Why do people felt question Kerry's service and his action after wards so much

I find it very hard to criticize Bush's Vietnam record as i'm not so sure i, and many people on this board, would not have done all they could to avoid active duty had we been in the same position. Clinton used what deferrals he could, as did Cheney and many many others.

I'll also not condemn George for drinking or drugs when he was in his twenties, because, again, i know too many people who turned out just fine in spite of not having bullet proof resume's early in life. Some of the posters i respect most on this board have hinted that they may have partaken in the occasional pharmaceutical journey . In fact, i have more respect for George for remaining silent on the issue than i had for Clinton's ridiculous 'never inhaled' comment.

Kerry's service, and post war activity, is an issue because Kerry chose to make his service and war medals a cornerstone of his character. This left him open to the attacks from Rove and Co., due to the length of service, relatively minor nature of his wounds, and statements from him and those he associated with after the war. I'm not saying the attacks are justified (in fact, i think they are in very poor taste), but I can see where Kerry is vulnerable. The attacks (and they ARE attacks) on Kerry's Vietnam record are not comparing him to Bush, but rather to the image that some of Kerry's supporters have tried to push. The war hero moniker is one that is usually worn with humility -- some in Kerry's camp have chosen to make it front and centre. And this give the Rove pit bulls the in they're looking for to exploit any weaknesses they can envision.

 

I'm not so sure anymore.

Until Kerry comes out and says he did not support the war, and that he would not have gone in had he known what Bush knew (or should have known) he has not taken a substantially different approach. Same book, different cover, as someone said in one of the caption threads.

Sure, he says he wouldn't have messed it up as much as Bush....but he pretty much has to say that, and it's a pretty easy statement to make.

Governments around the world are taking serious flack for their positions on the Iraq war. The issue in most nations is whether they should have participated at all...yet the 'issue' in THIS campaign is just HOW the participation should have happened -- not whether it should have happened. Not much of an 'issue' and i can see why they may prefer talking about characatures of young men in the 60's.

 

truer words were never spoken.

 

Kerry was on a steam boat? My esteem for him just went up. Those things don't move to fast, even when people are shooting at you. Did it have one of those big paddle wheels?

 

bnb.. I know what you mean.. I'm thankful there isn't a draft now.. I'm 21 and in college.. and I wish I'd be brave enough to join military etc.. but I post on internet message boards half my time.. I don't know if I'm tough enough to survive a war!

but if I was drafted.. of course I'd go

 

Or arguments on the Interweb.