Nip the Kerry "threw medals over a fence" ditto-point in the butt.

[Rex]

Just retort with, "how many medals did George Bush get while serving in the ANG?"

Do they give medals for failing to show up for a physical because you're coked outta your gord?

[Faygo Kid]

1. Mr. Pilodinal Cyst - aka Rush - thinks this is a big deal

These guys have no shame. None. What is the deal with this? One of the main reasons I supported Kerry from the get go was his opposition to That War, and participation in VVAW. Whatever he did in 1971 (and it was a hell of a lot better than Bush), is only relevant now in terms of policy, not personal stuff. He served, he came back and did the right thing. What scum these GOPers are.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Exactly..the real issue is Kerry had medals to throw.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. That's right and there's nothing wrong with making a political

statement.

[Soup Bean]

3. He earned those medals.

He can do anything he wants with them. When did Bush ever do anything to earn anything in his life? To hell with their stupid talking point. I don't care if he was being a politician, as long as he's a better president than the military/industrial/fundamentalist axis in charge now. I'll at least sleep better at night.

[Robbien]

4. BushCo and Rush want you to talk about medals

And here is another thread talking about medals.

BushCo and Rush know their game.

[Redleg]

5. There are some accounts that Kerry did not throw his medals away.

Counterspin Central blog discussed this today. Here's a snippet of the text

BEGIN
-- the following excerpts are from Winter Soldiers: An Oral History of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, by Richard Stacewicz and Twayne Publishers, 1997:
": The original intent of the Friday was to take all the medals and throw them into a body bag and to take the body bag to the Capitol. People got mad because they put this fence across the steps of Congress. "What are they putting this up for? It's fencing us out." So on the spot, there was this mumbling and grumbling, and someone said, "Let's throw the medals over the goddamned fence."

: Getting ready to throw our medals away, was a fight with Kerry. Kerry wanted us to put them in a body bag. that it would be disrespectful to throw them away; people wouldn't understand. That was the only fight I ever remember having with Kerry. I said, "Fuck you. God damn it, we decided this months before; at every point you want to change shit. The only way we're going to wake the public up is to do dramatic events, and stuff like that. People handily decided to throw their medals away. I don't think Kerry did. Then we went and lined up and just threw our medals away. one of the heaviest things."
Winter Soldiers, at p. 249.

END

Here's the link: http://counterspin.blogspot.com/

[yardwork]

6. So what?

Who gives a damn what Kerry did with his medals in 1971? Obviously the people who were there can't even remember!

How is this relevant to Kerry's ability to be president? Are you accusing him of lying? After all the lying that has come out of the WH during the past three and half years, the best anyone can come up with is that there is a question about what Kerry did with his medals during a protest in 1971???!!!!

[lovedems]

9. No doubt!

Those were Kerry's medals/ribbons to what he pleased with them! My take is if he wanted to throw them, he had them to throw and further, it isn't the medals that make him a hero, it is his actions. How many lives did bush save in the early 70's (besides his own?)

[Redleg]

20. Take a friggin' breather- I'm not accusing Kerry of doing anything.

I'm just pointing out what I read on another site- the information which doesn't appear to make Kerry look bad.

I think the medal thing is bullshit and a non-issue. I don't know why your response toward me was so hostile.

[zelzebud]

7. I think the point is he is inconsistant about the medals

He has said they were not his medals, they were his medals including the PH, SS and BS he threw over the fence etc. Which is it?

Even I am confused after hearing the 71, 86, 92, 98 and 2003 quotes from him. That, I think, is the issue.

[retread]

8. The issue is the damage done to our country and the world

in the last 4 years!

[hughee99]

10. I agree

that it's the inconsistancy that's the key issue here, but in all honesty, who cares? Kerry is playing right into * hands by keeping the Vietnam issues alive. We all know that he was a war hero, but he's not going to get elected on that alone. The more time he spends talking about that, or about * being AWOL, the less time he spends talking about the issues, and that is what will get him elected.

[lovedems]

11. Are you confused about the medicare bill?

I would rather have that piece of shit legislation explained to me before I would Kerry's medals!

[sangh0]

12. Why agree with the Repukes?

The issue isn't Kerry's inconsistency.

The issue is Bush*'s going AWOL.

Why on earth would you prefer to discuss the former when you have tha latter issue to raise? Do you like having the terms of debate dictated to you by Repukes?

[hughee99]

16. The issue isn't either of these!

Neither Kerry's medals or *'s AWOL is the issue. That's my point. * wants Kerry to keep talking about it. If Kerry spends lots of time discussing the AWOL issue, then he won't be talking about real issues like Healthcare, Iraq, the economy. The AWOL debate, in the end, is much less dangerous to * than a debate on these issues.

[rasputin1952]

22. It is not Kerry that is discussing the medals...

It is the RW Spin Machine...and they are getting chewed up and spit out because they can't come up w/anything substantial against Kerry.

bush and his evil minions are the ones making this an issue, and it is backfiring against bush. I say that is a GOOD thing...:)

[Lars39]

13. This thread has the best explanation I've read about it.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1475965#1476276

Scroll to top to read the whole thread.

[Catherine Vincent]

15. Good lord!

You're so obvious that I don't want to say it.

[Soup Bean]

17. That's not much of an issue compared to lying about why we went to war.

Bleaghhhh.....I can't believe the stupid things people pick up on....blowjobs, interns, political stunts, haircuts....but nobody ever cares about selling arms to Contras, Peak Oil, lying about WMD's, $700 million dollars of misappropriated war funds, excessive secrecy, character assassination, REAL assassinations, misuse of the CIA, killing foreign people and trying to destroy people who don't think like you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. WHO FUCKING CARES.... are you that curious as to why Georgie read

to school children while the nation faced the greatest threat since the civil war??

Welcome to DU but please don't make me question your values nor your priorities on your second post!

[HootieMcBoob]

21. First off -- who gives a damn

Second off -- what I've heard him say is that he threw his ribbons and he had medals that belonged to other vets who weren't able to make it to the protest. He threw his ribbons along with the medals of some other guys who wanted to make a statement as well.

What did * do with his three purple hearts and bronze star and silver star? Oh...never mind...

[Redleg]

23. Is lying about medals a big deal? Why was he even asked the question?

It's not like being asked "where were you when you were supposed to report for ANG duty in Alabama?" Now that's a question!

[emulatorloo]

24. I think the point is who CARES! How many medals does your friend BUsh have

EOM

[0007]

18. Is Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam War medals controversy a relevant campaign

issue?

Yes 33% 37312 votes
No 67% 76632 votes

Total: 113944 votes