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Missing In Action.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
Everywhere you looked at FleetCenter, you saw American flags and photos of Kerry as a young man in Vietnam. And time and again in his speech, Kerry returned to that experience.
The idea, no doubt, was to reassure Americans in the middle of a war on terror that the party of George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis and Michael Moore could really be trusted in a national security crisis.
We doubt many people were convinced. We certainly weren't.
Kerry's supporters may think that contrasting Kerry's 4 1/2 months in Vietnam with George W. Bush's service in the National Guard will be favorable to them. It won't. The questions arise all too quickly.
Yes, Kerry served in Vietnam for roughly 130 days. But it's the 35 years since, as both private citizen and senator, that we wonder about.
To say Kerry's speech was short on specifics is putting it mildly. Indeed, it contained none -- as if the senator and his handlers figured it's enough to say, "We're not George Bush," and the election is his. Elections, however, are won not on heavy-handed symbolism, but on ideas and qualifications.
"Judge me on my record," Kerry said. Very well:
- Kerry's one tough foe for anyone to shake.(Editorial)
- Newspaper article from: The Boston Herald Buckingham, Virginia March 8, 2004 700+ words
...underestimate the impact. Late in 1996, Kerry was on the defensive from reports...Globe columnist David Warsh accused Kerry of committing a war crime while serving in Vietnam...effect was devastating - for Weld. Kerry denounced the unfounded charge...
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- Magazine article from: National Review Lowry, Richard May 31, 2004 700+ words
...activities during or after the war; his belief that nearly...driven by "pride." Kerry has Al Gore's aloofness...was resentment against Kerry among his fellow war protesters, who were...lot. One tried to call Kerry at home and was told...
- Kerry Spokesman Plays Down Candidate's 1971 Vietnam Meeting.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News March 25, 2004 700+ words
...when the United States was at war, Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said...Vietnam Veterans Against the War. In that speech, Kerry asked: "How do you ask a...Vietnam Veterans Against the War, a group that Kerry led in 1971. Indeed, there...
- Kerry believed allegations could no longer be ignored.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News August 20, 2004 700+ words
...televised debate that if Kerry, who became a leading critic of the war after he returned from...strongly about the war, you would not have gone." Kerry responded that Shannon...question his Vietnam War record, Kerry was sick of it...
- Kerry Calls for Corporate Tax Cuts as Incentive to Halt Outflow of U.S. Jobs.
- Newspaper article from: Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News) March 27, 2004 700+ words
...raise taxes. "We find John Kerry's pledge to decrease business...Michigan Republican Party. Kerry's visit to Michigan coincided...in recent days of the TV ad war between the campaigns. Political...is still seven months away. Kerry's visit kicked off what will...
- Kerry speaks out against veterans' ad.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Gilbert, Craig August 20, 2004 700+ words
...just that." Bush has praised Kerry's war service as skipper of a swift...attacking Kerry's accounts of his war service, said Kerry's accusers were too numerous...attacked by Kerry. We were labeled war criminals by Kerry in 1972, and now we're all...
- Kerry and Edwards Family, Friends and Invited Guests.
- Press release article from: PR Newswire July 30, 2004 700+ words
...individuals have been invited to join the Kerry and Edwards families this evening: Dan Barbiero - John Kerry's College Roommate Helen Barbiero - Friend...Bundy - Bundy Family Harvey Bundy - John Kerry's College Roommate Hollister Bundy - John...
- Kerry's War Commanders Speak Out against His Candidacy.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News May 5, 2004 700+ words
...his military and medical records, and said Kerry should be denied the White House because of...allegations that some superiors had committed "war crimes." Kerry has since said his accusation about war crimes and atrocities was too harsh, but many...