Kerry refuses to release more records

[demdave]

WASHINGTON -- The day after John F. Kerry said he would make all of his military records available for inspection at his campaign headquarters, a spokesman said the senator would not release any new documents, leaving undisclosed many of Kerry's evaluations by his Navy commanding officers, some medical records, and possibly other material.

Kerry, in an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press," was asked whether he would follow President Bush's example and release all of his military records. "I have," Kerry said. "I've shown them -- they're available for you to come and look at." He added that "people can come and see them at headquarters."

But when a reporter showed up yesterday morning to review the documents, the campaign staff declined, saying all requests must go through the press spokesman, Michael Meehan. Late yesterday, Meehan said the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper.

---snip---

Kerry has not released the formal evaluations from superior officers, although his campaign has given a letter from a commanding officer that recommended him for service aboard Navy patrol boats and also reports for the Silver and Bronze stars that laud Kerry's actions in combat. By comparison, retired Army General Wesley K. Clark released hundreds of pages of his records during the Democratic primary campaign, including all evaluations of him by his superiors.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/04/20/kerry_refuses_to_release_more_records?mode=PF

[qanda]

1. What is up with this?

It makes it sound like he has something to hide.

[TroglodyteScholar]

2. Certianly...

...it couldn't be anything as damaging as going AWOL or having a nasty coke habit.

[demdave]

12. So why is he allowing this to become an issue?

The race is his to lose right now. It sadly reminds me of the Gore campaign in that respect. Kerry has it wrapped up if he can only keep from dropping the ball.

So why the missteps? Why the quote about killing of Hamas leader Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi being justified? The quote "I have a 100 percent record -- not a 99, a 100 percent record -- of sustaining the special relationship and friendship that we have with Israel." Even the assertion of a "secret" gas deal with the Saudis, which was debunked on Larry King by Woodward and the Saudis themselves. Tinfoil doesn't sell in Peoria. The people who ascribe to those theories don't need to be pandered to, we already have their votes.

I can't find the link, it was discussed in LBN, about Nader getting about 20% of the Islamic vote and Gore getting only half that amount. Nader is not a factor in this race...YET. He could be if Kerry is clumsy enough to bring the race that close. Nader has positioned himself opposite Kerry on the war. This could sway college age voters who are undecided and idealistic. (I do have to note, college students historically don't vote. The register, but they don't vote.)

Why did he even TOUCH the reparations issue? Let that growling dog alone.

It all comes back to, the race is his to lose.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

47. Why are YOU allowing this to become an issue?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

48. Hey, folks...when Junior releases ALL of his records,....

...then we'll worry about Kerry's.

[Undemcided]

66. Excellent analysis

n/t

[theHandpuppet]

14. Yep...

Doesn't sound good, whether or not there's anything to hide. What''s good for the goose is good for the gander -- we should demand as much or more from our Dem candidates as we do the Bushreich.

[stepnw1f]

53. Uh Huh... surrrrrrre

[recidivist]

3. There's no good way to spin this.

Just a couple of months ago, the press was in full jihad mode to force the release of every scrap of paper relating to Bush's service. It's going to be tough for them to say, "Oh, by the way John, never mind."

Kerry should release everything now and let the chips fall where they may. That, of course, assumes he's not hiding anything serious.

[Lindacooks]

44. Bush hasn't released all of HIS records

Kerry should start hammering on that.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

50. Let's get Junior to release HIS records first.

[WI_DEM]

4. I think he should

release them all or else this is bound to become an issue.

[Richardo]

5. Not good. I heard him assure Russert twice that his records were available

This gives more waffle fodder to the RW echo chamber. Get out your earplugs, the dB's are going to kill ya.

[cspiguy]

8. public information, if I recall.

Seemed smug enough that this all may just be nothing. Maybe a way to keep the press worried and involved and then when they find out it is all public records anyway they'll just say - Never Mind!

[nolabels]

33. I never use that inane style of protection

Industrial grade always works better and of course occupational hazards are a problem. People like limpballs know this; being full of crap all the time will give you hemorrhoids :shrug:






http://www.indlsafety.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog_name=IndustrialSafety&Category_Name=Ear+Protection&Page=1&cookie%5Ftest=1

[AndyP]

6. just what we need

more fuel for the "anti-American hero" fire. If he's going to taut his service he needs to release these records. I'm really sick of him playing politician, and pulling crap like this. I think he should just release him, especially cuz I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and think he has no problems on his records- this would allow him to hit Bush on his crappy record in the service.

[Magleetis]

7. I wish

we would have known this 6 months ago. Get them out.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. Good. This will yet again bring up AWOL questions

This shows how fucking desparate Rove is to find leverage on an issue.
Continued AWOL debate is welcomed.

[TrueD]

10. Didn't he learn from Bush's mistake

get the records out. It doesn't matter what they say. It turns a 1 day issue like Bush had into a 2 week issue that is talked about everywhere.

Republicans will now start speculating what's in them. Great.

[0rganism]

35. Maybe that's his goal? Make his records a two-week issue?

Then, when he does release them all, and they turn out spotless and exemplary, he gets that much more of a boost.

Kerry's the kind of politician who might think along these lines.

[TrueD]

65. That's true

Making a two week news story by releasing one exemplary report a day would be very good for Kerry.

[mzmolly]

11. Good for Kerry. He's running for President, Rove will have enought fodder

:P

[bluedog]

13. great move...

taking a page from the rove playbook.good move.why spend money for campaign ads to get your name out....let the republicans do it for you.

this also will bring back the subject of bushies records.........great political move..Kerry knows what hes doing

[koopie57]

67. I agree with you ...

Kerry is in charge of what he does, he does not jump whenever they demand something. And when all the curiousity is at its peek, he says okay and comes out smelling like a rose.

[Warren Stuart]

15. This will only be an issue, when Bush releases all of his records

Until then it's a non-issue.

This is a smart move on Kerry's part, provide a hint of scandal, the Republicans will over-reach like they always do. They will make a big stink over how important it is that candidates come clean, Kerry does so, there is nothing to see.

This will focus the spotlight on Bush and his missing records.

[GalleryGod]

16. Ignore LisT!!

:puke:

[Twillig]

45. right behind you

:puke:

[dae]

17. Show me yours and I'll show you mine. It can work to his advantage.

Make Bush put up or shut up.:kick:

[Zhade]

39. Didn't some people on DU scream about Dean taking that approach?

NT!

[Forkboy]

58. often and loudly

but this is Kerry,the annointed one.He does no wrong.

[dae]

63. I see plenty I may not agree with and I can make my views known to his

campaign or bitch and moan about it on a chat board. The choice is mine to make and theirs to do something about.
The bottom line is, he gets the Democratic Party nomination he is the man for better or worse.

[dae]

61. Some may have however I was not one of them. While Clark was my first

choice I greatly admired Dean and he was my second choice.

[skypilot]

18. "...follow President Bush's example..."????

Since when did Bush released all pertinent military records? Did I miss something?

[trogdor]

19. What could possibly be in those OER's that's so damn bad?

So some jackass lieutenant colonel with an axe to grind might have written something about Kerry's leadership ability. Big deal. We're all adults here.

[JI7]

20. they want to attack him for having "mental problems"

that stupid whore russert asked him about the nightmares and it was obvious what he was trying to get at. they did the same thing with mccain and accusations he was unstable from the war. they will try the same thing with kerry.

[Occulus]

21. But that in itself

is an admission that our soldiers might not be fit to hold any office since thay are 'tainted' from waging war. If the Pubs try this, it could easily be (legitimately) made into a bigger issue than the Presidential candidate; we could call into question whether enough is done for our soldiers once they return. And we all know that, in many cases, enough isn't done to help them 'get over' war.

[daleo]

22. He would be wise to release everything, after a bit

Then counter with the demand to see all of Bush's record, and others, perhaps Rummy. The Republicans will, of course, troll through everything in his records and blow up trivial matters into huge proportions, but that is to be expected. Most people's common sense will take care of that.

[dolstein]

23. Kerry, thy name is hypocrite

Just authorize the release of your entire military file and be done with it. It's not as if you have anything to hide. Right?

[SoCalDem]

24. All he needs to say about it, is this..

"I'll release ALL of mine, when the "redacted records" for George show up..There's a record of what I was doing while I was in the military, and George's partial dental records don't cut it..I was not AWOL, and he has not proven to ME that he was NOT.. Bring it ON "

[Turley]

26. That won't work

because it will still look as if he's hiding something. My gut feeling is that the medical reports aren't going to show very serious wounds. That will hurt him some, but not if he handles it cleverly.

[Catherine Vincent]

25. Why does Kerry have to?

Bush didn't release all of his records.

[powergirl]

27. Maybe he smoked pot or something dumb

I think he should agree to release everything when Bush releases all of his records sans the magic marker black outs.

I don't care if he smoked pot. That will make him more human.

[TacticalPeek]

28. Silly.

Surely his advisors are aware of FOIA? It should not take Marty Heldt to access this info.

Whatever's coming, it's better now than later.

It's quite a stretch to imagine that this is a 'briar patch' strategy.

[LagaLover]

30. You can't FOIA a person's military evaluations

That's personal and private.

[Tellurian]

29. Excellent!

I hope there is a method to the madness going on here.

Is Kerry withholding the further edification of his military documents because Bush has not released the personal evaluations done by his commanding officers?

That would be nifty!

[leetrisck]

31. There is no way that was all of bush's

military or medical records - baloney! It was what they "found"

[JNelson6563]

32. I remember when Dean couldn't release all his records

Funny how such a thing is "ok" with many now who once saw such as the end of the world and the greatest infraction imaginable.

How often I am reminded of Calvin-ball at DU.

Julie

[Zhade]

40. Sadly, hypocrisy is alive and well with some DUers.

But then, I'm not convinced that some of the most rabid anti-dissent anti-'leftist' Kerry supporters are actually progressives.

There are many Kerry supporters here who clearly are. It's just a handful whose true motives I question.

[stepnw1f]

54. Thank You Zhade!!!

[nonkultur]

34. I do not think this will go away

The Boston Globe has been trying to get this stuff for years. The MTP quote will make him appear to be lying or hiding something.

[Judi Lynn]

36. Kerry campaign provides some military records

Kerry campaign provides some military records


By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
4/20/04 6:03 PM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amid questions about his military records, John Kerry's campaign on Tuesday provided documentation of Vietnam War injuries that included shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and buttocks that earned him three Purple Hearts.

Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan said the campaign was in the process of compiling the rest of Kerry's naval record and planned to begin posting it on the Internet by day's end. Kerry said all his military records are available to the public during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meehan said the Massachusetts senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee requested a copy of his record from the Navy last month and received roughly 150 pages last week. He said the campaign was in the process of scanning images of the documents Tuesday and they would be posted on Kerry's Web site.

Conservatives, talk radio and some newspapers editorials have questioned whether Kerry was deserving of the three Purple Hearts, fueling questions about his Navy service from 1966 to 1970 and the seriousness of his injuries.
(snip/...)

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0744_BC_Kerry-PurpleHearts&&news&election2004

[truthisfreedom]

37. sounds like strategy to me.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

38. Remember, his FBI records were stolen. Might be wise to hold on to

the rest of his stuff so that the ingredients for an off-message manufactured mud bath aren't put together.

I'd sure rather have full transparency but we've seen that snipers are hitting non-combatants in Iraq and this general election.

[Malva Zebrina]

41. 'this is more of the "I am sick of of it" mode

well, I am sick of it and do not mind saying so.

I need more that what Kerry is handing me.

Do you understand that John?

It is nothing so far. It is nothing that I have been given.

I wish it would have been a Dean instead of the entrenched, cautious and almost sleezy Kerry. I wish we had A Dean or anyone, who was willing to call it the way it was.

Kerry is not willing. HE is basking in the knowledge that we MUST vote and WILL vote for him, in order to get Bush out.



WE do NOT need this right now, John Kerry

We need a man with some balls who CARES about us little people. and that will save this nation from another fascist term from an idiot like the very stupid George Bush. HE is incopetant.

So far John, I do not see that committment from you.

and that makes me sad and brings tears to my eyes.


bush is directly responsible for the deaths of over seven hundred of our children who were fighting for Bush's oil buddies in Iraq-and we will not mention the tens of thousands of innocents he murdered from his high postion of shock anbd awe. They were human beings with names. They had children and babies that were killed by Bush on LIES.

Never forget that

Do NOT let these bastards morph this war into ANYTHING ELSE

They attacked Iraq, knowing it could not ever defend itself, in order to make more money for Halliburton and it's subsidiaries.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

42. You need to go to johnkerry.com

really.

[Democat]

51. What are you talking about? Has Dean unsealed all of his records yet?

I don't think so!

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

43. Yet another reason that Kerry WAS NOT the right choice...

The only thing that is going for us Democrats right now is the fact that Bush is self-destructing.

If this weren't the case, Kerry's years of political flip-flops; hints at recruiting a Repuke VP (McCain); support for the Iraqi Invasion; refusal to release his records; etc. would spell the end of our chances in 2004.

Let's just hope that Bush continues down the path of personal destruction.

JB

[Judi Lynn]

46. Gee, I still remember when Bush, who has sealed his Governor's records

had his scum out in droves harrassing Howard Dean over his.

Never could understand the logic behind that. Obviously these people assume everything about themselves is GOING to be accepted, while they trash every aspect of their competition.

Makes you wonder how sincerely they believe in democracy, after all. I think they have no interest whatsoever in a two party, or multi-party system. They don't simply put up a good campaign and present decent candidates.

They present NO CANDIDATES, then try to destroy the very capable candidates offered by the Democrats.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

49. Your post makes me curious about some of the other posters...

...in this thread. They act more like freepers than DUers.

[Judi Lynn]

52. Yeah, I noticed!

Why go to a Democratic message board and attack the candidate, I would wonder!

[eagler]

57. I think we'd better expect more of it as we

get closer to november

[Shakespeare]

55. uh, update--Kerry releasing ALL records, AND posting them on his website.

Jesus, folks--his campaign apparently got the full records a few days ago. Can we all overract just a tad more? Because I don't think we're quite hysterical enough yet.

They're scanning them and posting them on the campaign's website. Bush, your turn.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=696&e=1&u=/ap/20040420/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_purple_hearts

[mouse7]

56. I figured it was a bureaucratic problem

Someone probably forwarded Kerry's records request to the White House and the White House tried to create a bullshit issue claiming Kerry wasn't releasing records while simultaneously sitting on the records keeping them from coming out.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

60. Too late...the bug is already out there that he refused

Now, there's the appearance that he was not forthcoming and only acquiesed the records after receiving pressure from the press and the Repukes. Amateurish.

This shouldn't have even been an issue. Kerry and his staff at the headquarters should have known that on early Monday there would be a clamour for the records. They should have been prepared for this and had the records ready to go Monday morning.

Kerry needs to get on the stick...we're not playing a game here. And, rest assured the Repukes will not give an inch and will capitalize on any stupid strategic mistakes.

JB

[Teaser]

59. He's releasing them all. Can we put it to bed now?

And be sure to read *past* the headline...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040420/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_purple_hearts

[AP]

62. I'll predict what's in the unrealesed pages (and there can't be many):

some random class-related comment, like, "he's sort of patrician and doesn't take orders well," or something easy to spn but essentially meaningless and utterly predictable.

Incidentally, the idea that he should release 100s of pages, like Clark did, is ridiculosu. Clark was in the military 100s of months more than Kerry. Of course he as more records.

[Digit]

64. Freepers just trying to deflect attention from *

Nothing more to see here now, so move along...

[goclark]

68. Kerry Should Say

To Tim Russet and The rest:

Are you sure that you wish to go in that direction with MY records!!
Every time we start talking about MY records, we'll need to talk about HIS records and I don't think we want to go there anymore.But, since you asked....

Let's talk about HIS record in the last two years, HE was the President with a REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE AND CONGRESS...

Let's talk about HIS War record
His ENVIRONMENTAL record
His CIVIL RIGHTS record
His FLIP FLOPS on the UN, on the tactics used in this horrible mistake in Iraq.
His record is the one that has directly lead to the killing and maiming of thousands.
Yes, I voted for the war, with the understanding that GWB would use his POWER and his "on record" stance as being a compassionate leader!


"I'll stand on ALL my records,what would happen if GWB stood on ALL of his? "

[Bigmack]

69. All these posts are old...here's new stuff.

Kerry's records have been released, and the evals from his CO's look really good. Then the medical stuff... turns out the med reports are no comfort to the rightwingnuts, either (see below).

Kerry was never my candidate, but all this shit about his wounds being "fishey" and his medals being unearned pisses me off so bad! Frankly, the idea of that junky gasbag Limbaugh demanding to see Kerry's medical records would be funny if it wasn't so disgusting.

The chickenhawks just refuse to acknowledge that a war hero could disagree politically with them.
- - - - - - - - - -

LTTE from today's Washington Post...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38192-2004Apr23.html
Setting Kerry's Record Straight
Saturday, April 24, 2004; Page A19

I have been hearing and seeing negative stories and attacks on my friend and former PCF-44 Swift Boat commander, John Kerry, and I believe it's time to put them to rest.

I served with Kerry on his first Swift Boat, PCF-44, as his second in command, senior enlisted man and radarman 2nd class. I was on the boat with Kerry, on patrol and in firefights. Steve Hayes may not have known Kerry well, but I know him very well.
From the first day I met him, I knew that I had someone special whom I could trust in any situation, but especially under attack or in a firefight. Kerry always took care of his men. We needed each other to survive. We were truly brothers then, and we maintain that closeness to this day. I saw combat with Kerry, and there was not a time that he did not display courage, compassion, caring, and the best command decisions. This is why we nine crewmates support him to this day.
I trusted John Kerry with my life 35 years ago, and I wouldn't hesitate to do the same today.
-- James R. Wasser
- - - - - - -
Kerry Still Carries Shrapnel in Leg from Vietnam
Fri Apr 23, 2004 05:51 PM ET
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=1VK3URJ4YBXUKCRBAEZSFEY?type=politicsNews&storyID=4927309

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry still carries a piece of shrapnel in his left thigh from a 1969 Vietnam War wound that led to his second Purple Heart, his doctor said on Friday.

Kerry, the commander of a "swiftboat" in the Mekong Delta in late 1968 and 1969, was hit by the shrapnel in a Feb. 20, 1969, firefight. Dr. Gerald Doyle, Kerry's personal physician, said removal would have required an even wider incision in the leg.

"A decision was made to leave the shrapnel in place," Doyle said in a letter summarizing 35 pages of military medical records taken from Kerry's personal files. "Successful removal would have necessitated an extensive wider exposure."

The Massachusetts senator, who released his military records earlier this week after questions were raised about his first Purple Heart, also made the medical records available for inspection by reporters on Friday.

Doyle briefed reporters on the records in a conference call and released the letter summarizing them. The Navy files released earlier in the week did not include Kerry's medical records.

The records indicated Kerry, who is challenging President Bush for the White House, had shrapnel removed from his upper left arm in December 1968 and from his upper buttock in March 1969 after he was wounded in action.
Kerry won three Purple Hearts, as well as a Silver Star and Bronze Star, while in Vietnam.

The military records were released by the campaign under pressure from Republicans after one of Kerry's former commanders questioned his first Purple Heart and the severity of the shrapnel wound to Kerry's arm.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=1VK3URJ4YBXUKCRBAEZSFEY?type=politicsNews&storyID=4927309
- - - - - -
Here's some witty comments on the above article by the chickenhawks at Freeperland.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1123824/posts

"Anybody got a metal detector?? Anybody consider the possibility of the UNNECESSARY shoulder surgery and the timing of this??"

"maybe it's rug burns from his Hanoi Jane days."

"You sure it wasn't a gerbil someone left up his rectum?"

"Sounds like medals are found in boxes of Crackerjack. I think in Kerry's case they probably were."

"Is it shaped like a beer can pull tab?"

"He might have got it in a Vietnamese brothel while looking for rich women to marry."

"FreeRepublic ought to send a sympathy card. . .to the shrapnel."

[goclark]

70. Freepers need to stay busy with Kerry

They have only silence when they speak of the War Record of the BushCon.

[JI7]

71. yeah, this thread should be locked for LBN forum

the records were released the day after i believe.