Reply #42: I don't get this Viet Nam experience thing [View All]

[CityDem]

Does every candidate running for President have to have experience in Viet Nam to be considered a legitimate candidate? What if Hillary were to run in 2004 -- should she be less credible than Kerry because she did not go to Nam? This is a crazy argument. Both Bush and Kerry have stated their policies and have a public record of votes, speeches, etc. Their positions on the issues today should be the issue, not what they were doing when they were 22 years old. For those who are 40+ years old, think about how your views and life have changed since you were 22. When I was 22, all I cared about was finishing school, girls, finding a job, girls, beer and girls. I still do much the same today, but I have added quite a few items to the list. And since I am happily married, I only am interested in one girl.

While I applaud Kerry and Cleland for serving our country, I am not ready to make Viet Nam experience an important criteria for president.