Over 200 Vietnam veterans, including all of John Kerry’s former commanders are joining together to call John Kerry "unfit for service" as Commander-in-Chief. From the man who took command of Kerry’s boat after he left Vietnam to run for Congress:
Like John Kerry, I served in Vietnam as a Swift Boat commander. Ironically, John Kerry and I served much of our time, a full 12 months in my case and a controversial four months in his, commanding the exact same six-man boat, PCF-94, which I took over after he requested early departure. Despite our shared experience, I still believe what I believed 33 years ago–that John Kerry slandered America’s military by inventing or repeating grossly exaggerated claims of atrocities and war crimes in order to advance his own political career as an antiwar activist. His misrepresentations played a significant role in creating the negative and false image of Vietnam vets that has persisted for over three decades.
Kerry is currently spending $25 million in an unprecedented ad blitz to remind America that he served in Vietnam. The problem is A:) most people know this already and B:) it isn’t relevant to being Commander-in-Chief.
The single worst President in American history, Ulysses S. Grant, was a former war hero. Some of the best, including Lincoln, either didn’t serve or barely served. Part of being in a democracy instead of a military dictatorship is that one doesn’t have to be in the military to enter into politics. Given that the military and political arenas are so different, a military career can often produce a bad politician, just as having a politician in the military isn’t always a wise idea. (Just ask one of the 200 veterans who spoke out against Kerry to this day.
What is disgusting about Kerry has little to do with his service, and eveything to do with the disgusting and shameful lies that came after it. He has slandered American vets with false claims of war atrocities, and now he wants to drape himself in the flag and talk about his "band of brothers."
I have a feeling such a strategy won’t fly with the American people. The vast majority of our fighting men know who John Kerry is, and they’re with the 200 in Washington today. They know what Kerry said in 1971, and they know that Kerry was willing to use soldiers for political gain then, and his playbook has not changed since.
However, John Kerry’s service 25 years ago in a swift boat in Vietnam isn’t the important question here. It’s a distraction. When it comes to answering the question as to who can best defend this country, grow the economy, and help ensure a more peaceful world, John Kerry is indeed "unfit for service"
Jay,
I do not think it is fair to characterize grant as the single worst President in American history. Yes, his administration had its problems (as did he personally), mostly related to his loyalty to his friends and appointees, but there were many dometic achivements of the Grant Administration that should move him up the list. I’m not saying he was one of the best, but just that it is not fair to say he is the “single worst.” President Buchanan? President Carter?
Jay,
Kerry didn’t pull strings to hide out from the war in the National guard. He didn’t lie to our congress and the nation about WMD in Iraq or links between 911 and Saddam or violate international law set by the United Nations. Kerry can actually speak for longer than one minute without a prepared speech unlike our “fit” leader who has abandoned the american worker to the dogs. I guess you dont know what it takes to earn a silver star in the miltary. Maybe you should learn.