Pictures of Kerry testifying against Viet Nam War.

[lottie244]

Since he fought there, was wounded there, saved lives there, he had the right to speak out against this barbaric war that cost so many innocent lives on both sides. Who is more qualified to speak out against the that war or any war, those who never fought or those who did? There is nothing wrong with fighting 'for' you country when you think or are led to believe that you are and then when you learn the truth and see the atocities on both sides speaking out against them. It takes a man of real COURAGE and conviction to speak out when it is not a popular thing to do.

[MercutioATC]

1. Ummm...when did he buck popularity?

When Kerry came home from Vietnam, the war was definitely NOT popular.

The Iraq war enjoyed a 67%-70% approval rating with the public when it was begun.

HOW, exactly, does this illustrate "courage and conviction"?

[jpgray]

2. Throwing in with the protestors was NOT at all popular

Even after Kent State, a Gallup Poll found 80% believed the students were the cause of the incident, and not the National Guard.

[MercutioATC]

5. Vietnam wasn't unpopular?

Sure, the Kent State incident was blamed on the students, but that's a far cry from the Vietnam war being popular...

[jpgray]

6. The war wasn't popular, but the protestors were not at all popular

Becoming a strong antiwar protestor, particularly with the Vietnam veterans against the war, was not the choice to make you popular.

[MercutioATC]

7. But there was an established anti-war movement that provided a

following...

I don't doubt that Kerry spoke his mind. I just don't believe that it qualified as a courageous act to do so.

[jpgray]

8. You must have a pretty rose-colored view of how protestors were treated

Especially if you think it was all safe speeches and popularity--I don't think many protestors of that war would agree with you that what they did was not courageous.

[MercutioATC]

9. I'm not denying that. There WAS, however, a large and growing

group of people opposed to the war. There was a base that supported Kerry's opposition to the Vietnam war.

[jpgray]

12. If you're really having trouble connecting Kerry to courage and conviction

If I understand you, you have a hard time connecting those values to the current Kerry. Well, I encourage you to get a hold of the Dick Cavett show from '71 wherein he debated John O'Neill. If you doubt it took courage to say and do what he said and did back then, that footage should convince you, whatever you think of him now. They showed it on CSPAN not too long ago.

[MercutioATC]

13. I'll try to find it. ANYTHING to make me feel better about my vote is

welcome.

(Yes, aside from the whole "ABB" thing. Kerry is better than Bush. The squash in my parents' garden is better than Bush. I would just like to feel that I'm not just voting for the lesser of two evils.)

[Frances]

4. And that's why Nixon defeated Humprhey in 68 and

won a landslide reelection against McGovern in 72?

I admit I was shocked by the outcome of the McGovern contest, but unfortnately, the "silent majority" turned out to outnumber the anti-war folks like me by a large margin.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. I was disappointed that so many speakers skipped this part of Kerry's past

Watching the convention last night, you could have gotten the idea Kerry came back from Vietnam and immediately became a prosecutor.

[Bush was AWOL]

10. I actually think he was a better speaker back then

He was an amazing speaker for such a young guy.

[Cybergata]

11. I believe I saw this on PBS the other night...

Nixon had Kerry investigated and closely watched. Kerry was added to Nixon's enemies list right after Kerry testified to the Senate. Nixon searched and found an anti-Kerry vet. Before a a debate between this vet (I can't remember his name) and Kerry on the Dick Cavet show, Nixon and his boys coached him on what to say to Kerry and things to accuse Kerry or slip Kerry up on. Kerry went into the debate with out all the coaching or any FBI information, yet still debated like a pro.

I really hated Nixon, and anyone on Nixon's list of enemies is all right by me. Looking into Kerry's anti-war stance is what helped bridge the gap between me being a Dennis Kucinich supporter to being a John Kerry supporter.

:hippie: