Boston Globe: Kerry Refuses To Release More [Military] Records

[TheStateChief]

Don't flame me for this. But I don't understand what the Kerry campaign could be thinking. Why not just release the records instead of handing the Bush lapdogs an issue with which to beat him over the head with?


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

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.

"He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe," Meehan said in a telephone interview. In a follow-up e-mail, Meehan said it was those particular records to which Kerry was referring on "Meet the Press."

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.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. The Globe has a history of animosity toward Kerry

anything you read there is propaganda.

[hedda_foil]

2. WTF???? I sure as hell hope he isn't hiding anything ...

because if he is there is no doubt whatsoever that Rove will make absolutely sure it's leaked in the most damaging way at the most damaging time.

And if he isn't, it's a totally boneheaded decision.

[Nicholas_J]

5. He disobeyed

Orders in the incident in which he earned his bronze star, was ordered to not engage the enemy troops that he engaged, but to retreat, and he disobeyed in order to not leave someone behind. But he was told to not do what he did by a rather high level officers.

In fact the record is that the superiors who ordered him to stand down believed he was nuts (really, psychiatrically), to do what he did, and so the medical record probably has a psychiatric that he doesnt want seen, as it would of course be used by Rove.

[Cocoa]

3. Russert brought up the Purple Heart thing?

total double standard, there are a million questions Bush has never been asked, while the whores peddle every single rumor about Kerry.

[ibegurpard]

4. Isn't this the exact sort of thing

that the Kerry campaign had the knives out for Howard Dean for? And wasn't everyone saying "we really need to know so there are no surprises?" What goes around comes around. Not that it makes me particularly happy but there it is.

[TheStateChief]

6. As much as I want to agree with you

about what the Democratic party did to Howard Dean, I don't think that's the real issue. I was a huge Howard supporter, but my problem with Kerry's move here isn't so much the double-standard being applied as it is the patentedly stupid politics of it. It not only gives the Bush supporters ammo against Kerry, it also blunts Kerry's ability to point out the secrecy of Cheney's energy commission and Bush's own military records. It just doesn't make any sense.

[ibegurpard]

7. It hurt Dean

so why the hell would they think it wouldn't hurt them? It's just stupid.

[cspiguy]

8. kerry is so far ahead he can afford to be a little arrogant.

n/t

[TheStateChief]

12. What are you looking at?

Three polls came out today and all of them show Bush ahead (Gallup/USA Today: Bush +6, ABC/WP: Bush +5, Rasmussen: Bush +2). The state polls show Bush with a 309-229 electoral advantage. Kerry has a 1-point lead in Florida for a change to the Democrat column, but Bush is ahead in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oregon, and New Jersey.

I'm not for anything but defeating Bush. I've stated that we should focus on the differences between Kerry and Bush and not get down by the similarities or where Kerry is running to the center. But I also will not get complacent nor will I dismiss data that shows Kerry could be having trouble connecting to voters. And this position - that he won't release his military records - is a bad idea. Just re-read Meehan's response in the article and tell me that is a good course of action for Kerry to pursue.

[sangh0]

20. Kerry's military record and Dean's gubernatorial records are not the same

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

Many people justifiably feel that the work a Governor does belongs to "the people" of his/her state. This isn't true when it comes to the medical records of an individual who served in the military. Most people consider those private and confidential.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. YES!!!!

I like that attitude!

[Leilani]

11. Remember the Clark campaign?

Wes released all records, but was blasted by other campaigns.

Funny bout that!!!

[emulatorloo]

15. No it is apples and oranges

(military records of a 20 year old) vs (governorship records that document the governor's rule)

[seaglass]

19. Dean was deceitful as were many of his supporters who

attempted to claim the 60 boxes were filled with letters from gay people thanking him for civil unions (yeah right).

In any case, unlike most Dean supporters on DU, I am consistent, I think Kerry should open his records. See how easy it could have been?

[dfong63]

9. huh?

"He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe," Meehan said in a telephone interview. In a follow-up e-mail, Meehan said it was those particular records to which Kerry was referring on "Meet the Press."

that kind of double-talk isn't going to win an election.

Kerry should release everything, then demand that Bush do the same. not just with military records, but everything.

including the presidential daily briefings, governor's records in texas, Cheney's energy commission --- everything.

let the truth be known, and let the chips fall where they may.

[cspiguy]

10. the Globe is owned by the same company as the NYT -

and if it is good enough for "The paper of record" then it should be good enough for anyone.

[TheStateChief]

14. Russert said "all military records"

He didn't ask Kerry if he would release all military records that have already been released to the Boston Globe. How can Meehan write in an e-mail that Kerry was referring to what he had already released?

I agree with you dfong - this is the worst kind of double-speak and it simply isn't a sustainable position to stake out.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. Anything Kerry can do to increase the amount of attention

paid to his military record, and Bush's military record, will help. Including this phony 'controversy'.

[CityDem]

17. This is a problem for Kerry

On the one hand, Kerry wants full disclosure of Bush's military records, Cheney energy task force, etc. Yet, Kerry refuses to release his medical records and his wife's tax returns. The average voter who pays attention to the news about 5 minutes a day will believe that Kerry has something to hide. Kerry should release this information now to show people he backs up what he said during the MTP interview. Also, if their is some politically embarrassing info in these records, get the information out now. Don't wait until the week before the election to show that his wife did not pay any income tax in 2004 (just an example). Bush's DUI relevation the week before the election surely cost him votes in 2000 and Kerry should not repeat this mistake.

[Democat]

18. This is going to explode in Kerry's face if he doesn't handle it better

Hopefully he's just sandbagging, but time will tell.