Swift Boat issue becomes crucial to Kerry anew

Boston Globe ^ | November 21, 2007 | Sasha Issenberg

[GQuagmire]

WASHINGTON - Senator John F. Kerry, in aggressively pursuing a forum in which to disprove allegations about his Vietnam military service, is drawing new attention to an issue that he was slow to address during his 2004 presidential campaign but that he now contends is vital to his political future.

[mom.mom]

What are you waiting for Mr. Kerry? Let’s see what you got.

The hell with swift boating - hah! - prepare to be freeped!

[Verginius Rufus]

Nixon wanted to avoid releasing the tapes and just have Sen. Stennis listen to them. If the media had been willing to go along with that, and then accept a statement from Stennis that there was nothing warranting impeachment in the tapes, Nixon would have served out his term.

I don't see how letting one friendly reporter look through the records and say there's nothing to see there (except items that would make the bashful Kerry look even more heroic) is much different.

[Ouderkirk]

Isn't sKerry running for re-election in Mass? Which would explain why all of this is back in the news.

We all know that Kerry way dishonorable discharged from the navy for meeting with the VietCong in Paris in 1971

I have been to Paris. I have talked with both delegations at the peace talks, that is to say the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government and of all eight of Madam Binh's points it has been stated time and time again....

His discharge was upgraded by Jimmy Carter in 1977 in the Amnesty Order

[Buffettfan]

Hanoi John Kerry has NEVER released ALL of his military records. That is a bald faced LIE. I would bet my house that if he did release ALL of his military records we would all see that he got a “less than honorable” discharge for his anti-war activities and then that “less than honorable” discharge was converted back to honorable by Jimmy Carter in 1978 when he pardoned the draft dodgers.

Semper Fi’
Jarhed

[kabar]

Who are the “somebodies” that you suggest should run against him?

[mountainlyons]

Kerry come clean. It is about time you come clean about the 250,000 veterans you defamed. You caused much grief by you and your group of liars calling Veterans “baby killers”. How many people lost jobs because of you? You defamed Veterans by calling us “war criminals”

You are the war criminals sir. Your crew killed the 13 year old girl. You are the war criminal. You did not serve a tour in Viet Nam. You cut and ran.

[kabar]

Unfit for Command by John O'Neil and Jerome Corsi go into some detail on Kerry's lies. The real problem is that Kerry was the primary source for much of the official record. The SBVFT, including Kerry's chain of command, point out, based on firsthand information, that these are lies. For example, Adm. William Schachte: 'No enemy fire': One of John Kerry's superior officers disputes the circumstances Kerry claims led to the awarding of his first Purple Heart.

No one knows how Kerry got this approved months after he left the first command and no after action report was filed, which is required for a PH. Kerry's official records would disclose that.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

[kabar]

Kerry signed a 180 but only authorized a release to three sympathetic reporters. He has not authorized a release to the general public.

John Kerry Signs Form 180 to release military records

[Ann Archy]

Hey Kerry...release that form!!! THAT will prove EVERYTHING...HAHAHHA!

[ml/nj]

aggressively pursuing a forum in which to disprove allegations about his Vietnam military service

That's why he hasn't refuted these claims! He's having trouble finding a forum! Might I suggest this thread right here on FreeRepublic to the Senator?

ML/NJ

[gridlock]

In 2005, pressed by news organizations including the Globe, Kerry authorized the Navy to release his complete military and medical records. The records appeared to contain nothing to dispute Kerry’s accounts of his service.”

Selective release to selected reporter.

Did he ever file that Form 180? I know he signed it...

[maggief]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/07/kerry_allows_navy_release_of_military_medical_records/

Kerry allows Navy release of military, medical records
Show numerous commendations

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 7, 2005

The file includes a previously reported reference to Kerry being treated for the wound and that he was awarded the Purple Heart, but it does not address the details of the combat that night. No after-action report for the incident has been found.

[DustyMoment]

Kerry yesterday accused Pickens of "parsing and backtracking" on his initial offer and said he is "prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence."

So, Jean-Francois, what's stopping you? Why the public argument with Pickens if you truly are "prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence"? In the words of Nike, "Just Do It". Put the issue to bed and prove your case.

Otherwise, sit down and shut up!

[Aegedius]

It is so tiresome to read lies about the swiftboat group. The Kerry campaign ran a photo of him along with 19 fellow swiftboat officers. Of those 19, 12 believe that he is unfit for command. Not that he would be mediocre...that he is UNFIT. 12 out of 19. Only 3 thought he was fit, and the others are either deceased or neutral. There is no lie there. Each of the 12 could be interviewed if any journalist had any doubt.

Then the swifties said that Kerry got a medal for saving a companion — claiming that he was under heavy automatic weapon and small arms fire, but there was not a single bullet hole in the 5 boats in the river, and none of the other sailors suffered a bullet wound. Thirty minutes of shooting at 50 foot long boats, at point blank range, and the VC didn’t hit a thing. The swifties didn’t say that Kerry lied... they just reported the true facts and let us decide. I decided that Kerry is a liar.

[GQuagmire]

Best chance would be a Dem “heavyweight” from Mass.Two problems. No Dem will go against the unwritten rule here about running against an incumbent. Also Mass. is such a blue state there are virtually no Republicans with any name recognition around. However, monsieur Kerrie will win by a slimmer than usual margin.Even Ted K. had 37% vote against him in 2006.

[GQuagmire]

Sorry I’ve never heard of Beatty. I will keep an eye on him from now on.Hopefully he can make headway and give Lurch a run for his money.

[Williams]

The real issue was Kerry meeting with the N Vietnamese communists while we were at war, while he opposed the war, and giving them aid and comfort at the Paris peace talks, which undoubtedly prolonged the war.

Sorry for being in a negative mood, but I see little hope for a country in which that issue is not fromt and center, and he lost the presidency by only one state.

[y6162]

..the swiftboaters called me unilateral...boo hoo...

Kerry is such a tool. He needs another PR beating about his sexed up war record like a hole in the head. And he’s so faux butch when he tries to act masculine.

I bet the whiff of his perfume as he waltz’s thru the room is sickening.