SamSaid!

ERROR

     In an earlier publication (Politically Motivated), I referred to a WSJ article by John O'Neill, entitled “We are NOT GOP shills. Unfortunately, I dated the article for 6/27/04 when it should have been just yesterday  –  8/27/04. Sorry.

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

    There is a major furor over the TV ads being run by an organization called The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The ads are being vehemently denounced by Democrats (and a few others) for both content as well as being “politically motivated”. Some time back I opined that Kerry would rue the day when he decided to make the centerpiece of his campaign his Vietnam military service. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

     “Politically motivated”? Anyone with a civics IQ over 20 knows that the ads are politically motivated. Of course they are. But when John Kerry trotted out his Swift Boat comrades to aid in his cause and embellish his heroics, that too was politically motivated. How could you describe it otherwise? The problem is that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth see Mr. Kerry's service in a vastly different light  — and to make matters worse, they are throwing Mr Kerry's own words right back in his face, quote by quote. That's the worst kind of dirty trick.

     I don't think that the SWVT men are concerned all that much about a band aid Purple Heart or a phantom soujourn into Cambodia. But I think it rankles them no end that Kerry viciously condemned his military comrades in open public testimony that he no doubt now regrets. He simply cannot deny what he said.

     The leader and spokeman for the SWVT is John O'Neill, who has written a book entitled “Unfit for Command”, and his comments echo those of more than 250 other Swiftees who served in Vietnam at the same general time as Kerry. Naturally, the Democrats  blame the Republicans and George Bush for sponsoring and funding the “Swiftees” and their TV ads. On Friday 6/27, Mr O'Neill authored an article, “We are NOT GOP shills”, which appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Wall Street Journal. It should be required reading for all Americans. One key paragraph commands attention –  “Mr Kerry grossly exagerrateed and lied about his abbreviated 4 month tour in Vietnam. He disgraced all legitimate Vietnam War heroes when he falsely testified to Congress that we were war criminals, and daily engaged in atrocities that had the full approval of all levels in the chain of command. So, once Mr. Kerry decided to apply for commander in chief's job with a war hero resume, we felt compelled to come forward to explain why he is “Unfit for command”. The article is recommended reading   –  better than the left wing spin of the news media.

     Mr. Kerry opened Pandora's box. His choice. And now he wants George Bush to stop the ads. But the SBVT folks have their own agenda. Kerry will just have to stew in his own juice.     

HANDLERS

     John Kerry's handlers are bound and determined to make him a super war hero. But the Democrats aren't very skilled at transforming a chicken hawk into a war eagle. First there is the Cambodia fiasco where Kerry is pictured as a dashing Errol Flynn type of warrior whose acts of bravado are “seared” in his brain. Now it appears that he wasn't even in Cambodia and may not even know where it is. Excuse?  Well, the rivers over there are not very well mapped or posted by name.

     Then to suggest Kerry's relative disinterest in Intelligence matters, Kerry was criticized for missing a large number of meetings of the Intelligence Committee of which he was a member. In order to change the tempo, Kerry's people pointed out that he served as the Vice-Chairman of that Intelligence Committee. Turrns out that the Vice Chairman was BOB KERREY, not John Kerry. Wrong guy. Reminds me of The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. My guess is that Kerry's handlers will say that he was offered the Chairmanship and turned it down.

     Kerry has a tough time retracting or apologizing for his anti – military stance during and after the Vietnam period, and throughout his 17 years in the Senate. Can you image a guy who voted to support the Iraqi war, voted not to fund it, and then bragged about it? Trying to sell a new image won't be easy. He just is not believable. He makes me very uncomfortable.

ATTACK ADS

     John Kerry and his advisors have decided to make his Vietnam experience the centerpiece of his campaign. A first class, honest-to-goodness war hero  — ultra strong on defense. Forget about him throwing away his medals (or whatever they were) and accusing his comrades of atrocities, just look at the photos with his Swift Boat buddies. It makes a pretty picture even after 30-40 years even though part of it has been embellished for maximum political effect.  

     But now some other Vietnam vets have produced another picture of John and the War, and their TV ad is being loudly denounced as a despicable “attack ad”. So let's get this straight. Kerry's record is being gussied up to make him look good, and that is OK. On the other hand, a group of Vietnam vets paint a different picture, and this is an attack ad. What is good for the goose is obviously not good for the gander.

     Those of us who were not in Vietnam cannot personally vouch for the truth, and there are varied versions of a very messy affair. But Kerry opened the door and literally asked for response considering his very spotty record during and after that war. Is he really in a position to claim “foul”? Let's say that whatever happed 30-40 years ago is of relative unimportance. Re-writing history is something else. But what about Kerry running to Central America to encourage Danniel Ortega nd the Sandinista Communists? Was that just another aberration?

Ask yourself the question  –  if Kerry became President and we capture Bin Laden, what do you think he would do with him?? Turn him over to the UN? Do you have a better idea?

ADVICE

     During the high school and college days, there was no shortage of wordly advice coming from parents, older siblings, friends, relatives, teachers, professors, bartenders, Ex-GIs, and virtually anyone else with experience or opinions. One example that still stands out in my memory is “You will be judged by the company you keep”. For a young man, I am sure that applied to both male and female acquaintances.  That saying, long buried in my mind, has been resurrected by John Kerry. Aside from his obvious waffling, he might earn the benefit of the doubt  — except for the company he keeps.

     When I see him chumming with Ted Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Howard Dean, Michael Moore, Barbara Boxer,Whoopie Goldberg and the remainder of the left wing elite, I don't have to look any further. George Bush may not be beyond criticism, but look at the alternative. John Kerry has made his bed, and will now have to sleep in it. And above all, the image of Kerry turning to the UN as the “great authority” and subverting US autonomy to that lily-livered outfit is more than I can stomach. Sorry John, don't look for help from me or my friends!  It all comes down to the company you keep. Good advice that has stood the test of time.