Huffpo: "John Kerry Blasts Clinton Camp's 'Negative, Petty' Attacks"

[flpoljunkie]

Sam Stein
The Huffington Post
Kerry Blasts Clinton Camp's "Negative, Petty" Attacks

January 15, 2008 12:08 AM

Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, took aim at Hillary Clinton on Monday, saying her criticism of Barack Obama's stance on the Iraq war was "not founded on accuracy." He also ripped into comments made by Clinton surrogates hinting at Obama's past drug use, calling the remarks "negative in the worst, petty way," especially in the light of Bill Clinton's admitted use of marijuana.

"That kind of discussion," Kerry said, "from a campaign where the former president made famous the words 'I did not inhale' is to make something an issue that they themselves acknowledged shouldn't be."

<>"If you're criticisms and/or your attacks are not founded on accuracy, that's an unfortunate tactic under any circumstance, whatever you call it," said Kerry. "The fact is Barack Obama - and I know this because I'm the one who invited him to speak at our convention in 2004 and I campaigned with him out in Illinois - was against the war. And in his answer to a question he diplomatically tried to avoid creating a confrontation with John Edwards and John Kerry, the two nominees of the party, when he came to Boston . But he did say in my judgment - this is a quote at that time - that the case was not made."

<>"My decision," Kerry went on, "is based on the war component as it is on the larger issues as to who has the ability to unite the country around these decisions... I want to emphasize that I think Hillary Clinton is a very talented and capable person. And if she is the nominee I'm going to work my heart out for her. But I think Barack Obama has the best opportunity to be able to unite the country and create, what I would call, a transformational presidency."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/15/kerry-blasts-clinton-camp_n_81518.html

[ginnyinWI]

1. He's right. And the people of this country are sick of this kind of stuff.

In the end it will hurt Hillary and help Obama, IMO. As long as Obama stays above the fray, people will continue to see him as a refreshing alternative to politics as usual.

[Skidmore]

4. Yes, indeed.

[rodeodance]

6. If Obama had spoken up sooner, this crap would have stopped sooner--but he

is the one who was a day----days LATE.

[mopinko]

18. let me get this straight-

it's obama's fault that he didn't hit hillary back soon enough? is that what you are saying?

[flpoljunkie]

33. Hillary was trying to diminish Obama and disparaged MLK in the process. That's what started it all.

There may well be a concerted effort in the Clinton camp and from their surrogates (like BET's Bob Johnson) to play the race card--to minimize what they fear will be a substantial loss in South Carolina.

[niceypoo]

75. Thats BS and you know it

Your saying Hillary is openly racist. Didnt Obama tell his supporters to 'cut the negative crap' today? Perhaps you didnt hear.

Obama's camp started it with Michael Eric Dyson and his insinuation that the women who voted for Hillary in New Hampshire were Racists. There is plenty of slime to go around, so cut the crap.

[Cha]

104. I'm saying hillary is a damn petty

person just like her husband, bill, the non-inhaling weaseling president who got blowjobs in the oval office.

[karynnj]

112. I don't think that says she's racist, it says she is willing to use it politically

[IndianaGreen]

95. I think you are right.

Bill used coded language in his interview with Charlie Rose. It is a pattern.

[Cha]

103. If the clintons weren't so damn petty

we'd be working on a more intelligent level but that's just not the clintons.

[NWHarkness]

2. Same Old Kerry, a day late and a dollar short n/t

[LibraLiz1973]

16. ding ding ding

He is damn annoying

[GalleryGod]

27. So? Were you BORN in 1973? When Kerry,Gore, Me and these guys were finished our "Post Graduate Work"

That's the CMH around his neck,btw.

My "Lions in Winter" Hal Moore & Sgt. Major Basil Plumley
The Heroes of LZ X-ray.

[ginnyinWI]

80. Thanks GG for watching JK's back. :-) n/t

[GalleryGod]

83. No...Thank YOU! (snaps-off salute to Ginny!)

[GalleryGod]

24. He's a hero at least Gore & Kerry went to Vietnam

and Big Dawg...well? he took his Lottery # and slinked away.

[Cha]

105. You must be way up there on a pedestal to be so

critical and dismissive of one who has done so much for our country.

[Bullet1987]

3. GOBAMA!!!

[bluedog]

5. too bad he didn't fight harder

against the Swiftboaters.....or to have all the votes counted!

[Bumblebee]

7. Amen. On the bright side, at least he decided not to run himself... Small

blessings.

[Frances]

11. Agree

I supported John Kerry absolutely against Bush.

But he is the one who looks petty now.

Kerry was responsible for choosing John Edwards as his running mate. Now he endorses someone who is running against Edwards in the primary. That makes Kerry look like he had bad judgment back in 04.

By slighting Edwards (who seems to favor Obama over Hillary) and by negative remarks about Hillary's ads, Kerry is creating the kind of atmosphere that is antithetical to the positive, post-partisan aura that Obama is trying to create.

I think Kerry is hurting Obama much more than he is helping him.

[karynnj]

114. There was pressure to pick Edwards and he looked like

he could pull votes that would augment Kerry's.

Read Kerry's endorsement, which is 100% consistent with Kerry's own values. He speaks of the need to reduce partisanship and get away from the dysfunctional situation where there are 2 sides at war with each other. Ask yourself, if Edwards, with his call that we not play nice and his comments that some stake holders will not be allowed at the table, and ask yourself if there is a match. They seem opposite to me. Consider that 2004 Edwards was not the angry Edwards we see now. (I am NOT saying Kerry is right - though I do agree with him, but his view point is one he has had for decades. Even as a Vietnam War protester, he stayed within the system and sought to win people over by politely talking to the.)

In 2004, Kerry was not picking the person he thought would be the best President, he was picking - with ample pressure from the party - someone he thought could be a credible President who would add the largest number of voters to the groups Kerry already had. Kerry still says that Edwards and Clinton would be good choices too.

So, times have changed, what the decision is has changed, and Edwards has changed. I do think that these changes make a change in Kerry's decision explainable.

[Frances]

122. I think Kerry is an honorable man

but I think he has a tin ear. He doesn't realize how people will take him comments. I think he would have been more help to Obama if he had kept quiet.

[reality based]

8. Is this Kerry's payback

for Hillary's negative comments on his alleged gaffe just before the 2006 elections?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110102513_pf.html

[papau]

45. Yep - sounds like my war hero Senator is a vindictive small man

[ProSense]

61. You are attacking his character, but I believe he is a bigger man than you

believe.

Video

Here's Kerry's speech endorsing Obama

[papau]

92. political pay back over Hillary noting his badly told "joke"???

[Cha]

107. Begs the question..

:wtf: do you know? More hillartarism.

[LittleClarkie]

He's standing up for the man he endorsed and telling what he knows of the quote and its context

What's so small about that.

[Inuca]

86. ALLEGED gaffe???

Would you care to elaborate?

[papau]

94. "if you don't study hard in school you'll end up in Iraq" (Paraphrased)

[ProSense]

110. "(Paraphrased)" Nice RW impersonation! No spin needed:

The Senator, in essence, called Mr. Bush stupid. The context was unmistakable: Texas, the state of denial, stuck in Iraq. No interpretation required. And Mr. Bush and his minions responded, by appearing to be too stupid to realize that they had been called stupid. They demanded Kerry apologize to the troops in Iraq. – Keith Olbermann

It's no wonder you're defending this: Hillary Clinton Joins In

[papau]

119. Afraid to publish the actual quote? - "If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-31-kerry-whitehouse_x.htm

Kerry told a college crowd Monday: "You know education, if you make the most of it, and you study hard, and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

[ProSense]

123. I understand you want to believe the RW version, but

again, here's the point.

[Cha]

106. hillary is a small vindictive

woman.

[karynnj]

115. No

It is that he doesn't see her unifying the country. I also bet that he likely was more disheartened by the way she led her wing of the party against him when he fought for Kerry/Feingold. It suspect it might be that he prefers Obama's world view, that is closer to his.

[NightOwwl]

9. STFU Kerry

The time to blast negative attacks was 4 years ago.

And BTW, if you must attack, attack the f*ckng Pugs, not your own party.

Idiot.

[dionysus]

12. it's hillary attacking here, and john's got the right to call it out.

idiot indeed

[NightOwwl]

13. I expected responses just like yours.

Doesn't change my view in the least.

[dionysus]

15. with your elegant and wise "STFU kerry" post,

what did you expect?

[GalleryGod]

32. Still waiting your reply on your combat experiences? Since YOU smeared Kerry

See my sig line when it comes to YOU.

[NightOwwl]

37. Straw man argument.

But I'll respond anyway.

I never served, but I am eternally grateful to all veterans (including Kerry) for putting their lives on the line to protect our rights, one of which is free speech, even if that speech is critical of an ex-veteran. I am certainly not demeaning his service in any way, but you knew that already.

[GalleryGod]

43. Thanks but no thanks. When you smear a fellow Vet expect incoming.

I have alerted the mods on you.

[NightOwwl]

46. Wow.

[GalleryGod]

52. Go wow yourself..what are you 15?

Keep smearing.

[NightOwwl]

120. Kerry is a veteran, but he is also a politician.

Voicing my discontent with his actions AS A POLITICIAN is leaps and bounds from disrespecting him as a veteran.

I tried to respond to your straw man argument in a thoughtful way. But since you are only interested in "smearing" those of us who do not look at Kerry with stars in our eyes, I award you the honor of being the first person on DU I have ever put on Ignore. Congratulations!

This is a forum. People vent on forums. You might want to try to get used to it.

[GalleryGod]

51. I never tire of the females who tear apart Kerry on this DU-dysfunctinal website

They smear his manhood and courage because they seem to forget they got a FREE PASS not to be drafted during Vietnam...yup a FREE FRIGGIN' PASS...bake the cookies...send the care packages...ah,forget it.

Smear away, Ladies.

[Cha]

109. Nobody cares if you change your

view..but if you're calling one of America's Senator's who has worked really for our country an "idiot" then I'll condemn what you write.

[GalleryGod]

31. SEE MY SIG LINE,please.

He earned the right to speak his mind BEFORE politics,when you were in pampers.


My ONLY visit to the East Room of the White House, 7FEB 2007, and YES,Senators Kerry & Chuck Haigel were there,also.

So NightOwwl you just smeared a decorated war vet..WHERE & WHEN was YOUR SERVICE to America?
(taps toe waiting)

[Cha]

108. Look who's calling who

an "idiot".

[Benhurst]

10. Poor John. He's a good man; but he just doesn't get it.

If he thinks the attacks made during the primary season are bad, just wait until the general election.

Obama has admitted he used cocaine. Are his remarks about his youthful indiscretions a full or a limited hang-out? We don't know. The corporate media doesn't seem much interested one way or the other. Will their attitude continue if Obama gets the nomination? I doubt it. No Democrat is going to get the kind of pass they gave George Walker Bush.

Didn't Kerry learn anything from being Swift-boated? The Republicans will be in full attack mode come September. I have no doubt, if Obama is the nominee, they will go after him even if he has, in fact, made a full disclosure about his drug us. If he hasn't, Katie bar the door.

The Republicans successfully turned Senator Kerry's heroic war record on it's head. Our war hero was put on the defensive by a party which had nominated, for the second time, a man who had gone A.O.W.L. Senator Clinton may be forced to back off any questions about Senator Obama's past drug use, but does Kerry really think the Republicans will be so cooperative in the Fall?

I think Senator Obama probably has been candid about his past drug use; but I must admit I don't know for sure. Whether or not he is being candid, though, won't matter once the Republican attack machine and their lackeys in the corporate media get geared up for general election. And war hero John should have learned that lesson in 2004. For all his strengths, I guess Kerry still just doesn't get it.

Whomever we nominate, the general election is going to be down and dirty. Whatever skeletons our candidates have, they had better be dealt with now, because they are undoubtedly going to be exposed, exaggerated, and lied about in the Fall.

[Cha]

111. John Kerry "gets it" just fine..

Just because the clintons are petty doesn't mean it shouldn't get a response now and ignored because the fucking repukes will do worse.

Obama has been candid about his drug use in his book..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_from_My_Father

[Colobo]

14. Go Kerry! Gobama!

[WillTheGoober]

17. John Kerry is a loser.

I know that has some shock value, and truthfully I do like John Kerry for the most part -- but this guy lost. Say what you want about 2004's election and Ohio -- but Kerry allowed George W. Bush, a man with little intelligence and even less grace to walk all over him. He allowed swift boat veterans to diminish his record -- he allowed his words to be jumbled -- and he fell into Republican traps.

Even his bid for 2008 was brought to a screeching halt after he botched a "joke" about the military and allowed the Republicans to mass-produce fake outrage all over the place.

I am so glad he's not running -- because it was like walking on eggshells to support that guy.
Peace, Kerry -- CYA!

His endorsement of Obama simply puts Edwards out of this race.
If I were Obama, I'd worry about having John Kerry in my corner.

W.

[ProSense]

22. Loser? Kerry

won NH and Iowa during the 2004 primary. Kerry's campaign set and still holds the Democratic record for raising $3 million online two days before Super Tuesday, and topped that with the most successful fundraising day ever with $5.7 million. He got the most votes, more than 59 million, of any other presidential candidate, incumbent or otherwise, except Bush, who still had to resort to vote suppression and other dirty tricks.


Did Hillary win Iowa and NH?

[beachmom]

29. Good point. If Hillary is so great, why didn't she sweep the primaries already?

But I guess the talking point from Hillary supporters about Kerry is "he is a loser". How gracious and classy.

[robbedvoter]

53. Kerry won. But Hillary hasn't been crowned by MSM in her living room the way Kerry

was in 2004 - before any vote was cast.

[WillTheGoober]

57. Exactly ... :-)

Dean was shot down by the MSM and the local Dem party in Iowa.

W.

[GalleryGod]

97. I really wanted DEAN to last much,much,longer. It was a crying shame.

John lost a terrific Sparring partner, if you will.
But he's the DNC Chairman,now, and a GREAT one!

[GalleryGod]

84. Good, reflective point, friend. Well taken.

Senators Kerry and Haigel were in attendance,but, knew enough that it was Bruce + Hal's "moment"

Hal Moore calls-in pinpoint air strikes

[karynnj]

116. You have it backwards

Two weeks before Iowa, the main content on him in December and early January was whether he would pull out after losing Iowa or after losing Iowa and NH. The media was clearly prepared for Edwards to surge on the first multistate day, where the states, DE, MO, SC, ND, AZ, NM, and OK were clearly states that would favor a generic Southern populist over a generic NE liberal. When Kerry won 7, CNN labeled it a big win for Kerry and a smaller win for Edwards. In fact, this was not a win at all for Edwards. It demonstrated that he was not winning the states he would need to get the nomination (other than his home state). The media was so unwilling to crown Kerry, that at a point where Kerry had won 16 primaries and Edwards just SC, the NYT had an op-ed that said that at this point, we knew the nominee was "John", but we didn't know the last name. Kerry won mathematically the next week.

With HRC, we've been fed that she was inevitable for 3 years.

[WillTheGoober]

56. It's not a talking point ...

It's a fact.

This isn't Hillary's talking point.
This is mine.

I'm not above calling Kerry a loser. He is.
And I haven't forgiven him since 2004. Perhaps I'm bitter.

Let's stop giving Kerry a pass because the Republicans are so big and bad -- and start admitting that Kerry lost. His best speech was his concession speech. Weak people will always fall to the Republicans; they prey on them.

I'm tired of supporting weak candidates.

W.

[GalleryGod]

85. Weak? Sure...SILVER STAR for conduct "Under Fire"..."In the shiite"..whatever...

[karynnj]

117. I don't recall him manipulating people by crying over her own status

That does not seem strong to me

[WillTheGoober]

54. Umm ...

He ran against a man who started a ridiculously unpopular war -- a man who can barely deliver a speech -- and a man who may be clinically retarded for all we know.

Supporting Kerry was rough because he always seemed weak. We can pretend that the weakness-factor was simply created by Republicans but I always knew, in the back of my mind, that this guy was just not the right choice.

I think Iowa made the wrong decision in 2004 -- and I think Iowa made the wrong decision in 2008.

Thanks!
W.

[ProSense]

58. Umm...

Bush didn't run in the Democratic primary, and, umm, in the GE Bush still had to cheat.

[WillTheGoober]

65. Right.

We made the wrong choice, as Democrats, in 2004.

Please don't think that the sainthood given to Kerry in our primary in 2004 was a mistake.

All I'm saying here -- let's not make the same mistake in 2008.

The Republicans are being so nice to Obama.
That won't last long after this primary.

W.

[ProSense]

71. "The Republicans are being so nice to Obama. That won't last long after this primary."

I'm not sure what your beef is in this thread then: Are you upset that Kerry is defending Obama?

[WillTheGoober]

73. haha ...

I actually lost track of my 'beef' in this thread too.

Let me look back here ... hmm.

Well -- I'm tired of all of this anti-Hillary crap on this site.
This is supposed to represent the entire Democratic Party right?

And to quote somebody like Kerry is just taking it over the top.

I'm not upset that Kerry is "defending" Obama.
Kerry can talk about Obama all he wants. But when he starts talking about Clinton, her supporters are going to respond.

And I disagree with the idea that Hillary is drumming up this nasty talk. Obama supporters are really kind of hateful. This site shows that on a daily basis.

At the end of the day -- I'm just supporting Hillary here.

W.

[ProSense]

77. "And I disagree with the idea that Hillary is drumming up this nasty talk."

The facts speak volumes!

Major Clinton supporter calls Obama remark 'absolutely stupid'

1/13/2008
Statement from Bob Johnson on His Comments Today in South Carolina

"My comments today were referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a community organizer, and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect.

"When Hillary Clinton was in her twenties she worked to provide protections for abused and battered children and helped ensure that children with disabilities could attend public school.

That results oriented leadership -- even as a young person -- is the reason I am supporting Hillary Clinton."

link

Bill Clinton has weighed in:

The former president said Johnson needs to be "taken at his word," adding that "nobody knew" what he would say and "it wasn't part of any planned strategy."

link

So the official version is that Johnson was referring to Obama's community service when he said:

"To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues — when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book — when they have been involved," Johnson said.

link

(wink, wink)

[GalleryGod]

34. Let's see...the two guys he fished out of the drink in the midst of hellacious AK-47 fire

would likely disagree with that "in my corner" shiite.

"Peace,Kerry?"
GFY,punk
:puke:

[WillTheGoober]

78. hmmm ...

Hey! Do I really deserve that kind of reply?

Perhaps I do.

Listen -- I do not know anything about Kerry's military performance. Everything seems to point to him being nothing less than a hero in Vietnam. That's great.

But that doesn't mean a White House win, now does it?

Ok -- we can pretend -- Kerry is a winner and he did a great job in 2004.
Go Kerry!

W.

[GalleryGod]

87. Hmmm? Right back atcha.

Sorry, friend if you took offense. We VETS stick together because:
We didn't fight for our country, nor the flag,nor our girlfriends back home, nor the CINC, nor apple pie or chevrolet, nor the U.S. Constitution, we fought for EACH OTHER.

BTW in Dessert Storm, my boys...The First Team (1st Air Cavalry) were STILL "First". Schwarzkopf implemented the tactics of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson that February day.

[WillTheGoober]

90. I see ...

Do you have a take on the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?"
That did not seem like solidarity.

W.

[GalleryGod]

96. Sure: Posers & Wannabes. Like that FAT PIG wearing Purple Heart band aids

at the Nazi Bund Rally at the RNC Convention.
Look...We all knew who they were. John's non-response pained ALL of us much more than NON Vets.
I told that to John,personally, after this rally in Philly. We donnot BS each other.
("personally"??? Yeah, some of us "earned" special access years ago and with 33 years of friendship behind us)

[acmavm]

19. Wow! Kerry found his cojones.

Wonder where they were in 2004.

[vee]

23. .

[Benhurst]

28. Has he?

Rather than encouraging Obama to meet such insinuations head-on, Kerry is asking Clinton's camp to stop being so mean.

I think he may very well be able to influence the Clinton campaign to call off its attack dogs, but to what purpose?

Such attacks can be squelched in our primaries; but does Kerry really think the Republicans will hold back in the Fall?

Poor John, he just doesn't get it.

[ProSense]

36. The Clintons are doing a great job pretending

to give a damn about the attacks and innuendo:

1/13/2008

Statement from Bob Johnson on His Comments Today in South Carolina

"My comments today were referring to Barack Obama's time spent as a community organizer, and nothing else. Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect.

"When Hillary Clinton was in her twenties she worked to provide protections for abused and battered children and helped ensure that children with disabilities could attend public school.

That results oriented leadership -- even as a young person -- is the reason I am supporting Hillary Clinton."

link

Bill Clinton has weighed in:

The former president said Johnson needs to be "taken at his word," adding that "nobody knew" what he would say and "it wasn't part of any planned strategy."

link

So the official version is that Johnson was referring to Obama's community service when he said:

"To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues — when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book — when they have been involved," Johnson said.

link

(wink, wink)

Interesting clues from Obama's campaign memo about Hillary surrogates' strategy

Major Clinton supporter calls Obama remark 'absolutely stupid'

(wink, wink)

[Benhurst]

64. If Kerry and the Obama campaign are unsuccessful getting

the Clinton campaign to call off it's attack dogs in the primaries, how successful are they going to be in the general election getting Karl Rove and the Republicans to do so?

The Clinton campaign may be implying there is more to Obama's drug use than we have been told. Rove and company won't be just making implications, they will invent a lie to embellish what ever grain of truth there is and turn it into a full-fledged Swift-boat attack. Of this we can be sure.

[ProSense]

72. "unsuccessful getting the Clinton campaign to call off it's attack dogs in the primaries"

The defense just happened! Besides, I suspect the Clinton "attack dogs" will continue their despicable smear. The purpose of defense is to counter the distortion and smear.

[GalleryGod]

35. JAFO Alert!

Cajones? You were shitting your pampers when he made his bones IN COMBAT. little girl.(see sig line)

[acmavm]

39. Pffft! Somewhere between Viet Nam and today he misplaced

'em. In 2004 Theresa had more balls than he did.

[ProSense]

42. Pathetic! Guess that's all you have! n/t

[acmavm]

59. Go on with your idol worship. That and ten cents will get you

nothing.

[ProSense]

62. Go on with your petty bitterness! n./t

[acmavm]

Not petty. Not bitter. I just know that he was asking for handouts

to contest the vote and then he folded like a cheap suit.

Whatever.

[ProSense]

99. "he was asking for handout to contest the vote and then he folded like a cheap suit." Bitter and

wrong:

Blogged by JC on 08.22.05 @ 04:19 PM ET

Fighting for Every Voter

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth. That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

link

Since the 2004 election is being revisited, here are some facts

There was also that little matter of the two Ohio election workers being sentenced for tampering with the recount so why are people still claiming a recount never happened. It did, but it was rigged in a state run by Repubs.

[GalleryGod]

100. "Whatever" ? What the heck...that's an Alicia Silverstone response.

[GalleryGod]

93. And you got a "free pass" from the draft. Just pointing out the obvious. Flame-away.

Kerry being awarded the SILVER STAR.

[GalleryGod]

89. That just stinks. Have a nice, "freedom-filled" day, Friend.

[GalleryGod]

76. Yup My Boys are ALWAYS.... "FIRST" thus the tag line "The First Team"

On February 26, the Commander of the Allied Forces, General Norman Schwarzkopf directed, "send in the First Team. Destroy the Republican Guard. Let's go home."

The division charged west pausing only to refuel before passing through breeches in the enemy obstacle belt. Racing north, then east, the division moved in a vast armada of armor, stretching from horizon to horizon, Within 24 hours, the first Team had gone 300 kilometers, slicing deep into the enemy's rear. As the division prepared to destroy a Republican Guard division, the cease fire halted it.

1st Cavalry Division units setup defensive positions where the cease fire had stopped their attack, then expanded north to "Highway 8," clearing bunkers and looking for enemy equipment and soldiers. The 1st (Ironhorse) Brigade stretched through the historic Euphrates River Valley. Within 2 weeks the 1st Cav moved south into Saudi Arabia and its new assembly area (AA) Killeen. There on the plain of the Wadi al Batin - the Cav began to prepare for redeployment home.

During Operation Desert Storm, the First Team had several firsts: "First" to defend along the Saudi-Iraq border; "First" to fire Copperhead artillery rounds in combat; "First" to conduct intensive MLRS artillery raids; and in its pre-G-Day attacks the First Team was "First" to conduct mounted combat in Iraq.

Unprecedented logistical and communications requirements were met consistently by the Division Support Command and the 13th Signal Battalion with its Mobile Subscriber Equipment.

Addressing the division in AA Killeen on Palm Sunday, VII (US) Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Frederick Franks emphasized the division's major role in the allied victory. "You were leading the corps - you were the major combat power VII Corps had. You were the First Team. You led us into combat. You began the fight, you led the way..."

Actually Schwazkopf employed the tactics of Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

[OHdem10]

20. I supported Kerry, but he is becoming absolutely tone deaf

politically.

He always had a difficult time connecting the American People
and this confirms that.

[russian33]

21. gee, Senator, where was this fire...

...when you got swiftboated, and lost the election?

[GalleryGod]

40. Well..when he was your age,he certainly wasn't kicking-back in Rock Hill.

Pontificating on a web site...that's for sure. Why don't you enlighten Me and the rest of the COMBAT VETS on DU all about your "under fire" experiences..."paint ball" maybe? Before you go making rude and impudent remarks about a man who won the DSC "under fire".

So? WHERE & WHEN were you UNDER FIRE?
I'll wait.


My hero, Hal Moore (R) Congratualtes Col. Bruce Crandall on winning the CMH 2/7/07
my only trip to the White House.

My "Lions in Winter" Hal Moore & Sgt. Major Basil Plumley (R)
the heroes of LZ X-ray

[russian33]

88. oh good grief

you really shouldn't take words so literally, first of all
second, its Rocky Hill, not Rock Hill
and third, I was under fire in 1989-1990, in a tiny, but oil rich (wow!) republic of Azerbaijan, when they were doing their little ethnic cleansing, and US kept it's mouth shut, cause you know, Gorbachev was such a nice guy, why try to stop a little civil war...
and my grandfather, and great grandfather marched all the way to Berling...so don't tell me i don't know about being under fire...my comment referred to Kerry taking all this crap from swiftboat vets back in 2004, and NOW he found a voice to fight back, at another Democrat...4 years too late Senator!

[GalleryGod]

101. Sorry you had to serve under "Poppy". But,friend, it sure beats the hell out of McNamara & Westy.

:blush: (bows from the waist, straightens-up, and snaps-off a salute to Russian33)
:yourock:


SILVER STAR CEREMONY.

[tabasco]

113. Thanks for your posts.

It really takes a cooler head than mine to deal with the Kerry smearing assholes.

The only thing I have against Hal Moore was him signing off on that god-awful movie.

It completely ignored the actions the day after the defense of LZ X-Ray and made it seem like a glorious victory.

If you recall, Moore's book dealt with the entire battle and listed ALL of the soldiers killed in the battle. The movie only listed the names of soldiers killed at X-Ray. I thought the movie was an awful propaganda piece.

[vee]

25. At this rate, there will be no more messengers left. FED EX em their Bad News, damnit!

[Bread and Circus]

26. very impressive statements. K and R.

[beachmom]

30. Most excellent response from Kerry. K & R

[Skip Intro]

38. It is not ok to say things you really do not mean for political reasons, John. Let BO fight his own

battles, eh?

Obama made several statements that were less than critical of the war, not just the one JK chooses to address. Hillary, hell, AMERICA, has every right to hold him to account for those remarks, and his votes in favor of funding the war since.

Bad form, John. These are legit questions you seem to want to stifle. I do not see why I need your permission to question someone who is asking me for a job. I do not.

We are not going to just fall to our knees at the altar of Obama just because you say so. Let him be held to the same standard as the rest of the candidates. Let him fight his own battles.

[beachmom]

41. So you're against surrogates now? Wow. Okay, let's shut down the press

and cable, what with surrogates now being "not cool" as stated by Clinton supporters. Oh, and that means Bill is out of business, too. He IS a surrogate, right?

[Skip Intro]

63. eh, yeah, ok, whatever...deep breaths....deep breaths...it will be ok

[ProSense]

44. You might want to

read this.

[Skip Intro]

66. Oranges and Apples.

Obama should be taken to task for saying things that are the opposite of what he is running on, especially when he slams Hillary for her positions on the same matter. I know he and many of his supporters here abhor the idea of accountability and dramatically spin and change the subject when anything even remotely critical of Obama crops up, but it is just not fair to examine everything Hillary with a microscope while Obama gets a pass because he is above question.

Kerry is answering a valid argument that Obama should be answering himself. The surrogates at the link you provided are answering to comments they themselves made. There is a difference.

Twisting what I am saying here into something that it is not, and then arguing against that distortion, has no effect on the reality of the situation.

[ProSense]

67. "Obama should be taken to task for saying things that are the opposite of what he is running on"

So he's running on not being a drug dealer and should be taken to task for it by suggesting he is?

The Clinton campaign surrogates are despicable!

[Skip Intro]

69. Do you not get dizzy spinning like that?

[jasmine621]

47. I have for sometime placed the Huffington post in the Clinton-hate camp.

They do little to help the Dem cause. I once was a fan of Arianna. Not anymore.

[DURHAM D]

48. Why does Obama hide?

He sends out his Daddy to fight his battles for him.

What I like about this triangulation is that it actually involves three people.

[ProSense]

50. "He sends out his Daddy to fight his battles for him. " WTF? n/t

[GalleryGod]

60. KERRY never hid, D.D.

We VETS are a loyal group...we fought for EACH OTHER, not YOU, nor the Country, nor the FLAG, nor Girlfriends back home,nor Apple friggin' pie...just each other.

[Joe the Revelator]

91. Kind like Hillary hiding behind her husband's suit pants, right?

nt

[robbedvoter]

49. Kerry's timing always sucked. Fighting after the fight is over...

[GalleryGod]

55. Yeah, that timing thing..like before you were BORN

02/08/07


How Miramax told their story.

Yup, we VETS are kind of creepy...we still stick together because we didn't fight for the flag,the country, or the CINC...we fought for EACH OTHER.

[Inuca]

98. WHat a silly remark!

Did you bother to look at a timeline? Or to wonder whether the fight would be over (assuming and hoping it indeed is) without comments like the ones Kerry made?

[Laurab]

68. Very nice statement by Kerry

Unfortunate slams in the responses to the OP, because he's not backing their candidate, but I'm glad Kerry spoke out. Apparently, Durbin did too - the article alludes to that, anyway. I think it was deserved. Hopefully the "truce" will last, so it won't be dems fighting dems in dirty and petty ways.

[Onlooker]

70. So Kerry finally finds his balls

The idiot had no guts against the Republicans and thus lost an election he should have won.

[GalleryGod]

79. I'm stickin' with John,sorry. Smear away at his manhood (balls reference)

On February 26, the Commander of the Allied Forces, General Norman Schwarzkopf directed, "send in the First Team. Destroy the Republican Guard. Let's go home."

The division charged west pausing only to refuel before passing through breeches in the enemy obstacle belt. Racing north, then east, the division moved in a vast armada of armor, stretching from horizon to horizon, Within 24 hours, the first Team had gone 300 kilometers, slicing deep into the enemy's rear. As the division prepared to destroy a Republican Guard division, the cease fire halted it.

1st Cavalry Division units setup defensive positions where the cease fire had stopped their attack, then expanded north to "Highway 8," clearing bunkers and looking for enemy equipment and soldiers. The 1st (Ironhorse) Brigade stretched through the historic Euphrates River Valley. Within 2 weeks the 1st Cav moved south into Saudi Arabia and its new assembly area (AA) Killeen. There on the plain of the Wadi al Batin - the Cav began to prepare for redeployment home.

During Operation Desert Storm, the First Team had several firsts: "First" to defend along the Saudi-Iraq border; "First" to fire Copperhead artillery rounds in combat; "First" to conduct intensive MLRS artillery raids; and in its pre-G-Day attacks the First Team was "First" to conduct mounted combat in Iraq.

Unprecedented logistical and communications requirements were met consistently by the Division Support Command and the 13th Signal Battalion with its Mobile Subscriber Equipment.

Addressing the division in AA Killeen on Palm Sunday, VII (US) Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Frederick Franks emphasized the division's major role in the allied victory. "You were leading the corps - you were the major combat power VII Corps had. You were the First Team. You led us into combat. You began the fight, you led the way..."


Once 1st Cavalry...ALWAYS 1st Cavalry.

[bunnies]

74. Excellent.

If anyone knows whats its like to be on the receiving end of BS attacks... its Sen. Kerry.

[GalleryGod]

81. THANKS

Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony...42 years late, 02/07/2007

These actors told our story via Miramax Studios.


The REAL DEAL..Colonel Hal Moore receives Dead & Wounded final AAR after annihilating 1,965 PAVN with 395 1st Cav troopers at LZ X-ray 11/19/66

[Strawman]

82. "a transformational presidency"

Well put by JK. I like that. Voting for Obama feels like taking a home run swing and voting for Hillary feels like bunting.

[Cha]

102. Yeah, bill didn't inhale OR

have s-e-x (but he did get a bj) with that woman except the blue dress said differently.

The clintons are petty..who knew.

[Tarc]

118. A shame that Kerry didn't have this set of balls in 2004

He's certainly capable of slingin it amongst Democrats, but fairly inept when it comes to attacking Republicans.

[emulatorloo]

125. He did plenty of attacking in '04. Media just didn't show it

I saw tons of news shows in '04. And this is what I saw:

A clip of Bush delivering his best sound bite, his dumb ass shit left on the cutting room floor.

A clip of Kerry with the sound turned off, his razor sharp attacks left on the cutting room floor.

---

[Tarc]

126. That isn't quite true

The "razor sharp attacks" did come, but far too late in the game to make any difference.

[Califooyah Operative]

121. Go John, Go!

Tell It Like It Is.

[politicasista]

124. Another positive Kerry thread turned into a smear-fest, flamewar

Not suprising. Go figure.

[sniffa]

127. K&R

That's my Senator.