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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 25, 2004 Our View Swift boat battles are no surprise to Kerry crew John Kerry's followers have a right to be mad. They are supposed to be mad. But John Kerry certainly doesn't. Don't be fooled. It's high time to put all this swift boat nonsense into perspective. First, John Kerry stood up on the national stage in Boston at the Democratic Convention and told the entire country over prime time television that based on his experience as a military leader, he could better lead this country's military than the current commander-in-chief. John Kerry, surrounded by military comrades, said things like: "I learned about these values on that gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta..." And, "That is the kind of America I will lead as president - an America where we are all in the same boat." This was the most important speech of John Kerry's political career. He and his speech writers did not make these promises without the full understanding of what they meant, which is, that this issue was about to become the bulls eye for Republicans and journalists and voters alike. Secondly, this is nothing new. Kerry's military career has been the source of scrutiny for three decades of political campaigns. His military career was vetted by his own campaign. Despite some obvious comments that aggrandized his role, they knew Kerry could weather the scrutiny. So they invited it. By making it part of the speech, the Kerry for President crew basically said they could take the heat in a fashion similar to Gary Hart challenging the media to catch him in an act of indiscretion. We all remember how that turned out, so it's safe to assume that the Kerry camp made sure where they stood before the speech. A recent Washington Post story basically supports Kerry. Sure, some of the dots of Kerry's story don't make a straight line. But claims by the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have proven largely false - likely more motivated by Kerry's anti-Vietnam comments after the war, than his performance in the war. When all is said and done, it makes sense that veterans who suffered the indignities of coming home to a nation that turned its collective back on their service, would feel outraged by all of this. It's a raw nerve and when Kerry is called out, they too feel called out again. As a public official, Kerry gives up the right to share that indignation. He knew what was coming. He's been through it before. He knows this is politics. It's part of the script, just as is his current indignation. Just as is President Bush's call for independent ads to be halted. Of course, Bush was going to step forward and validate Kerry's service. He knows his own shady dealings during this era can't stand the comparison to a decorated Vietnam captain. But the timing was key. He let a weekend of scrutiny, a weekend of criticism, and weekend of hits in the polls do their damage before he stepped forward. That too was scripted. Don't be fooled. Both sides are simply playing to win. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams