You have to admire the balls on these Democrats. They send crippled Max Cleland (always good for a photo-op) to the president’s ranch to deliver this letter (in .pdf) demanding that he ‘condemn’ the Swift Boat Vets and make them ‘cease and desist.’
Never mind that Bush does not control these men.
Never mind that the ad in question is not even running anymore.
Never mind that Bush has stated repeatedly that John Kerry should be proud of his record.
Never mind that the Vets say they will not listen to Bush.
Never mind that the vets themselves think Bush is an ’empty shirt.’ All of that pales in comparison to the audacity to include this paragraph:
Mr. President, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, we believe you owe a special duty to America’s combat veterans when they are under false and scurrilous attacks. We hope you will recognize this duty, and speak out against this group and their efforts to smear the repuation of a man who has served this country nobly.
Three of the signatories are Fritz Hollings, ‘Vietnam Ace’ Tom Harkin, and Frank ‘Chickenhawk’ Lautenberg.
Dean
Most of this is simply election year politics, albeit at a particularly nasty level.
But wheeling (literally) a maimed veteran to maximize the photo opportunity? I think that goes more than a bit beyond the pale, and makes this less a “typical” incident, and one marking a new depth of the gutter.
Personally, I think it would’ve been more effective if it had been Bob Kerrey (the OTHER Kerry, who won a Medal of Honor) who’d delivered the letter.
Lynxx Pherrett
The sorry spectacle of Cleland letting himself be used as a prop by the Kerry campaign provides a stunning example of why he is no longer a Senator.
capt joe
Fritz (wants the draft back) Hollings.
So how is that attempt to get the draft back going for him.
A fine scotch
Via the Instapundit:
http://georgewbush.com/KerryMediaCenter/Read.aspx?ID=3364
Sorry, don’t remember my HTML coding…
RW
Keep in mind that Cleland isn’t exactly busy nowadays, what with losing his election.
Tim
This is why Dems are losers.
Cleland has achieved that most exalted status in the Democrat firmament – professional victim – better yet, professional victim of scurrilous Evil Republican Devil Dogs.
So Cleland, being not altogether dumb (setting aside the sad but indisputably self-inflicted grenade incident in Vietnam that cost him, unfortunately, his limbs) capitalizes on his new-found Democrat sainthood, and pretty much assures himself at least a few more campaign cycles of travel, speaking engagements and dinner. Not the worst gig for an out-of-work, former U.S. Senator.
But in the long run its no good for the Dems, because most Americans, despite Bob Shrum’s best efforts, don’t think of themselves as victims, nor are they going to entrust the reins of government to a party that places so much status upon being a victim. So Kerry, Cleland and other knock-need, limp-wristed bed-wetters can whine and cry and complain all they want – but they’ll lose.
Tim
This is why Dems are losers.
Cleland has achieved that most exalted status in the Democrat firmament – professional victim – better yet, professional victim of scurrilous Evil Republican Devil Dogs.
So Cleland, being not altogether dumb (setting aside the sad but indisputably self-inflicted grenade incident in Vietnam that cost him, unfortunately, his limbs) capitalizes on his new-found Democrat sainthood, and pretty much assures himself at least a few more campaign cycles of travel, speaking engagements and dinner. Not the worst gig for an out-of-work, former U.S. Senator.
But in the long run its no good for the Dems, because most Americans, despite Bob Shrum’s best efforts, don’t think of themselves as victims, nor are they going to entrust the reins of government to a party that places so much status upon being a victim. So Kerry, Cleland and other knock-kneed, limp-wristed bed-wetters can whine, complain and cry all they want – they’ll only lose, again and again.
pj
you guys wanted to have your fun lying about a war hero’s medals, so fun you will have.
That Swift Boat Veterans ad will not be forgotten, and it will now drown out the effort to focus on Kerry the war protestor.
If you’re going for the kill, you better not miss — and you guys missed. Now watch for the return fire.
Russ
Missed? Really? Is that why Kerry has gone from “Bring. It. On.” to “Ouch! Quit! It!” in the blink of an eye?
I just wonder what the next SBVT ad will be. Other than lethal, I mean.
Ernest Brown
Gee, PJ, why do you think we hate a self-confessed war criminal and professional gigilo to plutocrats?
Hmmmmm…
Ken Hahn
PJ, that wasn’t going for the kill. That was a ranging shot. Fortunately we don’t have to waste ammunition firing for effect since the target self destructed. I’d expect return fire if Kerry hadn’t scuttled himself.
kelly
PJ, my young friend, let me pull you aside and a give you some friendly advice:
First, never take a self-proclaimed “war hero” at his word. “Heroes never shout.”
Second, never defend something your candidate has already repudiated.
Third, careful with the shooting analogies. You could put an eye out.
You’re welcome.
Tim
PJ – Wait until the Swifties unveil the “Kerry met with the enemy in Paris while still an Officer in the United States Navy” commercial.
Folks generally want to believe the best of other folks, but when this is all said and done, JFK’s rep is going to be hanging real close to the other Senator from Mass.
Max M
These guys are liars and all Bush had to do was specifically sad he dissapprove of THIER advert. But he didn’t, and he didn’t do it for the same reason he didn’t in 2000. He deserves all the blowback he gets.
John Kerry is a seasoned political operative and this is the race he’s been waiting to run in all his life. He’s known perfectly well that these attacks were inevitable and I have no doubt that every part of the fight back you’re witnessing has been well planned in advance. That’s not to say he’s playing it perfectly, though he’s not doing a bad job so far, but that these are not the actions of a desperate man.
Their impact was never going to be from the paid advertisments but from their coverage on CNN and FOX. Now that their reputations are in shreds – despite the best efforts of Fox news pimps like Mort Kondrake who had the disgusting audacity to say that Kerry has to answer ‘questions about him being a, a babykiller’, – the impact of their subsequent attacks will be substantially dulled. Its a pity for you guys really, they could have been quite devastating, handled correctly (dishonestly of course, but in a tactically sound fashion.)
Ernest Brown
Wow, Max M, I guess the fact that Kerry’s own campaign is now admitting that his first PH was bogus (which means that his 3PH “outtathere” after 4 months is phony and a gross travesty of duty and honor) just means that you love lies and liars and can’t get enough of a plutocratic, fascist war criminal, eh wot?
Ernest Brown
RW,
Actually, Max the Victim DOES have a job. It is rather cushy one at that, all thanks to a very interesting individual:
http://nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry200408251621.asp
capt joe
Yeah PJ, lets look at who was “lying about a war hero’s medals”, shall we.
1992: Dems and their pet media (Sydney Blumenthal) lied about Bush Sr WW2 record
1996: Dems and their pet media (The nation article) lie about Dole’s WW2 record.
Yes indeed. You got the return fire from those engagements. Hope you enjoy it.
bains
I dont know who else caught Bob Dole on Scarbourgh this evening in which Sen. Dole said to expect Democrat propoganda to be splashed across the pages of tomorrows big papers regarding Cleland’s antics. We already know of the MSM’s distain for cable, radio, and internet. If Sen. Dole was correct, we’ll see just how ballzy they are in there disregard for the ‘unwashed media’.
Max M
Speaking of Bob Dole. Ernest, earning Purple Hearts for minor injuries or injuries not inflicted by enemy fire may be a lot more common than you think. Just ask Bob Dole. Was that a ‘gross travesty of duty and honour’ too, or are you just another partisan hypocrite who’ll vent spleen over the slightest infraction by a Democrat and defend every Republican transgression no matter how ‘groos’ it is? Yeah, I thought so. On to the next gob of mud I suppose – we’ll find out in a few months how much of it you dishonourable slanderers manage to make stick.
Huck
Max–
I read the article on Dole. When did Bob Dole get to go home early because of his Purple Hearts? I don’t see that in the article, please point it out. Also–when Bob Dole ran for Prez in 96–did he come out at his convention and say, “Reporting for duty” and have all his fellow veterans on stage??? Maybe I missed that.
John Kerry embellished his war record–you can call other people “liars” all you want. I could care less, but Kerry is the one trying to leave the impression that he was Audie Murphy in “Nam”, so I have no sympathy for him.
Oh, and one other thing—as for the “next gob of mud”. When Terry McAuliffe went on national tv and called Bush “AWOL” without a shred of proof–that was mud-slinging right??? Bush was Honorably Discharged–isn’t that just as sleazy as questioning Kerry’s medals? (Actually it’s more sleazy-there’s really no evidence Bush was AWOL–Kerry’s own fellow officers and his commanders who were actually there have come out against Kerry.)
Who’s the partisan hypocrite now?
P.S. I read your posts on Cleland–where you say he didn’t have a cushy position waiting for him? He’s a Bush appointee making $136K for pretty much no work.
Karen
Doesn’t the sheer political drama of Max Cleland showing up at the ranch to deliver a letter to the President bother any of the Kerry supporters? Just how stupid do they think the American people are? This was a show.
The false outrage against Bush for the Swift Vets ads is an insult to our intelligence. There have been many ads against Bush, put out by liberal 527s, that have demonstrably contained lies. There are the same, or worse, connections between the 527s and the Kerry campaign or DNC. You haven’t seen Bush attacking Kerry for them; for the most part, he has ignored them or answered with opposing ads.
For me, it’s not the charges against Kerry which have totally turned me off, it’s the reaction to the charges. This is a group of people totally unprepared to lead a country.
Dean
Max M:
Do you understand how the Purple Heart system works? Here’s a question for you: Did Max Cleland get a Purple Heart for the incident where he lost his limbs?
In order to receive a Purple Heart, you must have received the wound, in essence, while under enemy fire. You can receive it for minor wounds, you can receive it for self-inflicted wounds, but said wounds must be received in the course of engaging the enemy.
Thus, Cleland’s injuries were the result of an accident NOT in the face of the enemy—hence, no Purple Heart.
By contrast, Bob Dole’s first wound was received *in the course of combat with the enemy*. Therefore, he received a Purple Heart.
However, Ernest’s point is also off-base. It is not a matter of whether the wound was self-inflicted or not—it is whether it was whether he received the wounds WHILE ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY. If there were no enemy around, he did not deserve the PH, no matter how he received them. (Frex, if a boat-mate had accidentally shot him, he would STILL not deserve the PH, if there were no enemy forces engaged.)
What does seem to be the case, however, is that Kerry’s version of how he won the PH relies on the idea that it was *INFLICTED BY THE ENEMY*. If it was not, it raises the key question: Was there an enemy engaged at that point at all?
Terry
Just curious, John. Why on earth do you put up with pond scum like Max M.?
SpoogeDemon
Doesn’t the sheer political drama of Max Cleland showing up at the ranch to deliver a letter to the President bother any of the Kerry supporters?
I’m sure it does, but apparently they’re willing to grit their teeth and bear any indignation to get rid of Bush.
pj
Dean
Since you are one of the few on this site who knows what is required for getting a purple heart, I’ll take you seriously. Here’s my understanding of what happened that night based on statements from Kerry’s crew mates. Kerry and two crewmates were in the Swiftboat. Another guy who wasn’t on Kerry’s crew recently claimed to be there too, but none of the other three remember him, and as one of them said, “we can count to three.” The phantom fourth witness won’t permit interviews.
They are scared shitless in an encounter with vietnamese on another boat. The vietnamese don’t follow orders and go to shore. Kerry and the other two soldiers, all inexperienced at that point, get scared and start firing. Once the shooting starts, they really unload. They are not focused on who is shooting back because they are shooting like crazy — but they wouldn’t be trying to kill people if they didn’t believe they were engaging the enemy. As you’ve explained, it doesn’t matter if the VC hit the shore and fled without firing a single return shot as far as Kerry’s purple heart is concerned.
Kerry gets wounded by shrapnel. Nobodly knows for sure exactly how and it doesn’t matter. They report the incident as an engagement with the enemy, and Kerry gets a PH because shrapnel entered his body in an engagement with the enemy. Kerry’s never said he knew for certain the source of the shrapnel, and neither have his shipmates, because its never mattered a whit.
In any other circumstance, only some american soldier hating scum bag would question the conduct of those guys on that boat that night. They were in an ambiguous, uncomfortable situation. They quickly determined that they were facing the enemy. They fired a ton of bullets at the enemy and they got the hell out of there. If that’s not engaging the enemy, then I guess its a war crime because then they were shooting at non-enemy civilians.
Is that the position of the anti-Kerry people?
And to others, stop with the three wounds crap. Yeah, Kerry volunteered for Vietnam, finished his tour and could have gone home, but re-upped for a second tour on a Swift boat, all because he wanted to get hit three times with shrapnel and go back to the states — where he could have already been sent if he wanted.
The swift boat purple heart rate was 119% — they got shot at a lot and were on aluminum boats that splattered shrapnel.
kelly
“…seasoned political operative…”
Snort, chortle, guffaw…please, Max you’re killing me.
I, uh, oh…I’m sorry. That’s the most hysterical thing I’ve EVER read about Kerry. (Wiping my eyes dry…)
Unremarkable junior senator with not ONE piece of legislation to point to? Check
Craven opportunist? Check
Self-absorbed elitist phoney? Check.
Out-of touch poser with thin skin? Well, you get the point.
But “seasoned political operative?”
Snicker…oh, what the hell…great big belly laugh. Thanks, I needed that!
Dean
pj:
The problem (and I’m not a JAG officer) is whether or not THINKING you’re engaged with the enemy and suffering a self-inflicted wound merits a Purple Heart.
For that, I do NOT fault Lt(jg) Kerry. The history of war is replete w/ folks firing at shadows, thinking they’re under fire, shoot, thinking they’re about to be overrun by….nothing at all.
Had John Kerry taken his PH, and the subsequent two, and simply come home, even leaving them in a shadow box on his wall, I doubt very much anyone would care.
But *he* chose to make Vietnam the centerpiece of his campaign. He opened that can of worms, when it was by no means necessary. (C’mon, do you think the GOP was about to make Vietnam the center of *its* campaign??)
As for why Kerry went to Vietnam, his volunteering for a second tour, etc. I have to admit, that is the oddest part of his history. He did not have to go (the second time, the first time, of course, was after his deferment was denied), and he did (and he DOES deserve credit for that). Why he did that, and for Swift boats rather than, say, staying aboard a frigate or destroyer, remains unanswered.
Josh Martin
He volunteered for SB duty before they were assigned to river work. Figured he’d tool about like JFK, get rammed by a Japanese ship, and end up President.
Ernest Brown
Dean,
I did not say that Kerry’s near-microscopic “injury” was intentionally self-inflicted, I said that his claim of a Purple Heart based on that wound was “bogus,” i.e. it was not derived from enemy action and thus he knew that it was not worthy of the award. Hence the reason for his going around the chain of command. The subsequent “3 Purple Hearts and out” release from the Swift Boat tour of duty was a goldbricking and dishonorable dereliction of duty unworthy of an officer and a supposed “gentleman.”
Ernest Brown
Dean,
I did not say that Kerry’s near-microscopic “injury” was intentionally self-inflicted, I said that his claim of a Purple Heart based on that wound was “bogus,” i.e. he knew that it was not worthy of the award. Hence the reason for his going around the chain of command. This makes his subsequent “3 Purple Hearts and out” release from the Swift Boat tour of duty a goldbricking and dishonorable dereliction of duty unworthy of an officer and a supposed “gentleman.”
Ernest Brown
Josh Martin,
(sorry for the double post)
Yes, the sad thing is that the one person who has done the most to trash John Kerry’s service record is John Kerry, both in 1971 and now. PJ ignores the fact that “swift boats” were not assigned to riverine duty when Kerry volunteered for them. Given the fact that he brought along a movie camera, one suspects that he had a “PT-109” photo op in mind, and got something else entirely.
Look, I thought that the Republicans making hay out of the fact that Gore got a “bodyguard” during his tour was about the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. Unless his name was Pfc. Clark Kent, an enemy bullet would have gotten to Gore all the same if he was out in the bush. Likewise the stupidities about Bush’s service record were idiotic, to say the least. Quayle got what he deserved, perhaps not enough condemnation, for using his dad’s influence to get a cushy Guard stateside post to avoid danger.
Kerry, however, wants to have it both ways. Audie Murphy in ‘Nam, Benedict Arnold at home. Ain’t gonna happen.