Comments on: Webb: Republicans Should Stop Attacking Vets

By: Herb

Herb — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:59:07 +0000

I do not dispute the fact that Murtha is considered a "War Hero" during the Vietnam war. I do however strongly question his actions of late. His anti War rehtoric if today is also anti military by inuendo and he does not have the right to run our military into the ground. Murthe has lost all sinse of the very thing he was decorated for. His anti war speeches amount to a "running like cowards" mentality, or he is just getting senile in his old age.

As for Kerry, all he had to do was to produce the records and that would have quashed the entire swift boat controversy.

The entire article by Webb seems to indicate that Democrats do not engage in "dirty politics" while they think of something rotten to say about the Republicans.

Double Standard?

By: td

td — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 04:26:20 +0000

Have you read Kerry's testimony before congress during the Vietnam war? I was very surprised when I read it. Kerry is pretty much a worthless politico today, but he was something else when he made that speech, and that something was not anti-veteran. Here is one link to the testimony "http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Testimony" Read the entire original source, and pray that it does not sound too familiar again a few years down the road. It is easy for chickenhawks to attack people who put their lives on the line for their country.

By: td

td — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 04:25:27 +0000

Have you read Kerry's testimony before congress during the Vietnam war? I was very surprised when I read it. Kerry is pretty much a worthless politico idiot today, but he was something else when he made that speech, and that something was not anti-veteran. Here is one link to the testimony "http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Testimony" Read the original, and pray that it does not sound too familiar a few years down the road.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 02:16:29 +0000

Martha's play for sympathy here is laying it on a little thick don't you think? I mean my God, I should think that his being able to prove he got the metals legitimately should be relatively easy to do... assuming he did... and thereby he'd be able to tar his accusers very easily, thus the solving the question. Forgive me my skepticism; We already know one Democrat who "gamed the system"... So why on earth would shock anyone to find that we had two of 'em, all along? ...and while we're all atwitter about Republicans attacking Democrats for their military records to the words "Texas air national guard" the name Mary Mapes, mean anything to you?

By: Jonk

Jonk — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:30:27 +0000

Nothing makes me angrier than ad hominem attacks on veterans and their service, regardless of party.

As for the attacks that Ann made on Max a couple years back, just remember one thing..."friendly fire" isn't.

I might not agree with the politics of various veterans, but I will go to the MAT for any of my brother and sister vets.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 21:00:32 +0000

JJ, the Bush machine is designed for deniability, and alas, you're fitting right in. Given the pattern that James Webb, of all people, can't help noticing, and remembering the First Law of Politics (cui bono?), this really shouldn't be so hard. "I am shocked, shocked!, to find there is gambling going on in this establishment!"

By: Maryann

Maryann — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:51:47 +0000

The most insidious thing about Webb's piece is the repetitive use of fuzzy slurs like "Republican operatives" and "Republican funded." Isn't James Webb contemplating a run for Senator as a Democrat. (Challenging Virginia Senator George Allen.) I agree that it is in poor taste to question a veteran's ribbons and medals awarded on a battlefield but Murtha, like Cindy Sheehan, is not above criticism.

By: Sigotter

Sigotter — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:41:52 +0000

I think that what you are glossing over is that this is not just a case of some miscellaneous good ol' boys playing tricks. It has been mapped and funded by a small group to destroy the reputation of anyone who is a threat to the President's election.

This has been a well-orchestrated Rovian tactic which has been used on Bush's behalf since his first Texas gubernatorial campaign - when the rumors were first being spread that Ann Richards was an alcoholic.

It is slimy and disgusting, but successful - so it has been repeated again and again. The fact that Webb concentrates on the rumors and slurs being used against veterans... I suppose that is a suggestion that Rove et al cease using that tactic against the men and women who have been on the front lines. But it should cease against all the others as well. Otherwise the backlash will be enormous - and that "legacy"? It will be demeaned.

By: SoloD

SoloD — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:31:18 +0000

Let's be honest here -- some Republicans are scared to death of a Democrat who is perceived as anything less than a wimpy peacenik. (Much like Democrats are terrified to have Republicans thought of as anything less than Klansman without the hoods.) But that's why the attacks against Al Gore, John Kerry, Max Cleland and John Murtha were undertaken: they couldnât allow the perception to exist. So instead of attacking the policies or even their conduct after the war, they attack their service. And, just in case you forgot, the Democrats tried it against Bush Senior, but it never got any traction. (However you also see it in the way that some GOPers try to undermine John Kennedyâs PT 109 service, even 60 years later.)And indeed explain to me the substantive differences between Bill Clinton's "draft dodging" and that of Dick Cheney or Newt Gingrich or any other of a dozen high profile Republicans. The GOP cannot afford allow the imagine of a macho Democratic Party.

But pretending that the Bush campaign did anything to stop such attacks is either revisionist history or willful denial. The GOP convention was full of slurs against Kerry and his service. (Remember the purple band-aids?) Mild statements of disagreement are not full throated denunciations of slurs of not those men who served honorable, but of all veterans.

(And just in case you are wondering, as disgraceful as I believe the swift boaters were, the Kerry camps unwillingness to respond immediately was a huge error that only made the attacks more effective.)

By: McGehee

McGehee — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:08:14 +0000

Yes, there was some "whispering" that McCain was a bit off his rocker during the 2000 campaign. Originating, perhaps, from his own behavior!? Grrrrr... If anyone's attacking vgeterans for being veterans, yes they should stop doing that. But being a veteran should not be a blank check to be able to push stupid ideas or act like a lunatic and never be called on it.