NationStates Jolt Archive

Does Kerrys "history" in the war matter to you?

Personally; I am conflicted since I come from an old military family.......

Not really, but he's pretty much basing his campaign on it, so i guess it has to.

I don't think they do. It's not that his service isn't honorable at all, it is. However, I don't see why his three Purple Hearts would make him a better president.

No. But sicne the US Public can be swayed by anything, having three purple hearts will help carry the election for Kerry. People will say "Ooh, The TV told me he's a war hero. I like the military, let's vote for him." or "The TV told me Kerry threw away his ribbons. Vote Bush!" or "Peace, not war!" [and end up not voting because both candidates are nothing like the latter.]

Does Kerrys "history" in the war matter to you?

Personally; I am conflicted since I come from an old military family.......

Agreed. There's no way I'm voting for a self-proclaimed war criminal, who disgraced his nation, marched alongside radical, rabid anti-American extremists, provided incalculable moral aid to the enemy, bombarded the public with lies about his fellow vets and embarked on a massive smear-athon, threw away medals, and later, covered up evidence that prisoners of war are still being held alive over there. Now, he says he's "proud of his military service." What a hypocrite. What an asshole.

That book defaming Kerry's war record is about as low as they get. That, and it's been trashed from both sides. If the democrats and republicans are agreeing on something, it's either the end of the world or there's another highly important reason.

I don't have anything against Kerry's character, really (well, what I know of his character anyways). However, I don't think that leadership skills he acquired in the military will help him operate in the white house. It's all nice and pleasing to hear him say, "I served my country as a young man, and I will serve it as President," but leading a group of soldiers is quite different from being President of the United States.

He volunteered for the war, he served, and he got hurt thrice. Great spirit. However, I see no reason to relate this to potential ability as President.

I agree somewhat. I think that it would have been ehough to say "I served with distinction", but everything else is just ridiculous. Vietnam ought to have already died, it ought not be the dread zombie that it is becoming, to haunt us forever.

I think it is actually a Bush/Republican mess that they try to get out of. By either say that Kerry record are lies or have no importance. Because after 9/11 many of you americans wanted a war president. So your president started some war and also dressed up in military uniforms and also flew atleast one trip in a fighter jet if I'm correct. But now he face a guy in the election that have done actualle fighting and even got alot of fancy medals for it while bush was based on military base in the USA and that under the same war as Kerry risked his life. Of course Kerry will do the best to promote that fact and Bush followers will try to do the best to find a solution to the problem. Then you have the extra drama that the war is not a totally good war instead a war that is discused if it even was just to fight. There you have the extra drama that Kerry both fought the war and then distance himself and even oppose it. While Bush stayed home and to that I now never voiced his oppinion at that time. I guess it especially is a big dilemma for the american warveteran. Self I hope that Kerry win (and it is to concern to me to me even if I'm not american because america is the world most powerfoul country). And if I can say something about the war record that it is not actually that important but atleast show that Kerry did his duty but then have the integraty to chance his mind.

I missed the draft to Vietnam by only a few years so I've given this one some thought. Kerry actually acted in a manner similar to what I would have done, served when called upon to do so, but spoke up honestly about how he (and a good portion of America at the time) felt about the war after his tour.

Kerry's two platforms are "I won three purple hearts" and "I'm not Bush". They both suck, but "I'm not Bush" is good enough for me. I don't care about his military record. It has nothing to do with holding office.