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Whatever You Do, Donât Question Kerryâs Patrioitism!
WARNING - Chicken Hawk counterargument writ large...Kerry Hits Back at White House, Defends Patriotism Reuters - Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry, lashing out at the White Houseâs "twisted sense of ethics and morality," accused Republicans on Friday of distorting his record and attacking his patriotism. "Did I mention I served in Vietnam?" Kerry, at an outdoor rally on the University of Pittsburgh campus, used an American flag and the national anthem to fire back at Republicans who charge he is weak on defense for voting against some weapons systems and an $87 billion bill to pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The record speaks for itself. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, pointed out Vice President Dick Cheney and political adviser Karl Rove did not serve in the military. "Iâm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance," the Massachusetts senator said. "Iâm not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism."
"Iâve seen how these people in the White House today, in their twisted sense of ethics and morality, donât think twice about challenging John McCain and what happened to him as a prisoner of war," he said in reference to attacks by President Bush in 2000 on his Republican primary rival McCain, an Arizona senator. Whatâs that town with great steaks? Kansas City? Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman, said Kerryâs judgment in his voting record on defense and security was in question, not his patriotism. He called the Rove and Cheney comments "outrageous." "Outrageous!" Cheney received a student and family deferment from military service, and Rove had a student deferment and later drew a low draft number but was never called. Itâs still a quesion of who shows more balls at facing down our enemies.
Mostly right, at least until Kerry develops solid, unambiguous stances on the subject. That doesnât seem to be in his character. Kerry has come under heavy attack from Republicans, who have launched tens of millions of dollars of advertising trying to paint him as a waffling, traditional tax-and-spend Democrat. Some truths are self-evident. "They donât think twice about trying to pretend to America that I somehow donât care about the defense of our nation," Kerry said, paraphrasing wording in the Star Spangled Banner. Look at your voting record, it speaks for itself. He recalled his service under the U.S. flag and seeing flag-draped coffins of friends returning from Vietnam. "Did I mention I served in Vietnam?" "When I look up, that flag is still there and it belongs to all Americans," he said, pointing to a flag near the stage. "Not to them, not to a party. It belongs to us."
Itâs still early in the game, JFK. "Theyâre out 50 million bucks and they got nothing for it," Kerry told reporters on his campaign plane on Thursday night.
Outgunned, so to speak... Cheney will make the keynote speech at the convention on Saturday, but Kerry did not mention the gun issue during his appearance. Good call... The NRA has not made an endorsement yet but is certain to back Bush over Kerry, who supports the federal ban on assault weapons and a waiting period and background checks for the purchase of handguns. Posted by: Raj 2004-04-17 |
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