Brent, I agree with you. Kerry's senate record is more applicable to the current campaign than his military record (though both have their place in the debate). Certainly, I'm surprised all conservatives don't promote that idea, considering the natural extension that if Kerry's Vietnam record should count, then so should Bush's. However, you seem a little selective -- in fact, selecting the same points and statistics that the Bush campaign has been focused on, coincidentally no doubt -- in your consideration of Kerry's record.
First, you shouldn't just believe everything the Bush campaign says about Kerry's voting record. They like to play around with numbers. Second, you should consider the full facts.
For example, this whole "voted against supporting our troops" thing is pretty stupid. As he famously, if unfortunately, stated, he did vote to support it before he voted against it. In other words, he voted for an alternative budget that would have supported our troops by repealing some of Bush's tax breaks that favored only the wealthiest of Americans. When that was rejected and it became clear that the Republicans were determined to be fiscally irresponsible in how they came up with the funds (e.g. run up huge deficits), AND it was clear that the funding would pass whether Kerry voted for it or not, he voted no as a protest vote.
Kerry was protesting fiscal irresponsibility, not protesting the funding of our troops, and he did so knowing that the troops would still get their money. If his had been a deciding vote, I'm sure he would have voted yes.
Or perhaps you dislike his votes to cut important weapons programs?
Finally, all things should be taken in context. There are, after all, two candidates in this race, not one. So while you are looking at Kerry's political record, you should also take an honest look at Bush's as well. Neither is perfect, or likely to make every person happy on every subject. That is the nature of politics, filled as it is with compromise, maneuvering, special interests, and personal opinion.
Of course you can find a couple of things to dislike about Kerry's record. But you can't find anything you don't like about Bush's? Or that you do like about Kerry's?
Not Kerry's co-founding of Vietnam Veterans of America? Not his environmental record? Not his strong support of our civil rights and freedoms? Perhaps you should take a real look at whatKerry vs. Bush stand for and believe in.
Then vote for the person who, on the balance, you feel will better represent all Americans and do what you feel is the job we're electing them to do.
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