More bullshit.

[_dynamicdems]

This "story" was just posted today. More bullshit upon bullshit. Right-wingers are desperate. I heard on the news that the lead Democrats have over Republicans going into this election is historically the largest divide by party lines ever. Can't you just smell the desperation mixed in the the other pungent odor?

WASHINGTON - During a Vietnam-era run for Congress three decades ago, John Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to "the perpetuation of war crimes."

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned against the war, made the observations in answers to a 1972 candidate questionnaire from a Massachusetts peace group.

After Kerry caused a firestorm this week with what he termed a botched campaign joke that Republicans said insulted current soldiers, The Associated Press was alerted to the historical comments by a former law enforcement official who monitored 1970s anti-war activities.

snip

Kerry's spokesman, David Wade, said Wednesday the historical document needed to be viewed in the era in which it was written but that it nonetheless raised a "bedrock question in a time of war when sacrifice should be shared by all Americans."



http://enews.earthlink.net/article/pol?guid=20061102/45497b50_3421_13345200611021938100139

Gee, I wonder who that former law enforcement official might be... Might he be someone inside the Bush Administration?

[TayTay]

1. AH, he was, in part, right

the military, solely because of Bush and his Admin, is in danger of being charged with war crimes. That isn't Kerry's fault, it's Bush's.

[ProSense]

6. Exactly!

They should be focused on Bush's war crimes!

Even this claim is BS:

The Associated Press was alerted to the historical comments by a former law enforcement official who monitored 1970s anti-war activities.

Given the entire Swift Liars campaign, this is news to the AP? What's their excuse for writing a BS article that bears no relevance to the fact that the RW distorted Kerry's comments in an attempted smear?

[Dr Ron]

2. Really a stretch

First they spread misinformation by distorting the meaning of what Kerry said.

When they are proven to be incorrect, they resort to claim that a 1972 statement shows that Kerry meant what they claim he meant in a 2006 statement.

[_dynamicdems]

8. It's so ridiculous but infuriating nonetheless. n/t

[Mass]

3. It seems Solomon could not find anything to link Reid to Abramoff.

So he has been reassigned.

Kerry was right, however in his assessment, unfortunately.

[Firespirit]

4. Complete fucking IDIOTS

I am really sorry for all the profanity from me these days, but I am beyond furious.

IDIOTS.

TOOLS.

If you went merely EIGHT years back in my life, you'd find a rebellious free market "fuck tha system" minimal government libertarian!

And they want to talk about war crimes?

Let's talk about the female soldier who committed suicide rather than torture.

Let's talk about the white power groups infiltrating the military in order to create a racist army.

Let's talk about the BUSH policies that have turned off people from enlisting, and forced true patriots into terrible situations.

Bring it. I dare them.

[_dynamicdems]

7. Profanity is completely understandable under the circumstance.

I've been using a lot of it lately myself. Sometimes "dodoheads" just doesn't cut it: they are fucking idiots.

[wisteria]

5. The RW talking heads were all over this this morning. LOL

Did I miss something. Is Kerry running for an office in 06?

[karynnj]

9. Kerry had this position in 1972

This was when we still had a draft. The idea of a volunteer army in those days flew in the face of the idea of citizen/soldiers and would have seemed more like mercenaries. I know I read things at the time that warned of the dangers of a permanent warrior class by people older than John Kerry at that time. John Kerry was far from alone in thinking this.

Even in the 1970s, John Kerry spoke out against the burden of war being borne mostly by the poor and the minorities. In his Senate testimony, he mentioned that blacks bore the highest percent of casualties and later in the speech mentioned that when they returned they were disproportionately among the unemployed. This was clearly an issue of fairness for him.

It would only seem reasonable that someone would change opinions made on how things might be before they were in existance after they saw how they worked. In fact, someone who didn't evaluate what the real situate was and adjust their views would be considered foolish. Senator Kerry has made hundreds (possibly thousands) of comments about how well trained and effective the army is over the last few decades as a Senator. For a Senator the RW accuses of flip flopping, it seems ridiculous to bring up 34 year old opinions. After all, Kerry was 28 years old - 12 years younger than when Bush stopped being "young and irresponsible".