February 23, 2004

AS VIETNAM BACKFIRES ON CABANA BOY:

Bush Campaign Denies Kerry's Allegation (NEDRA PICKLER, 2/22/04, AP)

George W. Bush's presidential campaign told John Kerry it "does not condone" any effort to impugn his patriotism but asserted that senator's voting record on national security and defense issues is a valid target of political scrutiny.

Responding Sunday to a letter in which Kerry accused President Bush of using surrogates to attack his military service in Vietnam and his subsequent opposition to the war, Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign chairman Marc Racicot said, "I ask you to elevate the remarkably negative tone of your campaign and your party over the past year."

Kerry had taken umbrage at statements that Sen. Saxby Chambliss made earlier, predicting trouble for the Massachusetts Democrat in Georgia's primary because of a "32-year history of voting to cut defense programs and cut defense systems."

In the letter to Bush Saturday, Kerry wrote: "As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and painful period in our nation's history, and the struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been hard to believe that you would choose to reopen these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do."


It might help if the Senator had been on the right side of a single foreign policy issue since he put down his gun in Vietnam, or if he'd just sided with the position of the American government on any issue or if he hadn't been personally responsible for so many of the wounds to our society from the anti-Vietnam period.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 23, 2004 10:27 AM
Comments

As Hugh Hewitt notes it was pathetic of Kerry to say his record is off limits because, essentially, he is a Vietnam vet.
The only way Kerry doesn't get trounced (assuming he makes it to be the nominee) is if the media cover for him and give him a free ride (note Russert is refusing to give up a Kerry interview in 1971 that apparently makes him look pretty bad).

Posted by: AWW at February 23, 2004 10:51 AM

In my blog piece this weekend entitled "What Secret Service codename for Kerry?," I mistakenly credited Kevin Whited as the author of the "Cabana Boy" nickname — which unfortunately won't work for the Secret Service because they want a name starting with a D for Democrat. I've blogged some of my own suggestions and invited comments from readers; in one of them, Kevin modestly disclaimed credit for the genius inherent in the "Cabana Boy" nickname and credited you, Mr. Judd. My compliments to the originator!

Posted by: Beldar at February 23, 2004 11:02 AM

The Democrats are going to tire of defending Kerry on this point. He cannot continue to wear Vietnam like a royal robe and then immediately say that war is always wrong. It won't wash. Four months in the jungle cannot cover up 32 years of blather.

In stark terms, how many votes does Kerry expect to get by using Max Cleland as a talisman? And can he balance that against the votes he will lose by refusing to answer any of the questions about his post-war conduct?

Posted by: jim hamlen at February 23, 2004 12:07 PM

So I'm a surrogate? I guess so.

Jim,
He was on a Swift boat for 4 months. He debarked once to shoot a Cong who had previously been hit with a 50 caliber. Picking up the rocket launcher to keep it out of the cong's arsenal was good practice; but in leaving the swift boat he endangered the boat and crew and was against operational protocol, so I've read. It was a brave act. My issue with him begins when he left the service and he doesn't need anymore press as a hero than he's given himself.

Posted by: Genecis at February 23, 2004 1:23 PM

And with every respect for his service, it is not a serious position that every naval lieutenant to serve is competent to be president.

Posted by: David Cohen at February 23, 2004 2:05 PM

Kerry's statement was odd because Chambliss didn't say anything about his service in Vietnam. Why the sensitivity? Has anyone done the math? Is it possible that Bush spent more time on active duty than Kerry?

Posted by: Will at February 23, 2004 2:17 PM

I only heard, and didn't see Terry McAuliffe going up against Marc Racicot on Face the Nation on Sunday. Unless Marc had a growth of beard like Richard Nixon during the 1960 debate with Kennedy, Racicot trounced Terry on the Kerry record debate question (even Bob Scheiffer seemed to be getting a little ticked off at McAuliffe by the end of the half hour).

Posted by: John at February 23, 2004 2:54 PM
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