Democrats worry about runaway focus on John Kerry's Vietnam War service

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (CP)

Instead of debating Iraq, the U.S. election campaign has been focused for more than a week on John Kerry's service record in Vietnam 35 years ago and his antiwar activism when he got home. It has become a pitched TV advertising battle and a bitter war of words between Democrats and Republicans that has usurped any serious discussion about jobs, terrorism, health care and other issues that matter to Americans.

And recent opinion polls suggested the focus has hurt Kerry's standing with veterans and independents critical to the outcome of the Nov. 2 vote. ..

Kerry's vigorous defence of his record, which clearly blames Bush and has been labelled libellous by the president's campaign, is coming at a cost, at least in the short term. It's hijacking Kerry's message on the issues from the front pages and the top of newscasts.

Instead, U.S. journalists have been reviewing in minute detail conflicting reports of Kerry's service in Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star, Silver Star and three Purple Hearts. ..

[xray s]

1. this fight was going to happen sooner or later

better to fight it in the middle of August than the middle of October.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Agreed..it will be old news by then

[Born Free]

29. It's a question of character

The bush team has made this a question of character, who can America trust. Like it or not the only way out now is to force a discussion of the character issue, both men must discuss their military records to compare the character of the two. The democrats can not allow the bush team to use this character issue against John Kerry, it is political suicide for John Kerry to allow the bush team to lie about his character. The only way out now is to smoke the bush coward out of hiding and force him to discuss his military record as well.Vietnam has nothing to do with today other than the character issue, which some Americans believe to be most important asset for bush.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. Like I said

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=642175

[Ghetto_Boy]

2. Excuse me but, this election is NOT ABOUT VIETNAM!!!!!

[karlrschneider]

3. Right. But tell it to the slowboat guys...

..

[wrate]

6. Tell that to the media whores! The idiots don't care for issues they care

about scandals and the lowlife Bush is happy to give it to them. How can this Vietnam idiocy make people change their mind about who to vote for, specially when it is so BLATANTLY obvious that this is all lies. Incomprehensible.

[Trajan]

15. It may not have been a month ago ...

and it may not be a week from now ...

But it SURE as fuck is about Vietnam now ...

Sometimes, you have to ride the tiger a while to get down the road ... Dont fret: Kerry will win this one ...

And we will be even MORE proud: of Kerry AND ourselves ... IF we stand and FIGHT and not cut and run ....

The issues will still be there next week ....

[heidler1]

20. Well said.

Anyway you slice it Kerry put his life in harms way even though he thought the Vietnam War was a waste. Bush and Chaney never put their lives in danger and that will still be true untill November. Just like Bush's other dopey plans (like invading Iraq) he let this bubble up way to soon even for his own good. Rove is way over rated and desperate.

[yardwork]

33. Welcome to DU!

[Tight_rope]

5. This is a lie...Nobody but Bushco is worried!

[merh]

17. You are so right!

So when the media releases it repuke lies we can spot them and discredit them or blow them off as their crap. But . . .
when the media puts out this crap about the dems, trying to give a negative spin to the Kerry campaign efforts, folks buy it hook, line and slimey sinker!

I don't trust the media - none of them - they print the propaganda that is for * - they don't care about the truth.

Nothing to see here, move along!

[yardwork]

34. And notice that not one Democrat is quoted as being worried in the article

No justification is given for the headline or the editorial masquerading as news in the opening paragraph. The only Democrat quoted is Edwards. The rest of the article is an excuse to quote numerous pukes.

This is an example of very unethical journalism, imo.

[AndyTiedye]

7. That's The Trouble With Swing Voters - They'll Believe ANYTHING

That's why they are swing voters.

If we count on them to oust Bush*, we're doomed.

[Gin]

11. the tide is turning.....the print press is publishing the facts about

those not-so swift guys....I heard Gergen on PBS just now even say that O'Niell worked for Colson and was involved with the Nixon dirty tricks.

This is going to hurt Bush in the end. Kerry isn't taking this laying down and Bush has past history on these smears for other vets...and it was recent.

[lucca]

24. I hope that you are right .

But, I wish that the press could have done this when these swift boat ads first came out.

They should have done the work and research; and not be so quick to give these ads all this attention for weeks, to only now start to question it.

I am beyond disappointed in the press and cable news.

[yardwork]

35. I agree with you about the press - and welcome to DU!

On another thread there is a link to a recent column by Tom Oliphant pointing out the difference between legitimate journalism and the cable "news" channels we have now.

[Cocoa]

8. Kerry's crew was worried when he turned the boat into the ambush

but it worked.

[Trajan]

14. Nice analogy ....

NOT the time to lose heart now .....

Kerry can win this SB debacle, by focusing on the TRUTH and DEFENDING himself once and for all ...

Wouldnt it be nice if a Democrat did that for change ?

[Selwynn]

9. I agree that this diversion is troublesome and potentially dangerous...

..however, it was bound to happen. Whether or not Kerry had chosen to make his Vietnam service such a big stumping point of his campaign, eventually this attack would come, and given what we know about the current state of the media and the money interests that dominate the corporations that own it, it was going to be elevated to national attention no matter what.

Corporations, I believe are uncomfortable and wary of the new horse, Kerry. Not because he is a champion for corporate reform or for the little guy, but because their current president has done such a miraculously wonderful unprecedented job for corporate America that there's no way on earth they want to risk messing with that profit. Because of that, Kerry's war record was going to make all the news whether he wanted it to or not. I just hope Kerry can continue to successfully turn the issue back on Bush, and put the Bush team on the defensive, so that hopefully they'll be as anxious to drop it as Kerry is.

Then maybe we can get back to issues that matter.

[Solly Mack]

10. Kicking around Kerry's war record is easier than dealing with the

economy, the Iraqi invasion, the state of health care in this country..and a host of other actual problems in America.

The Vietnam "thing" boils down to this...Kerry went and Chucklenuts didn't. The rest is commentary...and sad commentary at that.

Bush can't win on the issues...if he could, the war record attacks wouldn't be happening.

[Dancing_Dave]

12. It's high time to change the subject.

Focusing on wether Kerry was a hero in a war that most Americans who remember it OPPOSED is a sure loser.

[Trajan]

13. I whole heartedly disagree ....

The namby-pamby pink tutu response would be to 'talk about the issues' right now ...

NOW is not the time for discussion of issues: NOW is the time to shove some truth down the throats of some lying liars ...

THEY made their bed: let them sleep in it: This is NOT, in the end, going to hurt Kerry, ... but it opens up a world of hurt for Bush ....

[coalition_unwilling]

16. The thing that really gets me

Kerry is walking around with shrapnel in his thigh and Bush was a deserter, so why isn't the media presenting these two issues side-by-side? If Kerry's medals are an issue, then why isn't Bush's AWOL\Desertion an issue?

I just don't get it.

[realcountrymusic]

22. A fantastic ad to change the debate

I wish someone at the Kerry campaign would consider running the following ad:

Voice-over of John K saying "I still have shrapnel in my thigh to prove it" while the only image on screen is an X-Ray print of said piece of shrapnel, fade to black. Titles come up on screen: "Don't believe the lies."

End of ad.

Every news show would be showing the ad, focusing on the single image of the X-Ray. Bushco would have no adequate counter-image.

What democrats often fail to grasp is that politics is more about images and emotions than it is about words and facts. One picture is still worth a thousand words.

RCM

[TahitiNut]

18. They did the EXACT same thing against Gore.

Gore served honorably and voluntarily in Vietnam and they slandered him. This is the SOP of these evil fucks.

[gratuitous]

19. Democrats worry? Who? Who's worrying?

Nobody is named in the article worrying about the "runaway focus" on Vietnam. At least, no Democrats are named. Highly misleading headline on the story, but I think we've come to expect that.

Certainly the Bush campaign would like this "kerfluffle" to go away. Just do the dirty work, and be done with it. I have a feeling the Swifties are going to wish this controversy away. Fat Cheneying chance, boys. You picked the fight; we intend to finish it. And you bunch of snivellers in the bargain.

I'm pretty sure the media whores would like the focus to come off of Kerry's war record any second now. After all, Lil George doesn't stack up too good on that count. Hell, Lil George doesn't stack up against Kerry very well on ANY count. Well media whores, you guys puffed the Swifties into a real, live issue. We're gonna stuff it down your overfed throats until you're truly sick and tired of it. Maybe this time you'll learn. But the smart money isn't going that way.

The tide has turned; all the bullies want the fight to end now. But we're just getting started. We have the rest of this week to make sure every voter hears the truth at least three times. You took your shot, Republicans, now it's our turn.

[grytpype]

21. This is not going to last.

It's going to burn itself out, unlike Iraq and the economy.

[saigon68]

23. Its Willie Horton for the mindless 7% swing voters

The ones who are still sucking their thumbs

[PaDem]

26. ah, the apathetic "undecided" voter.........

how could anyone be "undecided" at this point? People are so lazy.

[ArnoldLayne]

30. I agree

and we have to counter these adds and bring up his AWOL status again through surrogates. Also bring up that he has had alcohol problems and hints of cocain use in the past. He looks like he always has a hung over look and also kind of bleery but wild eyed look associated with drug use,that is my own opinion from my own past experience in the early 80's with drugs but then again I'm not running for President. Is this the kind of element we once proud Americans want representing our country, I should think not. :kick: :bounce:

[wakfs]

25. I believe this will all be old news

By the time the televised debates occur. A lot of undecideds will make their decision after the debates, I firmly believe.

Please please please, Senator Kerry, don't fuck up somehow!

[wurzel]

27. Since when is having a decorated war hero as a candidate been a problem?

Only in America!

[doc03]

28. I live in the battleground state of Ohio and I have never actually seen

the swift boat ad, but have seen it on the so called news programs dozens of times.

[Cookie wookie]

36. But do they talk about AWOL

24/7?

Noooooooooo. That's because the corporate media doesn't dispense news. It's nonstop propaganda for the bush crime family. How do those journalists sleep at night. Are they all taking happy pills so they can look themselves in the mirror? How do Americans who have so much privilege and opportunity to be part of the media in the first place manage to rationalize their selling our nation and democracy for their 40 pieces of silver, or whatever it is. The only people left on tv who have a soul are those few like Bill Moyers, Jon Stewart, and Lou Dobbs (although I don't always agree with Dobbs, at least he hasn't sold his soul to the devil).

[Cookie wookie]

32. way I see it repsulicans have two goals here

them and all their media ghouls who work for the reich wing:

give the reich wing bloody corporate media an excuse to trash Kerry
give the bush admin a wedge to use as an excuse to stifle our free speech, which MoveOn and similar organizations represent. We must have these organizations unless and until drastic changes are made in the media, like going back pre-Reagan to equal time laws and busting up the media monopolies. Until then, we're going to have to fight tooth and nail against these fascists who don't miss a chance in working to end freedom of speech in America.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

37. once again we are letting the Rove machine dictate the issues...SIGH

[Guaranteed]

38. Hello? This is Kerry's STRENGTH.

For criminy's sake.

I don't think Kerry wants to talk about the war any more than Bush does! He WANTS to talk about his Vietnam record. I mean, how many times can they show that old footage of him in his helmet, dragging a machine gun around? The guy looks like fucking Rambo. How many times can the media use the words "WAR HERO" in referring to him?

Are you kidding me? This is GREAT.

Some of you don't seem to realize this, but we are ABSOLUTELY DESTROYING THE REPUKES RIGHT NOW.

[w4rma]

39. I agree. (nt)

[Judi Lynn]

40. Good point: "a picture's worth a thousand words," and all.

It would be hilarious if this has the effect you're considering. It really sounds plausible, as people should have the automatic "on the other hand," comparison working while thinking about _Bush's "military service."

The deal it seems the Republicans are trying to pressure the Democrats to accept almost goes like this: We'll stop lying about Kerry if you stop telling the truth about _Bush.

[radfringe]

41. just more hiding for bush*

yes, bush* came out and condemed (with a wink wink) 527 ads, but unlike Kerry - he did not specifically any particular 527 group

Kerry had specifically condemed Moveon.org ads

so once again, bush* has chosen to hide behind others. Have you noticed, that for the most part, the only time bush* has landed firmly on one side of a fence or the other is when he's been 'forced' into it by public opinion? Hence his record of flip-flops

The real disgrace in all of this is the diversion from the issues that matter to everyday people. Instead of a discussion or a debate about issues we are focused on a mud fight being fought by surrogates. This is indeed a miserable failure of campaigning.

If you recall, waaaaay back when McCain-Finegold Campaign finance reform was being debated -- one senator in particular said that this issue was ..."as important to the American people as dryer lint..."

And the Republican forces wailed and cried that McCain-Finegold would limit "free speech"

well, we have free speech by non-directly affiliated groups and it looks like it is more important than dryer lint.