Posted on 09/14/2004 8:02:11 PM PDT by PDR
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Seventeen National Guard and Reserves veterans in Congress want John Kerry to apologize for remarks they see as defaming them and others like them.
A letter given Tuesday to United Press International cited the Kerry's statement following the Republican convention that, "I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have."
"When you state that President Bush's years in the National Guard did not, in your opinion, count as serving in the U.S. Armed Forces," the congressional guard and reserve veterans, all Republicans said, "you are slandering the honorable service of all the men and women who have served in the National Guard and Reserves."
"We honor your service during Vietnam and demand that you stop insulting current members and veterans of the National Guard and Reserves," however, they wrote, "Anyone who joins the National Guard or Reserves, our nation's oldest military branch, should be commended, not degraded."
The letter, organized by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a member of the House Armed Service Committee, closed with a demand that Kerry "immediately apologize" for his earlier remarks.
Kerry is scheduled to speak Thursday to a National Guard convention in Las Vegas.
"Kerry is scheduled to speak Thursday to a National Guard convention in Las Vegas."
So the next one to be jettisoned is the one who schedules his stops ?
Excellent!
Good. About time this was made an issue. This business of portraying the national guard like a group of deserters is way past its shelf life.
"When you state that President Bush's years in the National Guard did not, in your opinion, count as serving in the U.S. Armed Forces," the congressional guard and reserve veterans, all Republicans said, "you are slandering the honorable service of all the men and women who have served in the National Guard and Reserves."
This type of garbage from the Democrats is going to backfire on them one of these days. I think they've been very insulting to National Guardsmen and the Reserves. I'm surprised that a backlash didn't start up a long time ago. If I recall correctly, didn't the Democrats try to beat up Dan Qualye on his service in the Guards?
they sure did... going in the guard was a dodge, until just plain bill came along.
How I loathe Kerry and the two-faced libs on this whole subject. I was in the Mekong Delta during Tet '68, Kerry wasn't ...... guess he was a CS too.
Nam Vet
Kerry could rebound easily in the polls if he would use this as an opportunity to apologize (however insincerely) for his insults against the National Guard, merging into a general apology for all his slander against American forces in Vietnam in the 1970s. He could say this was the indiscretion of youth, and all that.
Kerry will NOT do this because he is a mega-narcissist pompous lunatic.
Do you know whether any tv news channel will be covering this? Maybe even CSPAN OR CSPAN2?
Calling Dan Quayle, Calling Dan Quayle, where are you?
i expect that c-span will probably be there - probably fox and msnbc too given the news hook
It's amazing, how Kerry cannot open his mouth without sticking his feet in.
It's the old chronic liberal disease and now it's in it's final stages, the disease is called "Foot-In-Mouth-Disease.
"When you state that President Bush's years in the National Guard did not, in your opinion, count as serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,"
Tell me that even Kerry wasn't so stupid to have said this!
that is clearly the implication of what he said
Which would then be a flip flop - he has painted himself into a corner. 45 days to go - people know what he stands for - whatever will get him votes. Even a smart move as you suggest would only turn people against him - he lacks credibility. The elephant in the room is credibility.
Diva's Husband
"Kerry could rebound easily in the polls if he would use this as an opportunity to apologize (however insincerely) for his insults against the National Guard, merging into a general apology for all his slander against American forces in Vietnam in the 1970s. He could say this was the indiscretion of youth, and all that."
No, the veterans will not accept an apology.
They know Kerry has no ability or honor to be Commander and Chief and will not allow their sons and younger brothers to have him as their leader.
BTTT
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