In response to Hieger’s latest critique of the Kerry swift boat saga, research is generally an excellent thing to do when criticizing a group, whether you agree or not.
For example, the link posted on the blog references the official notes for the medal Kerry won when rescuing the Green Beret. This, as well as the Navy report referenced today by the AP, has to be based on someone’s write-up. All the other Swift Boat captains present on that day (who all are members of SBVfT) say they didn’t write it, that Kerry did. Kerry could release who wrote the write-up, and hasn’t. Where’s the burden of proof? Overwhelmingly with Kerry?
I agree with Randy Henderson, who has the correct answer to the “conservative vendetta” attack.
These veterans aren’t doing it because they’re Republicans, or because Karl Rove secretly met with each of them in a backyard barbeque and told them to attack Kerry. They’re doing it because they are genuinely upset at both Kerry’s post-war testimony (which has been proven to be mostly false…barbaric acts by Vietnam soldiers were not the norm), and because they hadn’t read the recent Brinkley biography, which just came out. That book made them believe that Kerry had not only betrayed them, but was trying to be a hero. That is what they have been very consistent on.
Look, there are two sides to these stories, and both deserve to be heard. It has to be interesting that after this has been out for a couple of weeks, both Kerry’s first Purple Heart (because of his journal entries) and his Christmas Cambodia trip (because of every known fact under the sun) are in question. That doesn’t sound like an overwhelming burden of proof to me. The Cambodian trip was recently “seared” into Kerry’s memory, even if it did take place before Nixon was ever in office.
None of this had to be an issue. Kerry and his team didn’t have to spend four days touting him as a Vietnam hero at the DNC. They could’ve just attacked Bush where we all know Bush to be weak. Nothing on the environment, little on economic policy. Everything about heroism.
Kerry invited this attack, and should have a press conference, answer the questions, and then really “bring it on”. If not, he just continues to look like he’s got something to hide.
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