NBC: Kerry view of Vietnam changed since 70's

NBC News ^ | May 07, 2004 | Lisa Myers

[golforacle]

NBC: 1970 appearance on Cavett show at odds with recent comments

More than three decades ago, a young Vietnam veteran named John Kerry made one of his first national television appearances, and he brought along home movies he took of one of his firefights with the enemy in Vietnam. Kerry’s television appearance has been in mothballs for decades — until now.

In tape of that appearance, obtained by NBC News, Kerry makes statements which appear to be at odds with more recent comments about why he went to Vietnam.

It was Kerry’s first national television appearance and came near the peak of the anti-war movement, days after Richard Nixon announced the invasion of Cambodia and college campuses erupted.

Kerry was asked why, if he opposed the war, he agreed to go to Vietnam and fight. He emphasized his reluctance, saying, “I wound up going to Vietnam because in 1965, voicing an objection, as I would have liked to have at that point, would have been, I think, a very futile thing.”

But in 2001, gearing up to run for president, Kerry had a different explanation on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he said, “I believe very deeply that it was a noble effort to begin with. I signed up. I volunteered I wanted to go over there and I wanted to win.”

“I think there’s a difference between those two quotes,” said historian and Kerry biographer Douglas Brinkley, explaining, “It’s not my understanding that John Kerry ever thought Vietnam was per se a noble effort.”

“I believe very deeply that it was a noble effort to begin with.”

Kerry, on the Cavett set, in 1970, in discussing what he was fighting for, said, “I just could never feel that I was there fighting to save that country, to make it safe for democracy. The only feeling you could have was that you were like the Germans, that you were there occupying another country.”

But in 2001, as he was beginning his efforts to run for president, Kerry told Meet the Press, “It was a noble effort to try to make a country democratic, to try to carry our principles and values to another part of the world.”

Asked to explain Kerry’s seemingly different statements, a campaign spokesman said, “Kerry went to Vietnam because he felt a duty to his country. He served with honor and distinction.”

“The only feeling you could have was that you were like the Germans, that you were there occupying another country.”

On the Cavett show, Kerry also showed films he shot in Vietnam, explaining the video, saying, saying, “You see a bunker being taken under fire. In fact, we’re under fire at this point and you can see some shots coming out, landing in the water.” He added, “Just after this I put the camera down. I had a feeling we were gonna be ambushed… and sure enough up ahead we were. And you’ll see it.”

Brinkley says Kerry compiled material to bolster his case against the war, telling Cavett, “I took these pictures in a moment of confusion,” explaining, “There you see the huts burning, and this, this is the enemy, so to speak, in South Vietnam.”

Kerry told Cavett, “I was constantly struck by the juxtaposition of those of us running around with guns and the body lying there in the field. There you see the huts burning.”

Why the change in his comments? Critics say that in 1970, sharp criticism of the war was fashionable, while decades later, a presidential candidate would need to bolster credentials to be commander in chief.

A recent NBC News poll found that even 71% of Republicans agree that Kerry served honorably. It also found that voters say what they like least about Kerry is him “straddling both sides of issues.”

[Republicus2001]

What did Kerry apologize for and when did he apologize? We have to know and the American people need to be assured there is not a cover-up. Haven't Americans suffered enough?

[isthisnickcool]

It's time to release all the photos and movies.

I'm not talking about the stuff from Iraqi prisons. I'm talking obout John Kerry and Vietnam.

There is indeed something very very strange about Kerry. He goes to Vietnam for home movies? There have been rumors he had movies taken of himself. Where are they? Let's see everything!

[Fedora]

The headline would be more accurate if it stated that Kerry's account of his view of Vietnam in the 1970s has changed since the 1970s.

[Fedora]

Ping.

[Wright is right!]

Qerry is being very consistant in his views of both Veet-nam and the Iraq war. He was for both of them before he was against them. He was also for Mediscare reform before he was against it. In fact, almost all the things he was for and now oppposes are things that Bush is doing. That's why he's against them. But if HE were doing them, THEN he'd be for them.

Michael

[golforacle]

Now that mainstream outlets like NBC is looking into John Kerry's lies, we will see many more of these reports in the future.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Just after this I put the camera down. I had a feeling we were gonna be ambushed… and sure enough up ahead we were. And you’ll see it.”

John, if you put the camera down, how will we see the ambush? Did you pick the camera back up? And if so, why were you filming an ambush while the boat you commanded was under fire? Had some time on your hands?

This seems close to "I actually put the camera down, BEFORE I started filming the ambush"

[GaltMeister]

Why the change in his comments? Critics say that in 1970, sharp criticism of the war was fashionable, while decades later, a presidential candidate would need to bolster credentials to be commander in chief.

BINGOPolitical opportunism at it's finest. He has no moral foundation, no convictions, no sense of right and wrong. A shining example of the

ME

generation mentality. Personal power and self gratification is all that matters to some of these 1960's rejects.

[GaltMeister]

Why the change in his comments? Critics say that in 1970, sharp criticism of the war was fashionable, while decades later, a presidential candidate would need to bolster credentials to be commander in chief.

BINGOPolitical opportunism at it's finest. He has no moral foundation, no convictions, no sense of right and wrong. A shining example of the

ME

generation mentality. Personal power and self gratification is all that matters to some of these 1960's rejects.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Considering that Kerry was being injured at the rate of once every 27 days, its a good thing they got him out when they did.

[GeorgeW23225]

I don't think it is any longer a dirty little secret, that John Kerry is a kiss-ass, pandering, say anything to get elected liberal!! 2 of the best web sites exposing John Kerry as the dangerous fraud he really is can be found at:

http://www.CrushKerry.com

http://www.WinterSoldier.com

KERRY MUST BE DEFEATED!! AND WE CAN DO IT!!

[VadeRetro]

Lisa Meyers is a competent and honorable journalist. Sooner or later the others will kill her.

[Pikamax]

bttt

[stylin19a]

Kerry was asked why, if he opposed the war, he agreed to go to Vietnam and fight. He emphasized his reluctance, saying, "I wound up going to Vietnam because in 1965, voicing an objection, as I would have liked to have at that point, would have been, I think, a very futile thing.

1965 ? Is that when he tried to get a 1 year deferrment to study in paris ?

It appears Kerry got a 6 month deferrment in 2/66, so he could graduate in 06/66. He didn't report (To The United States Naval RESERVES) until 08/66.
What's with 1965 ?

[KellyAdmirer]

Either he voiced an objection when he went, or he volunteered for a noble cause. Can't have it both ways. Were you lying then or are you lying now, Senator Kerry?

[Howlin]

Kerry was asked why, if he opposed the war, he agreed to go to Vietnam and fight. He emphasized his reluctance, saying, “I wound up going to Vietnam because in 1965, voicing an objection, as I would have liked to have at that point, would have been, I think, a very futile thing.”

Why do the words "politically viable" pop into my mind?

[Howlin]

Now he's FILMING in a state of confusion?

[YaYa123]

NBC TODAY SHOW presented this Lisa Myers report like an exclusive bombshell, exposing Kerry's flip flop on Viet Nam. I saw it once, never saw it repeated on MSNBC or NBC. Myers broke it last week, during the hyperventilation over Rumsfeld's senate appearance, so maybe it was destined to die on the vine. In any event, that's what happened.

[Howlin]

“The only feeling you could have was that you were like the Germans, that you were there occupying another country.”

Kerry just cannot seem to stop demeaning the Vietnam Vets, can he?