Joe Wilson v John Kerry (2004): "Many veterans, including myself......"

[Jackeens]

....In 2004, Wilson grabbed headlines again when he called on Sen. John Kerry to apologize for testimony the Democratic presidential candidate and Vietnam veteran gave to a Senate panel in 1971 about the Vietnam War.

“Many veterans, including myself as a veteran,” Wilson said at the time, “view John Kerry’s testimony that day as one of the worst public slanders ever against the valor and character of the American military.”

That statement drew the rebuke of former Democratic Sen. and Vietnam veteran Max Cleland, who noted that Wilson had in fact avoided fighting in the war by receiving a student deferral....

.....Though he didn’t serve in Vietnam, Wilson did join the Army Reserves and spent 26 years in the Army National Guard. His four sons have each served in the military, as well. The congressman currently sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26973.html




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/joe-wilson-your-newest-in_n_282290.html?slidenumber=0#slide_image

[PA Democrat]

1. Great find Jackeens!

[Barack_America]

2. And he consistently votes AGAINST veterans' benefits...

While giving a big rubber stamp for war.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6515864

A shameful man.

[karynnj]

3. What always mystifies me is that Joe Wilson and others are completely wrong

In 1971, the group that had the lowest opinion of the soldiers had to be the students in college. At the large Midwestern state university I was at, we were about 95% against the war. (My college had a real vote on that)

By 1971, our image of soldiers was from 3 sources. Most of us came from high schools where some went on to college and others ended their education at high school. Many of the boys in the latter group were drafted. There were also veterans attending college. The third source was the image we got from the news. For me and others, reconciling the first 2 with the third was impossible in 1970, when the stories were of My Lai and Lt Calley was the poster boy.

Lt Kerry's testimony's was a plea for the government to stop sacrificing men to save face and to ask that the government care for the vets that needed medical care or help rejoining society. It showed an intelligent, moral person whose love for his country both made him go and made him protest. He was there to state what he heard at the hearing - and he said "soldiers said ....." The committee was also given a transcript of the entire thing with those soldiers identified. What Kerry said was true - people did say those things. There are plenty of independent accounts also saying that things like those described happened.

All I know is that among the fellow students I watched the news with, Kerry greatly improved the image of soldiers.

[Ilsa]

6. One of the teachers at our tiny town's elementary school lost her husband in Vietnam. And

a parishoner at a nearby church lost their son while he was flying a mission over there. It makes it personal, alright, when their tombstones are close to those of family.

[Arkana]

4. Yes, "veterans".

You were in the Guard, Mr. Wilson.

[Ilsa]

5. Wrong Way Wilson is a big shit. What a hypocritical turd. Thanks, jackeens. nt