Fast Forward to the Present, End Fighting over Vietnam [View All]

[Dancing_Dave]

"Fast-forward to the present: End fighting over Vietnam

John Kerry wanted to make his service in the Vietnam War the focus of his run for the presidency. Now it is — but hardly the way he had hoped.
An escalating furor over what the Democratic nominee did in Vietnam 35 years ago is eclipsing a more important national debate over what he would do about a real-time war in Iraq.

While Kerry is crying foul now, he invited the superheated scrutiny by making his war record the cornerstone of his campaign. He mentioned it at virtually every appearance and saluted last month's Democratic National Convention in Boston with the opening line, "I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for duty."

His strategy is understandable. Highlighting qualifications as a wartime president may be a political imperative in a post-9/11 world. But it carries obvious risks by reopening old wounds about a war that still bitterly divides the nation."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-08-23-third_x.htm