Comments on: Kerry Criticizes Cheney for Avoiding Vietnam War

By: Mike Sheehan

Mike Sheehan — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 20:34:49 +0000

New allegations are being raised about family influence and George Bush's billeting to the Texas Air National Guard. As a contemporary of the two candidates I recall it was just as difficult to get a slot in the Naval Reserves as it was to get in the National Guard. How did John Kerry get a slot in the Naval Reserves at the eleventh hour, after his request for deferment to go to graduate school was denied?

By: ray skinner

ray skinner — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 08:17:59 +0000

It should be noted that Kerry had four student deferments, and only enlisted in the navy reserve when his fifth student deferment was denied. Was afaid he would end up in ground forces. Also when he applied for swift boats they were considered relatively safe because they patrolled the ocean area. Only after he applied did they start patroling the Delta, and then he couldn't pull his papers. Check The Dates. Believe me I KNOW

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 22:34:51 +0000

Fact is, both Bush and Kerry sought student deferments, and according to the enlistment papers found on Kerryâs campaign website, Kerry enlisted in the Naval Reserves. This is not quite accurate. Bush, Cheney, and Kerry all received student deferments. Remember draft age was 18. Student deferment for undergraduate college education was the norm. Bush enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard. Kerry requested a deferment for post-grad studies and was denied then enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Cheney received a deferment as a married man with children. Every single deferment, and every single National Guard or Naval Reserve enlistment, and every deferment as a breadwinner was considered honorable at the time. And every time I hear Kerry trying to claim his own acts as honorable and everybody else's as dishonorable when he took the same deferments (except for the breadwinner deferment) makes me want to punch the SOB in the nose.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 20:54:38 +0000

Bo, I'd never heard that Bush sought a deferment. Source?

By: denise

denise — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 19:58:49 +0000

This is pretty ridiculous on Kerry's part, but it is partly the chickens coming home to roost for the Republican party. Years of GOP bashing Clinton as a draft dodger is what has led to this.

Neither party ever wakes up to the fact that what comes around goes around. Maybe the next generation will remember the Ratt song and do better.

By: King of Fools

King of Fools — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 17:49:42 +0000

Interesting that John Edwards was missing from that list. The supposed reason is that he was born later; very suspicious timing if you ask me.

By: BoDiddly

BoDiddly — Fri, 03 Sep 2004 16:58:16 +0000

I feel one little detail has been "glossed over" in all the hullabaloo over "AWOL Bush" and "VietNam Hero Kerry". Kerry has, time and time again, cited how he volunteered for service on board a "Swift Boat", while condemning Bush for National Guard enlistment. Fact is, both Bush and Kerry sought student deferments, and according to the enlistment papers found on Kerry's campaign website, Kerry enlisted in the Naval Reserves. In the months that followed, Kerry saw action in VietNam, Bush did not. I think it's a significant distortion to portray Bush as attempting to evade service, while Kerry is lauded as a hero for "volunteering", when the two took very similar paths.