John Kerry's Sends Letter Challenging President to Debate on War

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0221d.html

February 21, 2004

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC  20500

Dear President Bush,

Over the last week, you and your campaign have initiated a widespread attack on my service in Vietnam, my decision to speak out to end that war, and my commitment to the defense of this nation. Just today, Saxby Chambliss-- a man elected to the US Senate on the back of one of the most despicable campaigns ever conducted against Max Cleland, a true American Hero-- was carrying this attack for you.

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 re-open these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do.

I am fighting to become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.  Even before Democrats make their choice, you’ve launched a campaign of attacks against me.  I am determined to run a campaign on the great challenges facing this country-- from creating jobs, to solving our health care crisis to getting our nation's ballooning deficit under control. But I will not sit back and allow my patriotism to be challenged.

America deserves a better debate.  If you want to debate the Vietnam era, and the impact of our experiences on our approaches to presidential leadership, I am prepared to do so. 

This is not a debate to be distorted through your $100 million dollar campaign fund. This is a debate that should be conducted face to face.

Mr. President, I hope you will conduct a campaign worthy of this nation’s future. 

Sincerely,



John Kerry

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

1. Awesome!

But you know Bush wouldn't accept. Bush doesn't even know what Vietnam was about.

[madmax]

2. I'd pay to see this debate

Will bush accept? Hell, no!

[eaprez]

3. Premature

I want to see him debate Edwards first on all the issues.

[funky_bug]

10. This isn't about Edwards

This is about getting Bush out of the White House. I haven't seen anywhere at anytime, where Edwards has offered to challenge Bush directly.

At least Kerry is keeping his eye on the prize. Frankly, he is too busy kicking Bush the Lesser's ass to worry about the distance second place contender. Why ride the kiddie cars at the local fair, when you can rule the roost at Six Flags?

[eaprez]

15. Its Premature

because Kerry isn't the nominee yet.

[sangha]

21. It's never premature to fight Bush*

and nowhere does it say that an American must be nominated by a party before they're allowed to challenge Bush*.

Why do you oppose someone challenging Bush*?

[BeatleBoot]

4. Bring It On!!!!

Go get 'em John!

Don't take their shit!!!!!!!

[Catch22Dem]

5. Holy christ, that's good

I love it. I've never felt better about Kerry than I do right now.

[buckeye1]

6. ON GUARD!

I like it. Ambivalence turns to support.

GO! GO! go Johnny go. GO! GO! go Johnny go. GO! GO! Johnny be real Bad!

[waterman]

7. Woo wee! That was nice. Stuck it up the old butt there, Johnny!

[TheDonkey]

8. damn that was an excellent letter!!!!

He needs to get on TV and say this so the media has to play it up.

Big ol ouch to shrub.

[disenfranchised]

9. So Kerry wants to debate Bush one on one

He wanted to debate Dean one on one.

But, he won't debate Edwards one on one.

[funky_bug]

11. Why SHOULD he? See Post #10.

If Edwards is so worried about a one-on-one debate, where is HIS letter challenging GWB?

[funky_bug]

12. And now we know why he said so confidently...

bring it on. I was so tired of that phrase, but now, I get it!

He has the cajones to take on the dog. Props to Kerry!

[RageAgainstTheirMachine]

13. Go Kerry Go

Bush is gonna regret he ever brought up Vietnam.

[knight_of_the_star]

14. Thank you John!

Take the fight to 'em! Its what Wes Clark and Howard Dean would have done!

[Scott Lee]

16. Hypopcrite, thy name is John Kerry

Kerry needs to send himself a letter challenging himself to a debate on all his hypocrises and flip-flops.

So for staging, where will the "pro war, IWR voting" John Kerry go? On the left or the right of the "righteously opposed to this terrible war" John Kerry?

[Eloriel]

17. Oh, how cute

He might want to wait until he's the nominee, though. Doing it at this stage just looks like a gimmick, which is exactly what it is. He's assuming the mantle of nominee, blustering to Bush about a debate (showdown) with his false bravado.

:puke:

Doesn't do anything for MY impressions and opinions of John Forbes Kerry.

[killbotfactory]

18. He sure is getting a lot of mileage out of Vietnam

I had almost forgot he was a veteren.

[citizen snips]

19. If Kerry can debate Bush.

Than Kerry can also debate Edwards.

[sangha]

20. Wow! Some people care more about defeating Kerry than Bush*

No one has denied that this will hurt Bush*, and yet some people are miffed because it won't hurt Kerry. Talk about misplaced priorities!

[IndianaGreen]

22. Let's debate a war that happened 40 years ago, instead of Iraq!

Vietnam, which was a Democratic war, became a Republican war when Nixon failed to get the troops out within 6 months after taking office in 1969.

The CIA-run death squads, torture, murder, forced population transfers of the hamlet program, free fire zones, and indiscriminate bombing and spraying of chemicals were all started and done under a Democratic President.

Both major parties have innocent blood on their hands in Vietnam.

Most Americans are under age 40 and Vietnam is something that is as far removed from them as Pearl Harbor was from Boomers.

If you want the Democratic front runner waste his time, and ours, re-arguing the Vietnam War, I am certain that another candidate such as John Edwards can make major inroads talking to the American people about issues that matter to them more than the history of the Vietnam conflict (which goes back to the Truman Administration).

[Guaranteed]

23. Seriously...talk about a misleading headline

But who's gonna debate THAT war since both are responsible for it?

[killbotfactory]

24. Sticking to the real issues and concerns of the American people

I'm glad the Iraq war issue was dropped like a hot potato after Dean left. It's not like it was important or anything, unlike who served in Vietnam.