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John Kerry discovers veterans … after 24 years

posted at 7:20 pm on April 9, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John Kerry has jumped into the 2008 election cycle with both feet … which must have hurt his jaw something fierce. Take a look at the mailer Kerry has sent to constituents in Massachusetts for his re-election bid in November on veterans issues. After spending 24 years in the Senate without authoring a single piece of successful legislation on veteran’s affairs – or much in the way of legislation at all — he has suddenly discovered his former brothers in uniform:

Kerry campaign mailer

To be fair, it’s not the first time Kerry has tried to boost his political career through veterans. Who can forget his salute to fellow Vietnam veterans in his 1971 Congressional testimony?

I would like to talk, representing all those veterans, and say that several months ago in Detroit, we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged and many very highly decorated veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command….

They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.

In his campaign web site, Kerry attacks the Bush administration for the lack of interest in veterans during the seven years of his term. In another part of the mailer, he claims that the Bush administration tried to “limit” veteran’s benefits. Yet under Bush, spending on veterans has increased from $54.5 billion to $86.6 billion per year in inflation-adjusted dollars — an increase of 59% over seven years. That’s almost double the rate of increase for Medicare (30%) and more than three times the increase in Social Security spending (17%).

If it had been left to John Kerry, veterans would have had to wait 24 years to get anything at all — anything besides accusations of atrocities that later proved untrue. The notion that he serves as a champion of veterans falls apart even on the most cursory of reviews.


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I thought Kerry took care of our veterans years ago.

Cicero43 on April 9, 2008 at 7:23 PM

That State will re-elect him. Just watch. That man can screw up time and time again and he will still have a job!

upinak on April 9, 2008 at 7:25 PM

This phony jerk wasn’t in Vietnam long enough to even qualified for R&R. During his short 4 months he mined for medals then returned to the States to trash his comrades in arms. Kerry is a despicable turd that even now refuses to stop exploiting the brave soldiers he previously found cruel and repulsive. Anybody that falls for this crap and votes for him deserves what they get.

rplat on April 9, 2008 at 7:32 PM

He’s a rotten, no good traitor. And that’s his strong suit.

Zorro on April 9, 2008 at 7:35 PM

rplat on April 9, 2008 at 7:32 PM

I think that is why MCcain tried to tell him not to use his military record in the campaign. I knew when he showed up for his acceptance speech “reporting for duty” he was done.

TroubledMonkey on April 9, 2008 at 7:39 PM

O’Reilly was working with him and Congressman Peter King (I think?) on a new GI Bill. But on the last update O’Reilly seemed pissed that Kerry wouldn’t appear or provide a status on the bills progress.

See if O’Reilly has any thing to say about this or any progress getting Kerry’s cooperation.
DKK

LifeTrek on April 9, 2008 at 7:42 PM

Hey Kerry, want to provide a service to all veterans?

Release your discharge papers that were swept under the rug by Jim Webb.

fogw on April 9, 2008 at 7:42 PM

Ed Read this..

http://www.startribune.com/local/17406054.html?page=1&c=y

Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 7:46 PM

O’Reilly was working with him and Congressman Peter King (I think?) on a new GI Bill. But on the last update O’Reilly seemed pissed that Kerry wouldn’t appear or provide a status on the bills progress.

Why O’Reilly hitched his wagon to this flaming ass is a mystery.

rplat on April 9, 2008 at 7:47 PM

From his website, more on Kerry and Vets.

OT, why do Democrats campaign materials always sound like they were written for (or by) children with the short, clipped sentences?

Buy Danish on April 9, 2008 at 7:47 PM

Do veterans a favor and resign, you POS!

SouthernGent on April 9, 2008 at 7:49 PM

With Senators like Kerry and Kennedy is it any wonder that every time the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) met they always recommended closing any bases in MA. I don’t think there are any military installations other then for the National Guard and Reserves that remains open in MA. But you ought to check out all the money they get for their VA centers. They get far more then any other state including those like FL and TX which have large retiree populations.
Besides a military retiree couldn’t afford to live there between the taxes and the cost of living it ain’t worth it.

Just A Grunt on April 9, 2008 at 7:51 PM

Ahh, I see, so a member of the senate who has never authored legislation to save puppies doesn’t care about puppies.

Dave Rywall on April 9, 2008 at 7:54 PM

What this slug is doing is pimping our military heroes. I can’t help but think there will be a special place in hell for slugs like this.

JonRoss on April 9, 2008 at 8:01 PM

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/09/minnesotas-state-funded-madrassa/

Sorry Ed you already have a post on it, you are fast!

Chakra Hammer on April 9, 2008 at 8:02 PM

They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan…

Hey say all you want about John Kerry, but at least he says that he and his troops raped all those people BEFORE they did all that other stuff to them.

‘Cause if they did it the other way around, dude, that’d have been just plain sick.

logis on April 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM

in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan

He don’t talk American – he calls it “Jane’jis Khan”.

BowHuntingTexas on April 9, 2008 at 8:14 PM

Senator Kerry, do you have no shame?

rbj on April 9, 2008 at 8:15 PM

There seems to be a never ending theme running within
Liberal politics,John Kerry claims he cares so much
about the American GI,so much in fact that he tried
to limit veterns benefits,but Bush increased Kerry’s
help from $54.5 to $86.6 million !

This same crap was going on when Newt was running the
Contract with America.Old age pension and the school early
lunch programs were being increased,and the libs were
claiming those two programs were going to be cut back,
scaring the be-geebers out of the old folks,like the
crack about how they’ll have to resort to eating dog
food!

So every time they “claim” there doing more is a crock,
it always ends up that a Republican Administration does
a hellevu lot better,but somehow with the media,guys like
Kerry seem to get credit for doing a hellevu lot less!

canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM

logis on April 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM

you’re really sick…..lol

jerrytbg on April 9, 2008 at 8:18 PM

This traitor has to have the biggest set of g-nads I have even seen. It is breathtakingly shameless.

Claypigeon on April 9, 2008 at 8:22 PM

I’v got a brilliant idea,how about all the anti-war
types get a mandatory”Sensitivity training”, six months
training in North Korea!

So when they open their mouths about how bad their
country is,or the Military that keeps them free,they
can see the real thing!

And as a bonuse some of the real commie types might
like it there better! haha

canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 8:25 PM

Kerry will have real opposition, so he will have to pander. I look forward to him strolling into a local pizza shop, camera crew in tow, and ordering “One of those delish cheese-steak hoagies.”

In Massachusetts, those of us who eat them call them ’subs’.

fluffy on April 9, 2008 at 8:28 PM

Ahh, I see….
Dave Ryall on April 9,2008 at 7:54PM.

Dave Ryall:Ya no kidding,but I bet Kerry does
have a story about what happened to
a group of cuddly cute puppies back
in Nam!

canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 8:32 PM

Turning my back to Kerry…….my Purple Heart was earned, your’s wasn’t…. go to hell.

MNDavenotPC on April 9, 2008 at 8:36 PM

One of my life’s goals is to live long enough to piss on his grave.

irongrampa on April 9, 2008 at 8:47 PM

John Kerry discovers veterans … after 24 years

Maybe he figures that one of them has got his Magic Hat that he lost in Cambodia and he can finally get it back. That is probably what he is up to.

MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM

One of my life’s goals is to live long enough to piss on his grave.

irongrampa on April 9, 2008 at 8:47 PM

You sir are a magnificent bastard.

I’ll be standing right next to you.

Semper Fi

winemkr on April 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM

Coming back from the Vietnam War, where he served two tours of duty and was highly decorated for bravery

http://www.johnkerryforsenate.com/about

This is on the traitor’s website. He still believes that 4 months equals two tours. What a shameless piece of water buffalo dung.

winemkr on April 9, 2008 at 9:04 PM

There are few people who disgust me as much as this arrogant Euro-lite elitist. He’s a wannabee bigshot who will never live down his already-set-in-stone traitorous legacy.

Connie on April 9, 2008 at 9:06 PM

I wanted to add something here, but can’t possibly top what has already been written. BZ!

TugboatPhil on April 9, 2008 at 9:11 PM

MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM

You send?

J_Gocht on April 9, 2008 at 9:20 PM

Damn I would not even ask for John’s help when I am busy shooting civilians, and razing villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.

The guy is not even suitable to me even if I sick down the the lowest levels of human depravity he can come up with.

F15Mech on April 9, 2008 at 9:21 PM

sick = sink

F15Mech on April 9, 2008 at 9:24 PM

irongrampa on April 9, 2008 at 8:47 PM
winemkr on April 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM

LOL I think we are going to need a bigger trough to piss in.

F15Mech on April 9, 2008 at 9:27 PM

Maybe he figures that one of them has got his Magic Hat that he lost in Cambodia and he can finally get it back. That is probably what he is up to.

MB4 on April 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM

Is it possible one of these fine gentlemen could be still be…

“looking for his hat”?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/campaign/24COMB.html?ex=1392958800&en=760c0e92cabf648c&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND

J_Gocht on April 9, 2008 at 9:28 PM

John Kerry is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.
_______

CORMAN
“John Kerry was one of the most outstanding officers this country has ever produced. He was a brilliant and outstanding in every way and he was a good man too. Humanitarian man, man of wit, of humor. He joined the Special forces. After that his ideas, methods have
become unsound… Unsound.”

CORMAN
“Well, you see Willard… In this war, things get confused
out there, power, ideals, the old morality, and practical
military necessity. Out there with these natives it must be
a temptation to be god. Because there’s a conflict in
every human heart between the rational and the irrational,
between good and evil. The good does not always triumph.
Sometimes the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called
the better angels of our nature. Every man has got a
breaking point. You and I have. John Kerry has reached his.
And very obviously, he has gone insane.”

WILLARD
“Yes sir, very much so sir. Obviously insane.”

moxie_neanderthal on April 9, 2008 at 9:45 PM

Kerry never met a vet he couldn’t use.

GarandFan on April 9, 2008 at 9:45 PM

Gentlemen and Ladies…

You may find your partisan, political pissin’ and shittin’ contests, cathartic…?

As and olde and honorable soldier I find them despicable and pathetic!

Yours for honest appreciation for all those who have commanly and bravely served…!

J_Gocht on April 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

I think Liveshot Kerry is counting his time on the destroyer as a combat tour.

Wasn’t there someone a few months ago who offered to help Liveshot disprove the allegations made by the Swiftboat Veterans? I seem to remember Liveshot took him up on the offer.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting LTC John Ogonowski, who is running against Kerry. I made sure to sign his nomination papers.

Mooseman on April 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

Must be a Summer’s Eve, cause I smell a douche…bag that is.

Big Daddy Cool on April 9, 2008 at 10:28 PM

Jean Francois Kerry is a contemptible piece of bovine fertilizer.

MCPO Airdale on April 9, 2008 at 10:44 PM

As and olde and honorable soldier I find them despicable and pathetic!

Yours for honest appreciation for all those who have commanly and bravely served…!

J_Gocht on April 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

J_Gocht,

Speaking as a middle-aged/non Vietnam era vet.

I find Kerry’s call to action to “take care of our Vets” despicable and pathetic, after all he has done.

F15Mech on April 9, 2008 at 10:51 PM

https://www.jimogonowski.com/mediacenter

Hopefully Romney is helping this guy financially?

funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Looking at Kerry, it still amazes me that two wealthy and attractive women actually agreed to marry him.

funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 11:04 PM

Typical democrat. Only think of veterans when election time rolls around, then forget about them again the next day.

Nice too to see the drive-by media cover for the festering ass Rockefeller and his comment about McCain. Rockefeller is someone who should have known better having been involved on the Senate VA committee for years, including a stint as chairman.

Back in the early 90’s I believe he was the chairman then, he flat-out admitted that the VA only provided medical care for less than 3% of the nations 26 million (at the time) veterans…yet did nothing to increase the VA budget…since Bubba had other spending priorities. Bubba flatlined their budget throughout the 90’s.

91Veteran on April 9, 2008 at 11:21 PM

From his website, more on Kerry and Vets.

OT, why do Democrats campaign materials always sound like they were written for (or by) children with the short, clipped sentences?

Buy Danish on April 9, 2008 at 7:47 PM

Well, it was John eFing Kerry who suggested only the uneducated serve in the military now.

91Veteran on April 9, 2008 at 11:27 PM

Ahh, I see….
Dave Ryall on April 9,2008 at 7:54PM.

Dave Ryall:Ya no kidding,but I bet Kerry does
have a story about what happened to
a group of cuddly cute puppies back
in Nam!

canopfor on April 9, 2008 at 8:32 PM

Don’t you mean Cambodia?

91Veteran on April 9, 2008 at 11:33 PM

Don’t you mean Cambodia?

91Veteran on April 9, 2008 at 11:33 PM

The puppy incident occurred in Nam.

You are thinking about the massacre of the cute baby polar bear that occurred in Cambodia around the same time.

F15Mech on April 9, 2008 at 11:57 PM

The swift vets offered to pay Kerry one million dollars for every one of their statements kerry could prove false. Kerry publicly accepted the challange.

Does anyone know how many millions kerry has collected from the swift vets as of this date?

allrsn on April 10, 2008 at 12:01 AM

I think Liveshot Kerry is counting his time on the destroyer as a combat tour.

Wasn’t there someone a few months ago who offered to help Liveshot disprove the allegations made by the Swiftboat Veterans? I seem to remember Liveshot took him up on the offer.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting LTC John Ogonowski, who is running against Kerry. I made sure to sign his nomination papers.

Mooseman on April 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

He must be. According to Wikipedia:

Kerry’s first tour of duty was as an ensign on the guided missile frigate USS Gridley in 1968. The executive officer of the Gridley described the deployment as: “We deployed from San Diego to the Vietnam theatre in early 1968 after only a six-month turnaround, and spent most of a four month deployment on rescue station in the Gulf of Tonkin, standing by to pick up downed aviators.”

On November 17, 1968, Kerry reported for duty at Coastal Squadron 1 in Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam. In his role as an officer in charge of Swift boats, Kerry led five-man crews on a number of patrols into enemy-controlled areas. His first command was Swift boat PCF-44, from December 6, 1968 to January 21, 1969, when the crew was disbanded. They were based at Coastal Division 13 at Cat Lo from December 13, 1968 to January 6, 1969. Otherwise, they were stationed at Coastal Division 11 at An Thoi. On January 30, 1969, Kerry took charge of PCF-94 and its crew, which he led until he departed An Thoi on March 26, 1969,

91Veteran on April 10, 2008 at 12:02 AM

why do Democrats campaign materials always sound like they were written for (or by) children with the short, clipped sentences?

Buy Danish on April 9, 2008 at 7:47 PM

So that children can grasp their meaning.

Entelechy on April 10, 2008 at 12:23 AM

I guess John Kerry didn’t have the courage to attend the Medal of Honor Ceremony for Mike Monsoor (Part 1) (Part 2)…….

I think this passage will haunt him for the rest of his life…..

Via BlackFive……….

…On the rostrum, all three SEALs whose lives Mike personally saved hobbled up together to thank Michael and his family for their very existence and to show their family’s gratitude for sparing them the grief that Michael’s family is now experiencing. I have never witnessed something as special and inspiring in my entire life-I have never even heard of such a thing happening before. Michael’s sister Sara told of a vision that she had upon hearing the news that her brother had died a hero’s death saving his brothers. She said that she saw a puzzle missing its final piece being completed by an unseen hand and that its visage was that of her brother. His actions, his deeds, his sacrifice were the culmination of a lifetime of preparation to go forth into combat and distinguish himself above and beyond the call of duty…

John Kerry………. It’s not about you……. and we know that.

May you live a long and miserable life, filled with the nightmares and memories of the damage you have done to this the United States of America.

GodSpeed Michael Monsoor……

Seven Percent Solution on April 10, 2008 at 1:11 AM

J_Gocht on April 9, 2008 at 10:06 PM

Do you think that John Kerry did the honorable thing, when he testified before congress and told some untruths?

Johan Klaus on April 10, 2008 at 2:01 AM

The notion that he serves as a champion of veterans falls apart even on the most cursory of reviews.

Which, of course, it doesn’t get from the drive-bys.

Why do Democrats keep trying to fool people into thinking they have anything other than contempt for the military? It’s laugh-out-loud ridiculous.

misterpeasea on April 10, 2008 at 2:19 AM

He called my dad and his contemporaries “The Hordes of Jenghis Khan” and likened myself and my contemporaries to “Nazi Stormtroopers” (or was that Bin Levin?) and basically called us idiots on top of it…now he claims to be some kind of “Champion for Veterans Rights”?

Kerry can go !@#$ himself…

SuperCool on April 10, 2008 at 2:34 AM

When Democrats finally select either Obama or Hillary as their newest “fearless leader,” and start demonizing McCain in full force…

I wonder how many of them will remember that during the last election, they all said that only a “war hero” could possibly serve as US President.

I wondered that back at the time, too: Did they realize then that they were being told to completely reverse their worldview every four years?

Apparently, being a liberal means being utterly immune to cognitive dissonance.

logis on April 10, 2008 at 4:24 AM

John Kerry is yet another really good reason why there should be Term Limitation in the U.S. Senate. Of course, his co-hort, Teddy The K is the MAIN NUMERO UNO REASON why there should be Term Limitation in the U.S. Senate.

pilamaye on April 10, 2008 at 7:40 AM

As a veteran, can I sign something that will prevent me from getting anything at all from John Kerry or his absolutely worthless Democrat Party?

Because I would sign it in a second. I don’t want a damn thing from Democrats.

NoDonkey on April 10, 2008 at 8:51 AM

American Gigolo, false Irishman, second only to John Murtha for slandering and staining the honor of all Veterans, favorite and hero of the North Vietnamese, John Forbes (Kohn) Kerry aka ‘Lurch the Gamer’ is a traitorous, sniveling coward. In an Absolut world, he would have been arrested, tried and convicted for aiding and abetting the enemy during a time of war when he returned from Paris.

I have stated previously, and will continue to do so:

I am ashamed to wear the same uniform as John Forbes (Kohn) Kerry.

SeniorD on April 10, 2008 at 9:23 AM

Is anybody else getting a “Tiny Tim” thing from that long-haired Kerry shot?

whitetop on April 10, 2008 at 10:19 AM

What a loser.

CP on April 10, 2008 at 10:23 AM

Looking at Kerry, it still amazes me that two wealthy and attractive women actually agreed to marry him.

funky chicken on April 9, 2008 at 11:04 PM

this is attractive?

I despise Kerry, trust me. But any support on either side of the aisle for helping Veterans (even if it is a thinly-veiled political gesture) I’ll take it. It should be a highly non-partisan and apolitical position – but of course isn’t. And I can find many, many things to criticize Kerry for – but I won’t criticize anyone for taking care of our vets no matter what the history or motives are.

pecan pie on April 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM

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