Salon: Conason: Another Crude Slur

March 6, 2004 | The contrast between the military careers of George W. Bush and John Kerry is drawing veterans to the Democratic Party -- and maddening conservative Republicans who have grown accustomed to monopolizing the symbolism of flag and country. To tarnish Kerry, the right has reached back more than 30 years to develop a narrative that transforms him from hero to traitor, by distorting his antiwar activism after he returned from Vietnam.

They hope to convince America that by testifying and organizing for peace, the young Navy lieutenant somehow "dishonored" his fellow sailors and soldiers.

This effort began quite crudely, with the anonymous distribution of a faked photo of Kerry with Jane Fonda. But now Kerry critics are focused on the so-called "Winter Soldier" investigation -- a public event staged in January 1971 by Kerry and other leaders of Vietnam Veterans Against the War to expose the brutality and devastation of the Indochina conflict.

The right-wing extremists at Free Republic have set up a new "Winter Soldier" Web site devoted to that event, highlighting Kerry's subsequent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about alleged U.S. war crimes. According to the Freeper theory, he "launched his political career" by denigrating his comrades in arms, although nobody who reads his testimony will find much evidence to support that accusation. (He did run for Congress in 1972 -- and lost in part because of his VVAW connections.)

Coordinating with the Freeper attack are Texas chicken-hawk Rep. Tom DeLay, who recently upbraided Kerry for the Winter Soldier episode, and Gary Aldrich, the former White House FBI agent who fabricated salacious stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton, who now suspects that Kerry was "pro-Communistic" and is demanding to see his old FBI files.

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http://salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/03/06/kerry/index.html

I remember John Kerry from that era, and his principled stand against a war we should never have fought. I think it took guts to do what he did, as a veteran, as well as insight. I thought so then, as a 20 year old, and think so now. What was Tom DeLay doing then? These guys have no shame. None.

a 1/2 dozen or so VN Vets and they all support Kerry and his work with VVAW. Several have expressed to me that they wished they had become involved with VVAW. All of them are opposed to Iraq. The more the GOP speaks out the more they piss these guys off.

Here is the (sickningly long) screed from one of the local delusionoids:

LETTERS

To the editor:

This letter is in response to the recent national campaign by the Democratic presidential candidates. Although the front runner has changed since the beginning of the season, with Howard Dean's campaign imploding with his "I Had a Scream" tantrum after the Iowa caucus, his existence shows how the ultraliberals have hijacked the Democratic Party.

Now we have Sen. Kerry with great momentum. Unless he has a Dean outburst, he will become the nominee and the Democratic opponent against President Bush.

Now the attacks against the president have mounted with questions about his honorable service in the National Guard. We have questions regarding the execution of the War on Terror, specifically our actions in Iraq. The liberals are confusing people about our economic well-being, as the country's economy grew the fastest in 20 years last quarter.

Although the extreme Howard Dean did not do as well as expected, I believe that his existence in this election shows how the Democratic Party is out of touch with mainstream America. Even with Sen. John Kerry as the front-runner, the liberal ideology is hijacking the Democratic Party and proposing turning back the last three years of fighting the War on Terrorism.

Although Dr. Dean was all along an anti-war-on-terror candidate, never straying from his principles (which I do respect), Sen. Kerry has changed his position on the war many times since the onset of the campaign. He voted to give the president the authority to fight the war, including the actions in Iraq. Then as it seemed that unless the Democrats confuse America, and obscure the War on Terror to be not a necessary action, then the Democrats would not be able to compete with the Republicans in the election. All the senators, except Dennis Kucinich, who were running for the presidential nomination voted for the actions in Iraq, but all but Joseph Lieberman reversed themselves to get the anti-war vote and turn their backs on our troops that are in harm's way.

You would think Sen. Kerry would remember what it was like to have a radical anti-war movement all the while he was fighting the communists in southeast Asia. Nevertheless, when John Kerry returned from serving in Vietnam, he joined Jane Fonda and the other extremist protesters. In addition, Kerry went before congressional hearings on Vietnam and made accusations regarding war crimes against his "brothers in arms."

On the issue of the economy, the Democrats seem to want to scare people into believing that the Republicans are for the rich. In addition, that President Bush is only out to cut taxes for the very wealthy. Another attempt to instill fear in the voters.

However, with only a brief look at the tax code, one would see anybody with children gets $1,000 back per child, no matter what your income. Over 40,000 married couples benefit from the tax cuts. In addition, over 11,000 elderly Americans are helped by the economic package passed by the Republicans last year.

On the other hand, the Democrats want to erase this package from existence. Translation: They want to raise your taxes! A couple with an income of $40,000 and two children will have their taxes raised by over $900.

John Kerry does not want his record to be debated because he feels that his patriotism is being questioned. However, Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic national chairman, has the audacity to question President Bush's National Guard service. Double standard? You bet! But double standards are the campaign promise of the Democratic Party.

Remember when the War on Terrorism is done, we will be safer because those who conspire against our country will be brought to justice. Along with being safer, we will be wealthier because businesses conduct commerce without fear. These two things will be reversed if President Bush is not re-elected.

In closing, let us say no to turning our national security over to the United Nations. Let us say no to raising taxes. Let us slam the door on Sen. Kerry. If he wants to try to confuse us with fuzzy math and lies, I say, "Bring It On!"

I had wondered which set of talking points this asshole cut and pasted from. Never thought about the freepalongs.

:nuke: