Shut up about Vietnam??

[sandnsea]

Hmmm. I just don't get it. Why is there always a different set of rules for John Kerry.


Jim Webb's Company Commander from Vietnam Speaks Out

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/4/92111/2832

[Mass]

1. This is easy to understand. Webb still thinks that the US were right to be in VietNam

and that Kerry's actions were wrong.

[sandnsea]

2. I don't think Kossacks make that difference

I understand Webb and I personally think it's great.

I don't understand where all the disrespectful 'shut up about Vietnam' posts are in the thread. You know every time anyone tried to post from Kerry's vets in 2004, people showed up with their 'who cares about Vietnam' 'war monger' posts. I don't get where those people are with Webb.

[beachmom]

3. Because Kerry protested the war.

You know, I think Webb has been great these last couple years speaking out against the Iraq War. And he was a REAL HERO in Vietnam. And I guess he's written some well thought of books. But, for me, what heroic thing did he do prior to 2002 in terms of fighting injustice? Now, he may do just that in the Senate (he's no corporatist -- he's a populist), but frankly, it's SOOO much harder to go against your government and say their wrong. That's the main reason I think Kerry is a hero.

[sandnsea]

5. That wasn't the 2004 problem

Have you not seen the trashing over 'reporting for duty' at the convention? Every time there was any kind of Vietnam post, or his medals or from his crew, etc, there would always be the 'shut up about Vietnam' contingent. They wanted to hear from Kerry the war protester, NOT Kerry the war hero. Yet with Webb, it's the complete opposite. They don't care that he was on the exact opposite side of most of these people on protesting Vietnam, they just eat up his Vietnam war vet stuff. It makes no sense at all.

[beachmom]

7. You know what -- I wasn't on the blogs at that point.

So you know more than me about that.

[karynnj]

6. That explanation works in the real world the

main question is why it works on Kos. I think that what may be at play here is coming from 2003/2004.

Webb was and is pro VN war, but he was against the Iraq invasion.
Kerry bravely fought to end the Vietnam War and for some of my generation that clearly made him a hero. But he then voted for the IWR which in the politics of 2003/2004 maent he was for the Iraq war. Kerry was against going to war throughout 2002 - 2003 - likely as much as Webb, but he was stuck with that vote.

This may also explain why some are more likely to let EDwards off the hook. They had expected more of Kerry. Their problem is that they can't see anything but the black/white of the vote - and can't get that Kerry would not have gone to war.

In fact, of Edwards, Webb, H Clinton and Kerry - Kerry would probably be the least likely to go to war.

[sandnsea]

8. It's so reactionary

It doesn't go away I guess. It was just so weird to see all the praise after having endured so much trashing of JK for talking about his service. People are just strange.

[ProSense]

4. That's because the only people

saying shut up about Vietnam are the haters and opportunists! Obviously the Kos post shows that people are in fact, and should be, proud of their service in Vietnam. They should be equally proud of those who stood up against the atrocities and lies associated with that war, as they are by those who have the courage to stand up to the Bush adminstration for Iraq lies. Kerry's sevice and subsequent testimony is still a shining example of courage!