Boston Globe: The caveat emperor (Kerry Signs Form 180)

Boston Globe ^ | 5/24/05 | Joan Vennochi

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

The caveat emperor

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist

May 24, 2005

During an interview yesterday with Globe editorial writers and columnists, the former Democratic presidential nominee was asked if had signed Form SF 180, authorizing the Department of Defense to grant access to all his military records.

''I have signed it," Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was ''still going through it" and ''very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it." ........

After the interview, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, was asked to clarify when Kerry signed SF 180 and when public access would be granted. Kerry drifted over to join the conversation, immediately raising the confusion level. He did not answer the question of when he signed the form or when the entire record will be made public.

Several e-mails later, Wade conveyed the following information: On Friday, May 20, Kerry obtained a copy of Form 180 and signed it. ''The next step is to send it to the Navy, which will happen in the next few days. The Navy will then send out the records," e-mailed Wade......

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

I will believe it when I see it.

[billorites]

[GOP_Proud]

He signed it before he didn't sign it.

[gridlock]

Yet another John F'n Kerry F'n middle F'n position.

I signed the Form 180. I just haven't turned it in. Now for the next year, he'll go on about how he signed the form, and just confuse the issue.

Allow me to be the first.... WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TURN IT IN, SENATOR KERRY!

We should all start faxing him the address of the Navy, or sending pre-addressed and pre-paid envelopes in the mail...

[kcvl]

Kerry drifted over to join the conversation, immediately raising the confusion level.

[mewzilla]

''I have signed it," Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was ''still going through it"...

Well, now we know what Sandy Berger's been uo to...

[GarySpFc]

Kerry said that people don't want to ''go back to coat hangers and back alleys," or put ''moms in jail and doctors."

There never has been an abortion with a coat hanger, and Kerry never signed Form 180.

[Zacs Mom]

[Zacs Mom]

rotfl ... two great minds

[mewzilla]

Hee hee! Good ones!

[cats2dogs]

I won't believe any of it anyway. Too much time has passed.

[nmh]

"Allow me to be the first.... WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TURN IT IN, SENATOR KERRY!"

oh, that may never happen but atleast he can say he "signed it".

[nmh]

Maybe the signed form is in Sandy Berger's pants?

You know, he's so "absent minded". Don't you ever stuff forms in your pants? ;)

[newsgatherer]

If this actually happens, would you ping me?

Jake

[mewzilla]

You know, he's so "absent minded". Don't you ever stuff forms in your pants? ;)

LOL! Gee, I wonder what there was for Jean Francois's staff to go through, though...

[Petronski]

[Maceman]

The important take-away from this article is that it was written by that shrieking leftist harpie Joan Venocchi.

That tells you right there that Kerry has lost whatever base he had, and has ZERO chance of winning the rat nomination.

[Stashiu]

Of course, they will have to 'sanitize' the released records. I doubt that the original DD214 will ever see the light of day.

[COUNTrecount]

Then, he added that his staff was ''still going through it" and ''very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it."

[mwyounce]

Good to know that you can run for President and don't have to release your military records... as long as you have a D next to your name...

[DustyMoment]

Why do I doubt this?

Let me count the ways . . . . . . .

[jws3sticks]

What a total jerk.

[mewzilla]

Of course, they will have to 'sanitize' the released records. I doubt that the original DD214 will ever see the light of day.

Paging Jeran Francois: The cover-up can be worse than the crime...

[Zacs Mom]

lol ~ yeap!

[dennisw]

John Kerry"

Don't trust and most definitely verify. If he says the sky is blue, look out the window to double check.

[arasina]

Egads, Petronski! WHERE did you find that Dali-ish graphic?

Got one for 'his staff is going through it'?

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

That's the funniest Kerry picture I've seen.

Funnier than some of his 'dork' pictures.

[arasina]

That one is Intense Dork.

[Cboldt]

... Kerry obtained a copy of Form 180 and signed it. ''The next step is to send it to the Navy ... "

LOL. Now tell the truth, this was predictable. Now Kerry can say he signed it. Sheesh, lay off already. =:-O

[YaYa123]

I LOVE your #24 graphic!

[beckaz]

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TURN IT IN, SENATOR KERRY!

That's right, cuz it's been signed, but is now in a firmly sealed mayonnaise jar, inside a secret safe in one one or Mama-T's palatial mansions, awaiting release sometime before 2008. But rest assured, it's been signed.

[Fresh Wind]

"I don't understand. It must have gotten lost in the mail."

[fhayek]

He signed it, but he didn't send it.

[jalisco555]

I hope for Kerry's sake that there is actually something embarassing in his records. If not the Dems will be furious that the GOP was able to beat Kerry up over this issue when there was nothing to hide.

[NonValueAdded]

Isn't the point of the 180 that the military will release the records directly to the public? Why would anyone accept what the Kerry campaign puts out as the complete, unabridged record?

[Smokin' Joe]

He just signed it, he didn't send it in yet.

[TheForceOfOne]

I wonder if his records were retyped on a IBM Selectric Composer typewriter courtesy of Dan Rather.

Headline: Rather ghost writes Kerry's records, FOX exclusive! lol

[Carry_Okie]

He said he would sign it.

He didn't say he would turn it in after he had signed it.

Lawyers.

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

I wonder if his records were retyped on a IBM Selectric Composer typewriter

lol

Possibly done on Alger Hiss' Woodstock.

[Air Conditioned Gypsy]

He said he would sign it. He didn't say he would turn it in after he had signed it.

How Clintonesque.

[PilloryHillary]

I'll believe Kerry is releasing his records when I see them released. He said he SIGNED the form.....but, did he turn it in? Typical Kerry BS.

[TheForceOfOne]

The DNC should buy stock in Kinko's. They could get a volume discount rate. John Kerry just doesn't get it, he has no credit, too little too late. I bet his is still holding out hope he can win Ohio. lol

[bitt]

Lying Traitor ping!!

HE SAID IT....AGAIN!!!!

[bitt]

'Joan Vennochi writes regularly about national and local politics, and also covers issues relating to business, law and culture. Before joining the op-ed page, she wrote a column on the Globe's business page.

Vennochi was City Hall bureau chief, State House bureau chief, and covered national politics for the Globe. She began her career at the paper as a researcher on the Spotlight Team, the newspaper's investigative unit. She shared in a Pulitzer Prize awarded to the team for local investigative reporting.

Vennochi is a graduate of Boston University and Suffolk Law School.

Vennochi's column appears every Tuesday and Thursday in the Globe, and she writes a Web-only column on the fourth Friday of every month.'

Thanks you letters are in order: Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.

[bitt]

get ready - we will be looking for a good pic for this 'announcement'....

[tiredoflaundry]

[bkepley]

What could be in there that he is so afraid of?

[N. Theknow]

Like notifying the mortgage company that you have signed the check, what's the problem?

You mean I need to mail it?

[Tempestuous]

he added that his staff was ''still going through it"

Why? So they could black out the parts that prove Kerry is a traitor and a liar?

[BJungNan]

"Yes, I signed the form 180 just like I said I would. It is on my desks and I am reviewing it. Next I will probably put a stamp on it. I will let you know when I do that. Then I will move it to my personal outgoing mail box...not the one that actually sends the mail out, just the one I use to think about sending mail out......