Kerry Gets Mixed Reception From Veterans

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kerry2sep02.story
THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Kerry Gets Mixed Reception From Veterans
American Legion members' enthusiasm wanes when Democrat criticizes Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and its aftermath.
By Matea Gold
Times Staff Writer

September 2, 2004

NASHVILLE — In one of his most pointed critiques of the Bush administration's handling of Iraq, Sen. John F. Kerry on Wednesday cataloged what he called a series of missteps in postwar planning that have allowed terrorism to flourish.

Speaking to thousands of American Legion members gathered in Nashville for their annual convention, the Democratic presidential candidate cited decisions by the "civilian leadership" that he said had left Iraqi security forces unprepared for their new tasks, the country's borders insecure and its weapons unattended.

"Terrorists have secured havens in Iraq that were not there before," said Kerry, standing onstage in a cavernous hotel ballroom. "And we have been forced to reach accommodation with those who have repeatedly attacked our troops. Violence has spread in Iraq, Iran has expanded its influence and extremism has gained momentum."

Although many of the American Legion delegates enthusiastically applauded remarks Kerry made earlier in his speech about the need for better veterans benefits, his criticism of the administration's foreign policy was received coolly and the audience was silent as he detailed his view of what has gone wrong in Iraq.

"Now, I know that some of these things are hard to listen to," the candidate said, breaking from his prepared remarks to acknowledge the silence. "But I think the president himself … admitted that he miscalculated in Iraq," Kerry added, referring to a remark Bush made in a New York Times interview. "In truth, his miscalculation was ignoring the advice that was given to him, including the best advice of America's own military."<snip>

those veterans would have applauded him because they would admire his strength. I know this is true, because I read it here daily.

when you realize you have just been fucked over by someone you thought you could trust......

Same shit many vets and others held during the Vietnam War.

Guess, it hasn't changed.


You would think that the vets would learn from the past.

These fat assholes know that Bush is fucking them in the benefits and so cheered Kerry. How come these same fat bastards cannot stand to see the point by point truth of the decision making involved in Iraq revealed but prefer Bush's revised version?? Kerry make an excellent point when he talked about the top brass telling Bush what was needed and then releaved of command and retired and in the end it was the military who was right and these clowns wrong. These are vets who are suppose to understand all the 'war stuff'-can't they see how bad decisions caused the mess we are in. Stuff their benefits.

But when someone is giving a substantive speech instead of a series of canned applause lines, the audience isn't raucous -- they're thinking.

Now, I know that a thinking audience is anathema to journalism as presently constituted in our country, but the account sounds pretty good to me. Kerry was telling the veterans that Bush has Cheneyed up Iraq, and their comrades in arms are dying for no good reason. In addition, the feel-good reactive solution of blowing everything in Iraq to Kingdom Come has devolved into a very bad situation.

I would be quite worried if the Legionnaires had been wildly applauding those sentiments. It's good that they were quiet and thoughtful, despite what some writer wanted to see.

and even if men don't agree with you - they appreciate and respeect strength and candor.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Kerry showed strength in going into the lion's den and telling them things they didn't want to hear. He got them to listen. The fact that they didn't explode into wild applause doesn't surprise me or worry me. It takes a while for the truth to sink in.

why should it be hard to listen to the truth that Bush does not give a shit about them or our troops in Iraq.....these vets should be kissing Kerry's ass because he is the president who will look out for them and not send troops into harms way on a fucking LIE!

:eyes:

Lets see how they rally around old King George after that little ditty on 60 minutes. Waitin in ancticipation !

They cheer successes and rah-rah.

Or "LA Times Provides Anecdotal Evidence, No Data, that Vets "Cold" to Kerry.

'Member 2000? "No Applause" stories were part of the whores' regular arsenal of Goring techniques.

Write the LA Times and ask them why they can't think of a new way to sneak their subjective acecdotes to "news" stories.