:48 AM PDT by NYCVirago
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