Did President Clinton really dodge the draft?

[dennis4868]

I keep hearing the media whores say that Clinton was a draft dodger. How can that be? He entered the draft and got a high number, right? He did not do anything illegal like Bush who was AWOL for at least 6 months from the Alabama National Guard. How can someone be called a draft dodger if they entered themselves in the draft?

[Catshrink]

1. I think he did have a high draft number...

or a student deferment. I read somewhere that Cheney had 5 deferments. Don't know if that's true... would like to know how to confirm that.

[Qanisqineq]

4. I just read that today

about Cheney and 5 deferments. Wish I could remember where...

[Solon]

2. Its not like he went to Canada...

I believe it was a college deferrement, and besides that he was also in Britian and the time, I believe. Also I believe he opposed the war anyways, in other words he wasn't a chickenhawk.

[Stephanie]

3. Clinton opposed the war and didn't want to fight

Just as you or I might feel if we faced the possibility of serving in the invasion of Iraq last year.

Clinton did what was required of him, but he did not volunteer for anything beyond that. He registered for the draft, he took his chances, and he lucked out with a high draft number in the lottery.

Someone should explain the whole lottery system to the youngsters. It really was bizarre!

[Old and In the Way]

11. I remember the party we had on draft day.

It was pretty intense. One friend I knew got #7, I got 31....others got 300+ It was very strange for those who thought thier life was put on hold, maybe permanently. Lucky for us, they stopped inductions that year, but I had my physical and was really wondering if I wanted to head to Nam or Canada...I'm glad I didn't have to make that choice.

[coloradodem2005]

5. Well...

...I read somewhere that he got a deferment because of his Rhoades Scholarship.

[Djinn]

6. no

student deferments weren't draft dodging and if the repugs want to try and fly this one I'd say let them as it includes many of there own - chimpy himself got student deferments until he graduated and had to find another way.

There is also the moral difference between avoiding (legally) a war that you have consistently and enlisting and then going AWOL to avoid a war that you hawkishly support.

Personally I'm all for the "one of your own" rule, ie if a politician or political party want to send people to war one of their loved ones HAS to go and has to go into a combat role NO EXCEPTIONS

[Stephanie]

8. He got a student deferment

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/skeletons/draft.shtml

Clinton's Draft Deferrment

In the autumn of 1969, Clinton entered the draft but received a high number (311) and was never called to serve -- however, Clinton made every effort to avoid the draft prior to entering it.

First, Bill Clinton received education deferments while at Georgetown and Oxford (where he helped organize demonstrations against the war). Second, Clinton attempted to avoid the draft for four years by enrolling, but never joining, the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Clinton had enrolled in the ROTC hoping to avoid military service for four years, but, wanting a future in politics, had a change of heart and entered the draft.

[scarface2004]

7. clinton like many...

dodged the draft..and is proud of it!

[HawkerHurricane]

9. Nope.

Since he was never drafted, he never dodged.

When it looked like Clinton might be drafted, he signed up for ROTC... when it turned out he had a high number, he withdrew the application. He did have student deferments and such.

[FDRrocks]

10. It doesn't matter to me.

People who were drafted into Vietnam were screwed into sacrificing much for no reason. Dodging that is not a bad thing.

The thing with Bush, that makes the two situations uncomparable, is that he couldn't even complete his participation in the Air National Guard, flying airplanes around the base. It's not like he was in any great danger, Vietnam wasn't about to attack America.

[noonwitch]

19. I agree-I don't blame anyone for dodging the draft during Vietnam

Unless they are being a hypocrite and criticizing someone else for it. Nixon was wise to do away with the draft.

[maggrwaggr]

12. Who cares? He's not running for President

I find it silly that republicans continue to bring up Clinton.

We should start bringing up Nixon I guess. Hell, Rummy and Chainy both worked for Nixon, why the hell not?

[dmr]

17. I agree

When someone brings Clinton's name into the discussion, I try to re-focus them back to the current topic at hand. We are discussing Bush*. Clinton is old news. Clinton isn't running for POTUS. We need to stop the Republicans from reverting back to their old hatred of Clinton crutch. We have to stop allowing Republicans from distracting discussions, because we end up getting wrapped up in protecting our Democratic past instead of fighting for our future.

I asked a guy the other day: "Are you that insecure about Bush* that you have to continue to bring Clinton into the discussion? Clinton is no longer POTUS, Bush* is, and it is Bush* and his policies we are discussing."

That discussion didn't go much further.

[Piperay]

13. Clinton was never drafted so

there was nothing to dodge. :argh:

[republicansarewhores]

14. Blumenthal's book describes this at great length...

And that Clinton was a conscientious objector who was vocal about his feelings regarding the war.

RAW

[nomatrix]

15. How it worked

Selective Service during the VietNam war.

http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm

I believe it is where the expression "Read it and weep" came from. I remember watching them pull the numbers.

[ComerPerro]

16. This is good to study

Because it will be happening again if Bush is reselected.

[dbt]

18. Anyone who calls Clinton a draft dodger

probably never faced the likelihood of being sent to Viet Nam. Next!

:freak:
dbt
(Lottery #335, 1970)