Kerry Was For Calling Our Soldiers Economic Dead-Enders Before He Was Against It

Seems odd that he "botched" a line that tracks so perfectly with his previous statements:

During a Vietnam-era run for Congress three decades ago, John Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to "the perpetuation of war crimes."

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned against the war, made the observations in answers to a 1972 candidate questionnaire from a Massachusetts peace group.

...

In 1972, as he ran for the House, he was less apologetic in his comments about the merits of a volunteer army. He declared in the questionnaire that he opposed the draft but considered a volunteer army "a greater anathema."

"I am convinced a volunteer army would be an army of the poor and the black and the brown," Kerry wrote. "We must not repeat the travesty of the inequities present during Vietnam. I also fear having a professional army that views the perpetuation of war crimes as simply 'doing its job.'"

Thirty-four year old quotes? Certainly he's retracted and apologized for the statements he made in this time frame, right?

Nope.

Asked a couple of days ago on Imus about his 1971 "Jenjis Khan" slanders, Kerry said, more or less, "I apologize to no one:"

"The American people rely on the truth. And when I came home from Southeast Asia, I told the truth. And I'm proud that I stood up and told the truth then. . . "

That's not a reassertion of these '72 quotes, but it's a pretty strong indication that he stands by everything he previously says.

Again: I'm absolutely perplexed at how absurd the right has been about bending over forwards to explain away John Kerry's latest in a long line of insults about the military.

I think Jim Gergaghty (more useful than the Corner, lately) observed that if this were a completely out of character statement -- say, if it came from McCain -- such benefit of the doubt may be warranted.

But this is not out of character. He's never apologized for the slurs he directed at his fellow soldiers thirty years ago. He continues to insist he bravely "told the truth."

The fact that Kerry served doesn't mean he liked or respected the sort of people he served with. His vicious Winter Soldier libels should indicate the level of contempt with which he held his fellow fighting men.

He wasn't a part of them. He was above them, looking down at them.

As usual.

Veteran does not equal "supporter of the troops." Ever had a job where you despised just about everyone you worked with and considered yourself well above working there at all?

I have.

Kerry has. Actually, he's had few jobs were he didn't feel that way.

posted by Ace at 01:41 PM

| Access Comments