Volume II. No. 44
 04-28-04
 The Vanishing National Guardsman
 Challenges John Kerry
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004
 

 There they go again. The Republican attack dogs are out in force.This time the 
 presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry is being set upon
 by Republican "operatives" who accuse the senator of LYING about throwing 
 away his military medals. What Kerry actually threw away were ribbons - or so 
 the Republicans claim.

 Well did the senator throw away medals? Ribbons? Who cares!

 If this all sounds so very rediculous, it is. And Kerry's accusers are acting on
 behalf of a President - who as the senator has so accurately stated in recent 
 television interviews - can't even verify where he was in his last year of National 
 Guard duty. Or as Kerry has not stated on the record - but probably wonderered 
 - if in fact G.W. was AWOL.

 Now there's a question that deserves a definitive answer.

 This is the level to which this nacent campaign has descended. And it's still 
 only April! But, as usual it is the Republicans who start the mean-spirited chatter,
 and then cry foul when their attacks boomerang. 

 Exactly as is happening now.

 One thing that talk personalities such as Al Franken, Bill Maher and Janine 
 Garofalo are correct about is that Liberals have been soft, weak, and mushy 
 for too many years, in allowing Conservatives to redefine Liberalism as an 
 unpatriotic, if not dangerous political philosophy. And thus, the only way to 
 take the word back is for Liberals to become as aggressive in defending their 
 philosophy as Conservatives have been in attacking that philosophy.

 This is what the underhanded and very personal attacks against Senator Bob 
 Kerry are really all about. The attempted redefining of the man as a wealthy
 Massachusetts elitist. A man who is not even a true patriot, and who resides 
 outside the American cultural mainstream. -- In other words, the Republicans
 would have America believe John Kerry is "not Joe Six Pack."

 Maybe Kerry's pointed defense of his own record is a strong indication that 
 he will act vigorously to defend his honor. And if this political campaign is to 
 be about something other than mudslinging it is the Bush cronies on Capitol
 Hill { and elsewhere } who must rethink what they are doing. 

 The Vietnam era was a trying time for this entire nation. But John Kerry 
 did not seek to escape his military obligation in the manner the current occupant 
 of the Oval Office did. Once Kerry was home permanently he voiced his opposition 
 to that Asian war as was his right as an American citizen.

 If these are the rights we as a nation brag about, and would have every single
 citizen of the world enjoy. And yet, we in turn, do not practice what we preach. 
 Or denigrate those in this society who would dare voice an unpopular opinion. 
 Then what kind of hypocrites have we become in America?

 John Kerry is not going to sit still for this underhanded and dirty "liberal-bashing"
 that Republicans think is all they have to be about to win G. W. a second term 
 in office. The people in this country are concerned about real issues such as 
 health care, rising gasoline prices, and the job market. -- Not that Senator Kerry 
 might have been an injudicious rabble-rouser after his days in Vietnam were 
 done.

 Here's something a cowboy like G.W. should understand. This is not 1969. 
 There is a new Democratic sheriff in town and his name is John Kerry. And 
 from all appearances he is not going to come up weak. Those liberal-haters 
 at the Bush White House had better damned-well get used to the idea.
 

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