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Kerry, John

Kerry Escalates Attack on Bush's Military Record

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As Senator John Kerry continued his "Jobs First" bus tour through Ohio, highlighting recent job losses, he and his campaign intensified their criticism of President Bush's military records, particularly those of the president and Vice President Dick Cheney. Kerry said that many veterans would be angry with a president who cannot account for his own service in the National Guard, while criticizing someone who fought for their country and served. This move came after articles in The New York Times and an ABC News report highlighted a 1971 interview with Kerry that raised questions about whether he threw away his war medals in a protest after his combat tour.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kerry and his campaign released a four-page handout, "Key Unanswered Questions: Bush's Record in the National Guard," which questioned why Bush missed a medical exam while in the National Guard, why he requested not to be sent overseas for duty, how he got in over other applicants despite low scores, and where various records are.
  • Kerry stated that Bush's inability to account for his service in the National Guard is "inappropriate" and that veterans will be angry about it.
  • Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973, but there is a dispute about how he got a coveted pilot spot and about missing attendance records.
  • Cheney received deferments from the draft because he was a student and an expectant father.
  • The Kerry handout asked 17 specific questions about Bush's military record.
  • Nicolle Devenish, a spokeswoman for Bush's re-election campaign, said that the questions had been "asked and answered" and that Kerry has not provided a credible alternative to Bush's leadership in the war on terror.
  • Kerry met with former Vice President Al Gore, who endorsed rival Howard Dean, but this is not mentioned in the context of the controversy.

Statistics:

  • 740,000 jobs lost in Ohio since 2001 (New York Times)
  • 3 million jobs disappeared in the last three years (Kerry)
  • 30 or 40 years ago: the time frame being referenced by the White House regarding the past military service (New York Times)
  • $800,000 raised at a fund-raiser in Cleveland (New York Times)

Sources:

  • New York Times
  • ABC News
  • MSNBC
  • The Dayton Daily News

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