Kerry Pledges Military Record Release

NewsMax ^ | February 1,2005 | Carl Limbacher

[Kaslin]

Three months after he lost his presidential bid, Sen. John Kerry has finally agreed to a full release of his military records, after being cornered on the issue Sunday by "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert.

Appearing on the same show last April, Kerry insisted all his military records were already in the public domain, telling Russert, "I've shown them - they're available to you to come and look at."

But in August the Washington Post reported:

"Although Kerry campaign officials insist that they have published Kerry's full military records on their Web site (with the exception of medical records shown briefly to reporters earlier this year), they have not permitted independent access to his original Navy records.

"A Freedom of Information Act request by The Post for Kerry's records produced six pages of information. A spokesman for the Navy Personnel Command, Mike McClellan, said he was not authorized to release the full file, which consists of at least a hundred pages."

On Sunday Kerry attempted to explain the discrepancy, telling Russert, "We put all the records out that I had been sent by the military."

"Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren’t even relevant to the record. So when we get - I’m going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn’t in the record and we’ll put it out. I have no problem with that."

When Russert pressed Kerry, "Would you sign Form 180?" - authorizing the Pentagon to release of his full file, Kerry at first tried to dodge the question.

But after he was asked about Form 180 for the third time, the top Democrat finally relented, telling the "Meet the Press" host, "Yes, I will."

Kerry then added a bizarre demand of his own, saying that the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, the group of Vietnam veterans who led the questioning of his military record, should also sign Form 180:

"I'd call on those who have challenged me, let's see their records," he said. "I want to see the records of each of those people who have put up a challenge, because some of them have some serious questions in them, and it hasn't been appropriate."

[libs_kma]

"I actually said I'd sign the 180, before I said I wouldn't"

[cricket]

"Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren’t even relevant to the record."

from the Demrat playbook on 'how to escape the truth' and lie effectively (simple words, redefined for simple* people)

Stuff (n.) word used often when one is attempting to 'depreciate' the value of pertinent; relevant information; used often by Demrats to obscure and hide the truth. . .

(verb/noun:Berger stuffed stuff. ..in his socks while resourcing top-secret information in the National Security Archives. . .) adj.:Berger calls his critics 'stuffy' for demanding his accountability.

*all Republican populations/those people who did NOT vote for Kerry. ex 'Simple people live in the red states. . . and/or ANYONE who disagrees with a Demrat. . .

That said; WE know that Kerry is full of 'stuff' if he thinks he can continue to lie about; and make irrelevant, the truth of his Military Service.

[ultima ratio]

My immediate thought when I heard Kerry request that his opponents release their records, was that he was providing himself with an out. He will say he will sign the 180 form as soon as all his opponents sign theirs. This guy is slithery.

[ricks_place]

Tim Russert appeared to have the form 180 in his hand but...
...when Kerry finally agreed to sign,
......the form and a pen were not put in front of Kerry.

BTW...had Kerry waxed his eyebrows excessively or what?

[TheSpottedOwl]

My immediate thought when I heard Kerry request that his opponents release their records, was that he was providing himself with an out. He will say he will sign the 180 form as soon as all his opponents sign theirs. This guy is slithery.

Mine, too. I'd love to see the SBV's immediately sign the form.

[Solamente]

"We become frighten when Herman Munster come with boat, bring guns...!"

[dirtboy]

Wonder why Russert or Couric or Rather or Brokaw or Jennings or Blitzer or ANY SINGLE ONE OF THEM didn't bother to press this issue BEFORE the election? That's a rhetorical question, of course. I know exactly why. So do you.

I have a differing theory. Kerry is talking about running again in 2008. That is not acceptable for Hillary! and her merry band of toadies in the MSM. So they will gradually turn up the pressure on Kerry until he folds and goes back to his accustomed role of being a backbencher in the Senate.

Russert just fired the first shot. Kerry now faces a conundrum. If he doesn't sign the SF-180, and stays in the race for the Dem nomination in 2008, the media will increase their pressure for him to sign and ask what he has to hide. If he does sign and stays in the race, then the media will then drip out his lies which could even jeapordize his re-election to the Senate.

His only real option is to not sign and remove himself from consideration in 2008 - then the MSM will forget he ever agreed to release the forms. It won't happen immediately - the MSM will give him time so it will seem that he wasn't pressured, because then the focus goes on them as well - but I would venture that, within six months, Kerry will announce that he is not running for prez in 2008.

[G.Mason]

"Russert has a lot of credibility with the MSM. I think he'll have to sign it. I mean, they'll take it personally if he tries to weasel out of it."

It's doubtless that you see the best in people.

The fact is Tim Russert is a skilled Leftist talking head.

Russert had all of 2004 to make this point. He didn't.

At this juncture Russert realizes that Kerry is toast, that the chances of another Kerry run are so miniscule as to leave no blip on that radar screen.

Many Freepers here are 100% correct.

Kerry will never release all his records, and all concerned know it.

[Raycpa]

So, it was a conditional yes. If all his critics sign 180, he will too.

[David Isaac]

Kerry will release the records only after his personal representative, one Sandy Berger, is allowed to review the records and ascertain that everything is in order.

[Brian Allen]

It doesn't matter.

Kerry is history.

And in 20 years or so no-one will know he was ever alive.

[capt. norm]

I'm sure Kerry would be glad to show us ANYTHING just as long as he can get attention. That's what "Live Shot Kerry" lives for.

[Capt_Hank]

Thanks...... Now I have to clean coffee from the laptop and desk. Trying to wipe things up, but still laughing my A$$ off.

[G.Mason]

"Kerry will release the records only after his personal representative, one Sandy Berger, is allowed to review the records and ascertain that everything is in order."

Aye!

Speaking of which, that trial will be something I will be looking forward to.

Alas, I have had many disappointments in life, and suspect yet another in this case, or lack thereof. ;)

[newsgatherer]

Humm, do I believe him? I think my grandson answers that best, http://www.christian-news-in-maine.com/happybaby.htm Click the link,

[laredo44]

But after he was asked about Form 180 for the third time, the top Democrat finally relented, telling the "Meet the Press" host, "Yes, I will."

Were Kerry's lips moving when he said this? If so, we know what he was doing. The exchange was actually leftyese. Here's what the two were actually saying.

Kerry: Haha. Of course I'll say I'll sign the form, Tim. You and I both know I'll never agree to release those records and that you'll never mention my pledge again after today. Neither will the NY Times, Wash. Post, Dan Rather, Peepee Jennings, or any of them. But it sure will piss off those loony conservatives. Haha.

Russert: Haha. Of course you'll say you'll sign the form, John. You and I both know you'll never agree to release those records and that I'll never mention your pledge again after today. Neither will the NY Times, Wash. Post, Dan Rather, Peepee Jennings, or any of them. But it sure will piss off those loony conservatives. Haha.

[SC Swamp Fox]

"I will sign it."

Translation: "Allies in the Pentagon have finished scrubbing the record. You are free to pick through what's left."

[Dante3]

It's stupid of Kerry to require the others to sign the form since they are NOT running for the POTUS and have no plans to do so.

[whereasandsoforth]

If Russert had some hair on his Wilsons he would have had a form 180 in the studio ready to be signed.

[TomGuy]

I'm confused...

And Kerry is trying, intentionally, to be confusing.

His 'Christmas in Cambodia' story is an attempt to indict President Nixon for being involved in Cambodia and ordering the secret mission. But, when Kerry tells the tale, he can't get all the 'ducks' lined up to make it so.

If it was Christmas 1968, Nixon was only President-elect, not a sitting President, thus is no position to be ordering secret missions. So, Kerry muddles the commentary to say he got two event muddled up. But he can't muddle too much, or that puts HIM out of Vietnam and back in the USA. So, Kerry continues to muddle by claiming he was working with the CIA (so now, he can be secretive about what actually happened). But some more knowlegeable say that the Khmer Rouge were not even organized until a year or so later and they operated north of were Kerry was, anyway.

Kerry just can't make all the elements of his story fit together, when under scrutiny. He has told the tale officially some 50 times (speeches and interviews) during the last 35 years. Now, when scrutinized, his tale just doesn't all fit together.

So he has to muddle his responses.