How do they do it with a straight face?

[stormchazer]

Kerry Blasts Bush Over Attacks on Record


Feb 22, 5:54 AM (ET)

By NEDRA PICKLER


ATLANTA (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry accused President Bush on Saturday of using surrogates to attack his military service in Vietnam and his subsequent activism against that war.

In a letter to Bush, Kerry wrote: "As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and painful period in our nation's history, and the struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been hard to believe that you would choose to reopen these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do."

Kerry was reacting to criticism earlier in the day from a leading Georgia Republican who, speaking for Bush's re-election campaign, predicted trouble for Kerry in the state's primary.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss said during a conference call arranged by the Bush campaign that Kerry has a "32-year history of voting to cut defense programs and cut defense systems."

When Kerry responded later, at his side was Max Cleland, a triple-amputee Vietnam veteran who lost his Senate seat to Chambliss in 2002 after being portrayed as soft on homeland security.

He said the president "decided once again to take the low road of American politics."

"Saxby Chambliss, on the part of the president and his henchmen, decided today to question my commitment to the defense of our nation," Kerry said in Georgia, one of 10 states choosing electoral delegates on March 2.

Kerry said Bush used the same strategy to beat John McCain in the 2000 race for the Republican presidential nomination, and during the Chambliss-Cleland race.

In his letter to Bush, Kerry called Chambliss' run against Cleland "one of the most despicable campaigns ever conducted."

During the news conference, Kerry said he voted for the largest defense and intelligence budgets in American history, although sometimes he "voted for common sense to make changes."

Bush, he said, was ignoring issues like jobs and health care to "engage in the politics of fear."

Kerry has gotten the endorsement of John Lewis, a civil rights leader and Georgia's longest-serving congressman. But Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., is backing Bush.

Kerry also defended his military record during an interview taped Saturday for broadcast Sunday morning on ABC's "This Week."

"I don't know what it is that all these Republicans who didn't serve in Vietnam are fighting a war against those of us who did," the Massachusetts senator said.

Kerry has campaigned on his Vietnam combat record, which includes three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.

Chambliss said Kerry, despite his service, has a weak record on military issues.

"He has a long history, particularly in the last decade, of not only voting to cut intelligence spending, but introducing bills to cut intelligence spending," Chambliss said.

Cleland, a Democrat, had some criticism for Chambliss.

"For Saxby Chambliss, who got out of going to Vietnam because of a trick knee, to attack John Kerry as weak on the defense of our nation is like a mackerel in the moonlight that both shines and stinks," he said.

[wx247]

For Kerry it is simple... he has no heart.

[mf_dolphin]

Kerry spent 4 months in Vietnam and then has spent the rest of his life cutting our defense and intelligence communities. If he doesn't like his record then tough!

[rainstorm]

no, its called the liberal kerry press corp. liberals do it all the time. he smeared bush over viet nam, and now that his record is being attacked, he wants to call the whole thing off. its the same thing that happened in ga with max clelland. max clellnad had a liberal voting record in a conservative state. thats why he lost

[streetsoldier]

It appears that Kerry is taking no notice of the fact that these attacks started with DNC chairman Terry Mc Auliffe and Micheal Moore re: GW's service record, with a "healthy" assist from George Soros.

Once that "ball" was in play, he should accept that his own spotty "military/agitator/voting on military-security-intelligence issues" record would have caught up to him.

He needs to choose his "friends" more carefully.

[Aslkahuna]

the Democrats set the tone for the Campaign with those moveon.org ads comparing Bush to Hitler. Kerry is crying foul because he DOESN'T want his record to be brought up. However, as was noted on CNN recently, a Senator's voting record is both public and fair game. He is being a typical Liberal though, he wants it both ways and his way only.

Steve

[Lindaloo]

What no one has mentioned is that Kerry proudly wore his medals while depriving other soldiers of theirs. He is a walking contradiction.

[Rainband]

Kerry is an idiot. Like I said I don't agree with some views of President Bush and it's obvious why but the alternatives are scarier and scarier everyday