I can admit, the Kerry campaign hasn’t handled questions about his full military record with its usual aplomb. They’ve been a little clumsy with what is apparently a non-story, but the really frustrating part is the Bush campaign’s mock-outrage.
When asked on Sunday if he would agree to release all of his military records, Kerry said he would.
“They are [public]. People can come and see them at headquarters and take a look at them.”
The problem is that a Boston Globe reporter went to headquarters to review the records but posting his military records online for public view.
In response to pressure, Sen. John F. Kerry’s presidential campaign late Tuesday began posting on its website about 150 pages of military records of his Vietnam-era service in the U.S. Navy, from certification of his medals to evaluations from commanding officers.
Michael Meehan, a senior Kerry advisor, said the wholesale release on the Internet was being done to silence Kerry’s critics.
“We want to make it very clear that Sen. Kerry has nothing to hide, that his record of accomplishment in the military is something he is running on and not running from,” Meehan said.
Kerry is a decorated war hero. This entire flap was much ado about nothing and the release of the records should place this nonsense exactly where it belongs — on the (ever growing) trash heap of baseless Bush attacks.
But I can’t help but think, why on earth does Bush want to pursue this as a campaign issue?
First, it was about honesty. Kerry said the records were public so they should be public.
“John Kerry said his records were available,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Christine Iverson said. “They were not.”
Fine, the campaign cleared this up. Then the whining was about the speed with which the Kerry campaign followed up on this.
Ken Mehlman, President Bush’s campaign manager, accused Kerry’s campaign of waffling on the release of his military records, saying the campaign’s position on Tuesday to release the records in “due diligence” is contrary to Kerry’s comments on “Meet the Press” that the records would be made public immediately.
“Senator Kerry’s record of nondisclosure and his flip-flop on this issue should concern voters,” Mehlman said.
This is terribly foolish. Kerry said the records were available and within 48 hours, documents were online for public review. In contrast, Bush promised a national television audience on February 8 that he “authorize[s] the release” of his full military records. That was over 10 weeks ago and the White House still hasn’t complied. If Kerry didn’t exercise “due diligence” because it took 2 days, what’s Mehlman’s excuse for Bush waiting 73 days and counting?
The Republicans continue to try and mislead people about this.
“When President Bush committed to release all his military records on the same program, he kept his word,” Gillespie was planning to say, according to excerpts provided by the RNC. “John Kerry should do the same. Voters aren’t stupid, and he shouldn’t treat us as if we are.”
Completely wrong. Bush didn’t keep his word; the full military record was never released, and the documents that were offered (under pressure and incredibly slowly) proved only that he had a dental exam in Alabama and that he picked up some checks. This does not a full military record make.
And finally, the Bush campaign may not realize it, but making this an issue only serves to remind everyone that Kerry volunteered to serve two tours of duty in Vietnam, won three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star awarded for gallantry in action, and a Bronze Star for heroic achievement.
Bush, at the very same time, used family connections to avoid serving in a war he claimed to support. He “served” in the National Guard but, to this day, still hasn’t provided proof that he actually showed up to fulfill his responsibilities, nor offer any explanation as to why no one remembers ever seeing him on base.
Every time the GOP and/or the Bush campaign harp on Kerry’s military records, they remind us all that Kerry has a military record and that Bush dodged the draft. If that’s a discussion the Republicans are anxious to have, I say bring…it…on.