Posted on 08/28/2004 7:30:49 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief
August 28, 2004
BY THOMAS LIPSCOMB
Former Navy Secretary John Lehman has no idea where a Silver Star citation displayed on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign Web site came from, he said Friday. The citation appears over Lehman's signature.
"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.
The additional language varied from the two previous citations, signed first by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then Adm. John Hyland, which themselves differ. The new material added in the Lehman citation reads in part: "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself...."
Asked how the citation could have been executed over his signature without his knowledge, Lehman said: "I have no idea. I can only imagine they were signed by an autopen." The autopen is a device often used in the routine execution of executive documents in government.
Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.
Thomas Lipscomb is chairman of the Center for the Digital Future in New York
??!!
Don't officials need to approve documents for signing by autopen?
Oh, please, please, please, tell me this turns out to be a complete forgery! There is no way sKerry could wiggle his way out of that!
Isn't it a Federal crime to alter military documents?
Well, this gets more interesting as each day evolves.
I am hearing that the Kerry people aren't even answering MSM inquiries about this fabrication.
I don't know.
We will probably find out.
Way to go, Tom. Nailed Kerry again. This one should be good.
Lehman was Sec of the Navy during Reagan's Presidency----and John Kerry was by then a powerful Senator.
The only conclusion is that Kerry padded the citation and got some Navy underling to get is signed via autopen.
Well...Kerry wanted Viet Nam to be the centerpiece of his campaign. Looks like it might just be !
I would think it's just the opposite. Routine and unimportant correspondence is signed with an autopen. Official documents and commendations would have to be signed personally.
Let's watch and see how they spin out of this. Of course with the MSM on their side, you may never see this anyplace else.
Ow! Ouch! Ow!
Yes, war crimes are punishable too, I don't see anything happening to him on that either.
Well, I find that my deep curiosity compels me to reveal my ignorance. I've seen the acronym numerous times lately here on FR, but I can't figure its meaning. What the %^%^&*&^* does "MSM" stand for?
My, my. O what a tangled web he weaves! J Fraud Kerry.
Of course. Kerry would have had some member of his staff carry this out--but that make Kerry an accomplice.
Hmmm. It certainly is.
And this tidbit today from the Washington Post, another Kerry lie is revealed:
The Kerry campaign has refused to release Kerry's personal Vietnam archive, including his journals and letters, saying that the senator is contractually bound to grant Brinkley exclusive access to the material. But Brinkley said this week the papers are the property of the senator and in his full control.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201591/posts
Yet ANOTHER article in Chicago Suntimes questioning Kerry's record. I think (hope), perhaps, the MSM is begining to catch the scent of blood in the water.
Delicious.
Lehman Secretary of the Navy from 1981-1987. Now why would Kerry get his signature on any Vietnam era doc? I remember seeing the doc andI thought it said Sec of the Navy next to Lehman's signature.
Whats' up with that.
My best guess is "MainStream Media."
btt
Bumping for later reference.
How are things up there in Spokane? I'm looking forward to my next trip up there in two years (college reunion).
Main Stream Media
"Oh, please, please, please, tell me this turns out to be a complete forgery! There is no way sKerry could wiggle his way out of that!"
A couple of weeks ago Travis pointed out that at that time the Navy used standard preprinted forms to fill out most paper work from battle reports, to injury reports to recommendations for commendations.
Kerry apparently took his own typewriter besides his own 8 mm camera. It would have been very easy to take a few of these forms and insert carbon paper and type in whatever he wanted.
Fracus pointed out that, his long time Wade R. Sanders, who was a river boat guy, also, served as an Asst Sec of the Navy. One can only imagine what was done to records under his watch.
MainStreamMedia or MilitantSocialistMedia
What????
MainStream Media.
poseur exposed bump
"Isn't it a Federal crime to alter military documents?"
Yes!
Also, see "Lame Stream Media" (No acronym at this time)
Some wags will also use LSM, presumably "Lame Stream Media," and MWDP, the "Media Wing of the Democrat Party."
Well, my goodness. And just a few minutes ago on MSNBC, Bill Press announced that every smear against Kerry had been proven false, so case closed. Guess this is one he missed. Press looked like someone had just died.
Curiouser and curiouser. What a political debacle by the Kerry camp...
My guess is because Kerry was a senator, various Dept of Defense officials (even Republicans) just changed the citations each time at his request, or didn't question his version of the language.
Kerry will hide behind the publisher then, claiming exclusivity with them. But if they leave him hanging...
Lehman is a liar.
He knows he was caught, and he could go to prison for doing what he did.
How much money did Lehman get for tweaking Kerry's records?
Why was Lehman selected for the 9/11 Commission? Was he put there to make Bush take a hit so Kerry could get a bump?
Autopens are very useful for high ranking officials who have to sign literally thousands of documents per year---but they have to be carefully controlled.
This is usually the job of the Executive Officer. The Secretary of the Navy usually has more than one Exec---probably about 4 officers --usually in the rank of 0-5 or 0-6 (Commander and Captain).
Autopens are large machines--about the size of a 1/2 or 1/4 a ping pong table. They are usually kept in a locked room and highly controlled so that they cannot be misued.
Does someone have a link to the document in question?
"I am hearing that the Kerry people aren't even answering MSM inquiries about this fabrication."
One of the people the rats don't want to tangle with or try to smear is John Lehman.
Someone needs to save any pictures and references to any medals on moi Kerri's website. If any are still on his site, they will be gone before the day is over.
WOW!!
"Way to go, Tom. Nailed Kerry again. This one should be good."
Tom has been doing some good nailing hasn't he?
Hey, John... how's this for "bringing it on." huh? Huh? LIKE it, do ya...? :)
Gonzaga, huh? They have a pretty active College Republican crowd.
It is becoming, to quote Jacquestrap Kerry's mentor, Teddy Kennedy, "Lie after lie after lie after lie."
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