By Alan Elsner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As President Bush struggles to answer questions about his military service during the Vietnam War era, a conservative counterattack has begun to try to impugn Democratic presidential contender John Kerry's war record.

A photograph showing Kerry and actress and anti-war activist Jane Fonda taken at a 1970 anti-war rally in Pennsylvania surfaced on a conservative Web site on Monday. It spread across the Internet and showed up on the front page of the Washington Times on Wednesday. TV networks quickly picked up the story.

The newspaper quoted two Republican congressmen, Randy Cunningham of California and Texas' Sam Johnson, both of whom served in the war, as saying the image would diminish Kerry's appeal to Vietnam veterans. Johnson said it made him sick.

The picture shows Fonda listening intently at the rally. Three rows behind her is a fuzzy but recognizable image of Kerry, who also spoke at the demonstration.

Kerry, a Massachusetts senator and probable presidential challenger to Bush in November, became a leader of the anti-war movement after returning from Vietnam where he was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.

He constantly brings up his heroic war service at campaign rallies. Vietnam War veterans who served with him, and one of whose life Kerry saved, have frequently appeared by his side and in his TV ads.

"It's clear what some of Kerry's opponents will try to do. They want to frame him, not as a valiant war hero but as a long-haired war protester who later as a senator voted against defense spending," said American University political scientist Allan Lichtman.

JUST THE START

Catholic University political scientist Mark Rozell agreed. "This is just the start of an attempt to characterize Kerry as someone who was on the wrong side of the culture wars that shook this country in the 1960s and 1970s," he said.

Fonda earned the enduring disgust of many veterans, who called her "Hanoi Jane" after she traveled to North Vietnam in 1972 where she met with communist officials and criticized the U.S. government over government radio.

The flap over Kerry came as the White House struggled to bury old charges that Bush was AWOL during part of his own service in the United States in the Air National Guard.

Many Americans of Bush's generation were anxious to avoid service in Vietnam. Joining the National Guard was seen as way of fulfilling their service requirements at home without being thrust into the middle of the war.
Bush said on Sunday he would provide records on his service with the National Guard but on Wednesday the White House ruled out the blanket release of medical or disciplinary records.

Late on Wednesday, the White House did release a copy of a Jan. 6, 1973, dental exam complete with a chart of Bush's teeth that was performed when Bush was at the Dannelly Air National Guard base near Montgomery, Alabama.

On Monday, the Bush team released pay and service records that showed long absences during his final two years of service -- a period in which Bush worked on a political campaign in Alabama. Democrats and other critics said the records were inadequate.

"The issue with Bush's service record is less about what he did or didn't do while others of his generation were fighting in Southeast Asia, or his legitimacy as commander-in-chief of our troops now fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Thomas Schaller, a political scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

"Rather, the more damaging effect of this story is that it strips away Bush's straight-shooting, plain-talking, everyman persona," he said.

One problem with Bush's service is that the White House has been unable to produce a single person who remembers serving with him.

Lichtman said it seemed the White House was panicking a little at its failure to squash the story.

"They are trying to control a story that can't be controlled. They should release everything they have and change the subject. Harping on Kerry's war and anti-war record just keeps the issue alive," he said.

OMG he was totally three rows back from Jane Fonda. Damn you Fonda!!!!!!


(This has been a sarcastic service announcment)

[ 02-12-2004, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

And he wanted the war to end - why shame on you sir!

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">I also saw a web site with him speaking with a communist flag in the background. I was like OMG than I found the real picture were he was actually speaking with people behind him. The Repugs are running scared. The Americans will take back their country in the next election to the relief of their neighbors. I think the $10,000 fines for going to church was the last straw.</font>

[ 02-12-2004, 12:01 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

This subject comes up during every US election. It constantly amazes me. Is it really that important to the average American whether or not Presidential candidates supported the war in Vietnam? It would seem to me that there are good and valid arguments for both opinions, but 29 years after the US pulled out of there, it is beyond me why it should play a major role in an election now.

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">This guy remembers serving with him.

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20040...2910-8424r.htm

</font>

[ 02-12-2004, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

It is still a factor Skippy because it splinterd a very powerfull segment of our population - the Baby Boomers. The Baby Boomers are still in power. Vietnam will only start to be less of an impact when the bulk of the Baby Boomers retire and are no longer in power.

Kerry served with distinction, saw action and got medals for valour. If he disagreed with the war, it was clearly something that he had put aside during his country's time of need.

I think that the Bush team are going to have a hard time overcoming this and painting a decorated veteran as something as bad as a rich kid who got an easy domestic posting who even then couldn't be bothered to turn up for duty.


Of course, there are some who would never be convinced anyway:
If Kerry and the Democrats win in November, it will mean God displaced with egocentric government, Scriptures shunted into nearly total if not total disrepute, baby killings sanctioned as America’s way, practicing homosexual lifestyle baptized as honorable and worthy, and the world community as the final cue for all primary decisions of the United States government. http://www.snip.cjb.net/images/smiley/blah_blah.gif
<font size="1">MichNews.com</font>
But their opinion doesn't matter http://www.snip.cjb.net/images/smiley/wink.gif

[ 02-12-2004, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

"A photograph showing Kerry and actress and anti-war activist Jane Fonda taken at a 1970 anti-war rally in Pennsylvania surfaced on a conservative Web site on Monday. It spread across the Internet and showed up on the front page of the Washington Times on Wednesday. TV networks quickly picked up the story.

The newspaper quoted two Republican congressmen, Randy Cunningham of California and Texas' Sam Johnson, both of whom served in the war, as saying the image would diminish Kerry's appeal to Vietnam veterans. Johnson said it made him sick.

The picture shows Fonda listening intently at the rally. Three rows behind her is a fuzzy but recognizable image of Kerry, who also spoke at the demonstration."

Erm, I found nothing wrong with the picture. So let it be known that NOT everyone is offended or disgusted with seeing Kerry in a picture alongside the likes of other war protesters. Damn conservatives. And hell! If you want to lable Kerry as a Liberal then fine! By all means it's better than being an extreme conservative. It's not doing this country good by sticking to stagnant, backwards, good ole boys mentality.

Edit: ... and oh yeah, BRING IT ON!

[ 02-12-2004, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: GForce ]