Posted on 09/05/2004 8:31:11 PM PDT by pjsbro
John Kerry's biographer today called on the presidential candidate to release his military records and warned a Navy investigation into his medals could prove to be the "death knell" of his campaign.
In the past, Kerry has said he could not release some documents because of contractual obligations to Douglas Brinkley, author of "Tour of Duty." Brinkley said he has no contractual claims to any of the papers.
"Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press," he said on Steve Malzberg's WABC New York radio show today.
Brinkley also said that if the Navy investigation reveals deception in connection with Kerry's medals, it could be the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign. Professing uncertainty about what to make about the Swift Boat Vets' claims, Brinkley said: "Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to."
"Is it sloppiness, is it purposeful intent, is there an easy explanation for it?" Brinkley wondered.
The Pentagon ordered an official investigation into the awarding of five Vietnam War decorations to the Massachusetts senator.
The London Telegraph says the inquiry is being carried out by the inspector general's office of the U.S. Navy.
"It is the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records," a Navy spokesman told the paper. Another official said privately: "There's a feeling that it's time to deal with this thoroughly, once and for all."
As WorldNetDaily reported last week, the Department of Defense informed Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England of a formal request to investigate alleged military code violations in Sen. John Kerry's Silver Star award.
The request was made by the public-interest group Judicial Watch after news reports revealed Kerry's campaign website displays a document listing a "Silver Star with combat 'V'" even though the combat "V" device is never given with the nation's third highest award for heroism.
Also, there are three citations for the award, with the third, issued more than a decade after the event, bearing the signature of former Navy Secretary John Lehman.
Lehman, however, says he had nothing to do with the citation.
"It is a total mystery to me," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me."
The Telegraph says Lehman endorses the investigation of Kerry's awards, stating the relevant records need to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established."
Kerry's campaign is firing back, calling the Navy probe an expensive waste.
"The facts are clear," Kerry adviser Michael Meehan told the Telegraph. "The Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V and three Purple Hearts. This is a waste of taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime."
Though Judicial Watch is hoping for a report before the Nov. 2 presidential election, the Navy thus far is remaining silent on any timetable.
Jerome Corsi, author of "Unfit for Command," the New York Times No. 1 best-seller by Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, told WorldNetDaily he considers the Judicial Watch complaint "an important and serious investigation."
"We believe the secretary of the Navy will validate the charges we've made in 'Unfit for Command,'" he said.
In a letter responding to Judicial Watch's complaint, the inspector general of the Defense Department, John R. Crane, cited Section 8(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, which states "the IG of the Department of Defense shall expeditiously report suspected or alleged violations of chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice), to the Secretary of the military department concerned or the Secretary of Defense."
This is huge. But the media is out with Pat Buchanan's new book calling Iraq a mistake. So say the ABC crapweasel liars. (Or is that redundant?)
Ya' think?
Respectfully disagree... Clinton election does not support this statement.
How many clintonistas are still in the Navy hierarchy?
Also, "I question the timing of this"...
Brinkley has been trying to distance himself from this whole mess for some time to salvage what is left of his reputation.
The fact that this came out at the rock-bottom end of a slow news cycle may suggest that Brinkley may be trying to do it "quietly".
Don't alter the title please. Thanks.
Actually, this will probably take months, and will probably be a drag on the kerry ticket the whole time.
Remember: It's not the charge, but the SERIOUSNESS of the charge.
I think his arrogance is what galls me the most...how could he think he could get away with this BS amazes me. Truly a sick self centered egotistical person. He would even make a poor dictator.
You're probably right. Still, I'll wait to see it in writing elsewhere before I get too excited.
I notice that the whole Air National Guard records issue is back in play again (just saw it on Yahoo). I would prefer to just get out of Vietnam and focus on why Kerry is a horrible Senator, and would make an ever worse President.
JasonC,
That is a mighty fine supposition. I wouldn't be too surprised if the Swiftees had that endgame envisioned all along. If there were such an evaluation in Kerry's record, you'd think the guys who were his superiors would know about it.
Lemme tell you something, though: If that turned out to be so, Kerry would have been played like the ultimate all-time fish. -OhMike
But yes you are correct, Clinton lacked any of the qualities of a leader
I 'm hoping you're not right. I worry you are. Has this been some devious, elaborate set-up? Tinfoil alert I suppose...
Keep in mind that when Kerry was building his image medal by medal the left had the flow of information all tied up. He never envisioned the internet, bloggers, AM radio, Fox News--he never thought the free flow of information would ever come about. If it wasn't for the sources listed above the MSM would have Kerry walking on water about now.
"focus on why Kerry is a horrible Senator, and would make an ever worse President".
Too subjective a discussion for any resolution to even begin to evolve in the mainstream media.
Scandal, on the other hand, is what they do best...
I do not believe elites get anything less than cover-ups.
Look at the Clintons and tell me anything else can happen.
Read 'em and weep Dems!!!!!!!!
Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait a minute.
Kerry was in Vietnam?
So, is Brinkley distancing himself from Kerry because he knows the records contain problems, or is Brinkley shilling for Kerry because he knows the records are (scrubbed) clean?
Might he delay the release in a rope-a-dope?
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