So far, the Kerry apologists in the big media have completely ignored the fact Kerry lied about releasing his service records and so far, he still refuses to do so. This is a Boston Globe story from back in April of 2004.
Kerry refuses to release more records
WASHINGTON — The day after John F. Kerry said he would make all of his military records available for inspection at his campaign headquarters, a spokesman said the senator would not release any new documents, leaving undisclosed many of Kerry’s evaluations by his Navy commanding officers, some medical records, and possibly other material.
Kerry, in an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” was asked whether he would follow President Bush’s example and release all of his military records. “I have,” Kerry said. “I’ve shown them — they’re available for you to come and look at.” He added that “people can come and see them at headquarters.”
But when a reporter showed up yesterday morning to review the documents, the campaign staff declined, saying all requests must go through the press spokesman, Michael Meehan. Late yesterday, Meehan said the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper.
“He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe,” Meehan said in a telephone interview.
After the Globe story, the rest of the media ignored the fact Kerry has refused to release his service records. This is an issue of course because Kerry himself called for Bush to release his service records during the AWOL flap.
When Terry Mcauliffe, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, went on CNN and accused Bush of being AWOL during the Vietnam era, the media went on a 30 day feeding frenzy demanding Bush turn over his military records. Mcauliffe based his allegations on the fact that a single man, (who BTW has Alzheimer’s) did not remember Bush from 30+ years ago. Nowhere during that time did the media say that maybe -just maybe- the head of the DNC’s accusations might be politically motivated. (gasp)
Now Kerry is facing his own records flap. In contradistinction to Bush’s accusers, 250 soldiers (mostly officers) who served with Kerry have called Kerry “Unfit” to serve as commander in chief. Suddenly the media is up in arms -not demanding to see Kerry’s records- but accusing all 250 veterans of being politically motivated. (So much for that whole unbiased media myth)
The media’s urge to protect John Kerry will not serve him well in the long run.
The drum beat has finally started for Kerry to release his service records. It is faint but it is audible. Columnist Lee Cearnal, of the Houston Chronicle, took his media colleagues to task today for not calling for Kerry’s records.
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I always knew he was up to no good.
I guess it all depends on what your definition of “all” is.
Seriously, sometimes I get the impression that Kerry’s trying to run his campaign on the Clinton playbook, but Kerry is only about half as intelligent, ten percent as charismatic, and wholly lacking in whatever magic power Clinton used to fool some of the people all of the time.
I have a feeling Kerry’s stonewalling on the records because there is, indeed, something damning in there, and he’s just counting on his media allies to suppress it until after the election. It’s a dangerous game, I think, because ultimately the media is an untrustworthy ally, and if there’s a real story, especially one that can be run with a Watergate “scandal/coverup” playbook, it’s just too tempting for the Woodward & Bernstein fetishists who make up the press these days, and want to break a big scandal to make their careers.
Too many media outlets too, even just looking at “old media.” The NY Times, being on top, can just try playing defense forever and resting on its (now rather tattered) reputation, but a lot of papers can’t afford to be so high and mighty. And the way the newspaper business is now, turning a profit might trump ideological warfare – and all it takes is this happening to *one* major paper.
I was just wondering about the records myself. What is there I wonder.
If you go to the official Kerry web site you will find a section of campaign videos about him. The first is more than 50% devoted to his 4 month V.N. experience. The next 2 are entirely about it. As an informed, educated, inquisitive voter, it is my right and in fact my duty to ask questions about this topic.
Kerry is asking for my vote to be elected to a job working for me. I’m entitled to all the information before I hire him. He needs to authorize complete release of his military records and furthermore his Senate committee attendance records so I can analyze his past performance before I vote (by the way, I don’t need any help in this analysis)
Well, to pick a nit—Meehan’s statement IS accurate.
He has released all the records that he has released.
It’s accurate, just not real informative.
“He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe,”
My God: the party of nuance, parsing and fine distinction, has finally completly lost the ability to recognize irony, even when they engage in it. Particularly when they engage in it.
It always fascinates me how many people believe what the dumb box tells them. A Group who questioned John McCain’s Patriotism and equated Max Cleland to Osama Bin Ladin now is doing the same to Kerry. And YOU believe it?
The non-partisan website http://www.factcheck.org regularly checks the accuracy of the claims from BOTH sides. Go there.
Always Question. Be Responsible. DO RESEARCH before you waste people’s time by posting here.
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/john_kerry/military_records.html
Why hasen’t anyone mentioned that there is another 31 pages of Slipery John’s military records that have not been released because ole Slipery Side Step Won’t sign a release like GW did.