Easy call

Creating and passing out the Purple Heart bandaids was, I think, only meant to make fun of Kerry’s minor wounds in Vietnam. It was not meant to reflect badly on other veterans.

It was also irredeemably stupid. How could you NOT think it would insult other veterans, especially those who suffered serious wounds?

I plan to vote for Bush, but I still condemn this kind of nonsense.

VVA may be “non political”
but it might have been worth mentioning that
“John Kerry was a co-founder of VVA in 1979 and he is a life member of VVA.”
http://www.vva.org/whatsnew/restricted.htm

And of course John Kerry was an entirely non partisan veteran in 1979 so its hard to see how any of his influence could have rubbed off.

I regret the deletion.

I plan to vote for Bush

Why? I mean, the guy’s completely bloody incompetent. Regardless of political position, he doesn’t even meet the minimum knows-what-the-fuck-he’s-doing standard for doing the job of President. Why on Earth would you want to keep him in this critical job which he is clearly incapable of doing?

I disagree with the individual who said that they are only attacking Kerry and not demeaning purple hearts, in general. The fact is that Kerry did receive a purple heart and he did so by satisfying the rigid standards set with regard to whether such an award was appropriate.

By wearing these band-aids, these individuals are asserting that the standards are too broad, i.e., that Kerry satisfied the standards by receiving wounds that were, in the opinion of “skeptics,” not as disfiguring or serious as, let’s say, a Max Cleland.

But, the fact remains: Kerry was awarded these medals, and such an award was made pursuant to the standards as they existed at that time. In this light, the argument being proferred by those who wear a mocking band-aid can be seen for its actual meaning: that many veterans were awarded purple hearts pursuant to a standard with which they disagree.

Of course, we don’t even reach this issue with regard to Bush, because — by virtue of his own actions and choices — he was never near a situation wherein he might be awarded a purple heart. Accordingly, there are no purple hearts to be challenged. The fact that he has not been forthright with the American people with regard to his use of familial connections to obtain a spot in the National Guard in a division often referred to as the “Champagne Division” raises serious issues concerning his character, credibility (not to mention the question as to whether he actually satisfied his committment), and his constant assertions that he is somehow a typical American.

Frankly, I don’t think this time period is very relevant except in two ways: (i) I think one who knows the cost of war first-hand is more likely to make a prudent, measured decision with respect to whether a situation warrants the deployment of troops; and (ii) Bush has constantly portrayed himself in military paraphenalia, including the infamous flight suit, and this has obviously triggered much curiousity concerning his satisfaction of service (and whether he has been truthful with regard to his representations related to his service).

Personally, I would rather see the debate shift toward honest discourse concerning the serious policy differences that exist between the present administration and the proposed Kerry administration. I think the present administration has made their policies perfectly clear, given that they have had four years to enact them. Kerry has set forth his policies on his web-site. They are markedly different and I think voters should study each so that they can make an informed decision rather than one based on innuendo.

Respectfully,
CT

Well, Martin, maybe they were using Swift Liars rules – ignore what they said before, ignore the records, ignore all (or the majority) of the eyewitnesses said.

By those standards, Ted is an Evul Librul Flip-Flopping Liar. He probably spit on Vietnam Veterans back in the sixties, when he was shacked up with Hanoi Jane (I’d post a picture, except that I don’t know how to use Photoshop).

BTW, I mean “disgusting” to apply to the RNC delegates, not necessarily to lightning.